After a fantastic first week of events, including our launch at Harwich Electric Palace Cinema with Blake Morrison and The Hosepipe Band – what a fabulous night that was! – we are really looking forward to all of the wonderful things in the mix for the rest of June. Ones to watch out for, particularly... Read more »...
One thing we are really proud about this year is the sheer volume of free activities for children taking place at this year’s Essex Book Festival. Especially given the squeeze on family purses. Whether it’s making your own giant jelly fish out of a plastic bottles and bags (bring you own if you can) or... Read more »...
With the starting line looming – it’s less than four weeks until this year’s first event featuring poet and writer Robert Hamberger leading a literary expedition through Epping Forest – the challenge is deciding how to fit everything in. Something, given the nature of Essex Book Festival, that is not always easy, or indeed possible.... Read more »...
We are so excited to be announcing this year’s festival programme on 5th April. Pick up a brochure from your local library or download the digital version via our website (available from 5th April). The festival will be running from 1-30th June in 40 venues across Essex involving over 200 artists and writers. We are... Read more »...
After what has been a remarkable 3-month festival ‘marathon’, with events and activities taking us everywhere from Canvey Heights to Layer Marney Tower, Chelmsford Theatres to Harlow Museum, we’re finally catching our breath at the Festival HQ. But not for long! Work is already underway for next year’s Essex Book Festival, which will be taking... Read more »...
We are keen for you to understand the measures we are putting in place to keep you safe during our in person events. Here are few that we are implementing in line with our partners at Essex and Thurrock Libraries, Layer Marney Tower, Chelmsford Theatres, and Explore Essex (The Story Hunters Project Workshops and Festival... Read more »...
In the next few weeks, we will launch the Story Hunters Project together with a dedicated page that will track and exhibit your flash fiction submissions from 20 locations in the geographical county of Essex. This year it is taking the form of a competition, with the winner being announced at our Festival Finale at... Read more »...
If so, get in touch by emailing us at [email protected] In 2019 we will be celebrating our 20th Birthday as well, and want to celebrate with you, with free tickets to events and other goodies. We’d love to hear from you!...
What’s your favourite book set in or featuring Essex? Essex Book Festival will be 20 years old in 2019 and to celebrate we’re asking for suggestions for the best reads with an Essex connection. The top 20 titles will go to a public vote and the winning title announced on LV18 the former Radio Caroline... Read more »...
For Essex Book Festival 2018 we invited Ruth Raymer to be writer-in-residence at Jaywick