Durham Book Festival

24/10/2024

If you’re looking for things to do with your child this October half term, come and try an interactive workshop based on our 2024 Little Read, I am Brave by Caryl Hart and Zoe Waring. The workshops will take place in libraries around County Durham and are for children aged 3+ ✨📚

I am Brave is the perfect picture book to highlight and celebrate the different ways that children tackle the difficult things in life… whether it’s speaking up in class or choosing to do something different to their friends.

The workshops will take place on Monday 28 October at Spennymoor and Crook libraries, and Tuesday 29 October at Peterlee and Barnard Castle libraries. Get in touch with the libraries directly to book your place!

Details at: https://newwritingnorth.com/durham-book-festival/the-little-read/

16/10/2024

We'd like to extend a huge thank you to each and every person who joined us at Durham Book Festival over the weekend: from speakers and chairs, to behind the scenes organisers, to audience members both in-person and online. It's a huge team effort – the festival couldn't happen without you!

We'll be looking back at these lovely smiley photos all year to remind us of what a great weekend we had 😊 we hope you all enjoyed it as much as we did.

Same time next year?

13/10/2024

Welcome to the final day of ! Spend your Sunday discovering fantastic new fiction, learning about capturing class, trying out writing a new genre, and more.

We're excited to close out the festival with our sold-out event with Rebecca F Kuang – live-stream tickets still available!

Book all your last minute tickets at https://newwritingnorth.com/durham-book-festival/programme/

12/10/2024

Welcome to day 3 of – and it's a big one today! Whether you're into fiction or non-fiction, science, history, or even Doctor Who, there's something for everyone today.

Tag us on socials if you join us in Durham – and remember it's not too late to book last minute tickets!

https://newwritingnorth.com/durham-book-festival/programme/

11/10/2024

We were delighted to celebrate The Forward Prizes for Poetry last night at where we were treated to outstanding performances from the shortlisted poets and chair of the judges, Craig Charles, with music by North-East local, .awkward.black.girl !

The winners of The Forward Prizes for Poetry 2024 are:

Victoria Chang won The Forward Prize for Best Collection for 'with my back to the world'.

Marjorie Lotfi's 'The Wrong Person to Ask' won the Felix Dennis Prize for Best First Collection.

The Forward Prize for Best Single Poem - Written goes to Cindy Juyoung Ok for 'Ward of One'.

And the winner of the Jerwood Prize for Best Single Poem - Performed is Leyla Josephine with 'Dear John Berger'.

Congratulations to all the poets shortlisted for the awards!

10/10/2024

If you've booked a live-stream ticket for an event this weekend, you will be able to access the live-stream by going to streaming.galadurham.co.uk, logging in with the details you used to book your ticket, and selecting the relevant event.

Live-streams will be available to watch back until 31 October. Please get in touch with the Gala box office if you have any issues.

10/10/2024

Durham Book Festival 2024 has arrived! 🥳

We're starting with a bang tonight at Gala Durham with the Forward Prizes for Poetry Ceremony – there's still in-person and live-stream tickets available if you've got a free evening ahead and would like to celebrate all things poetry with us.

And then heading into the weekend we've got a completely packed schedule of amazing events – it's the perfect time to finalise your plans and book any last minute tickets...

See you very soon!

https://newwritingnorth.com/durham-book-festival/programme/

09/10/2024

Due to unforeseen circumstances, our event with Alan Hollinghurst has unfortunately been cancelled. Bookers who have purchased tickets will be contacted by Gala Box Office to be offered a refund.

Join award-winning author Alan Hollinghurst, in conversation with Tom Crewe (The New Life), to celebrate his first novel in over...

09/10/2024

We're delighted that actors Charlie Hardwick (Emmerdale, Billy Elliot) and Laila Zaidi (Benidorm, Ackley Bridge) will bring Pat Barker's new novel, The Voyage Home, to life at this Friday 🤩

The performance will be accompanied by original music from The Shining Levels, and followed by a conversation between Pat Barker and writer Adelle Stripe.

Book your tickets now to join us in person or online: https://newwritingnorth.com/event/pat-barker-the-voyage-home/

08/10/2024

Unfortunately we've had to cancel our Holey Moley Storytime event with Bethan Clarke due to the author being unwell. All ticketholders will be contacted and receive a full refund.

We'd still love to see your little ones at the festival – why not bring them along to our I Am Brave Storytime with Caryl Hart and Zoe Waring at 11am on Saturday? It's free to come along with no booking required!

500 free books will be available in libraries around County Durham, as part of the 2024 Little Read. Young readers...

07/10/2024

05/10/2024

Join three incredible authors as they discuss Writing from Conflict at on Saturday 12 October.

Peace Adzo Medie’s Nightbloom is a striking novel which explores how conflict has intergenerational impacts on both communities and individuals.

Ibtisam Azem’s The Book of Disappearance poses a terrifyingly pertinent question: what would happen if every Palestinian vanished without a trace?

And Yeva Skalietska's You Don’t Know What War Is is a collection of diary entries documenting her escape from Ukraine with her grandmother at age 12.

Produced by Turn Up for the Books Young Programmers and supported by the County Durham Community Foundation.

Book tickets: https://newwritingnorth.com/event/writing-from-conflict/

04/10/2024

This year, the North East entered a new era of devolution, putting its people closer to decision making. Inspired by this opportunity for renewal, we partnered with Redhills Durham and UCL to commission 12 vibrant new essays from the North's leading talent.

Three of our essay writers – Arlen Pettit, Louise Powell and Richard Benson – are coming to to chat about masculinity, social infrastructure and stereotypes in the North East.

Two of the essays are available to read now, so get reading and book your tickets for the event next Saturday!

In 2024, we entered a new era. The newly elected North East Mayor, Kim McGuinness, ushered in a significant shift...

03/10/2024

ONE WEEK until kicks off!

Lots of our events are selling out – grab your tickets soon if you haven't already.

And remember that we're live-streaming our Gala Durham events, so if you miss out on an in-person ticket, or can't make it to Durham, you can still book to join us from home 🎟️

03/10/2024

Happy ! It's always a delight to welcome poets and poetry lovers alike to the festival – and this year is no exception. Keep the love flowing by booking for a poetry event at next week 💙

You could hear from 20 of the UK and Ireland's best contemporary poets at The Forward Prizes for Poetry Ceremony on Thursday 10 October – and discover the winner's of this year's prestigious prizes.

Or celebrate one of the nation's best-loved poets, Jackie Kay, on Friday 11 October with the Poetry Book Society. Hear about her new poetry collection May Day, alongside a reading from emerging poet Romalyn Ante.

Find tickets for all our events: https://newwritingnorth.com/durham-book-festival/programme/

02/10/2024

Ahead of the quickly approaching festival, we've been having lots of lunchtime conversations about the books we're reading and the authors we’re most excited to see 📚

Read our blog for an inside look at our festival highlights and recent reads 👇

The fast approaching Durham Book Festival leads to many lunchtime conversations here at NWN about the authors we’re most excited...

01/10/2024

Try your hand at writing for children with one of our writing workshops at Clayport Library, in partnership with Children's Books North.

Learn about the basics of picture book creation from illustrator/author Lucy Farfort, and develop your own ideas as a writer and illustrator.

Or join Ashley Thorpe to explore writing for middle-grade, and how you can make use of tales and conventions of old to craft a story that is uniquely yours.

Spaces are limited and booking fast! Discover all our writing workshops: https://newwritingnorth.com/whats-on/ -2024-workshops

30/09/2024

Collected Books is opening late on Friday 11 October especially for our festival-goers! Pop along anytime between 6-10pm to grab a drink, browse the bookshelves, and catch some beats from the resident bookshop DJ 📚🎶🥂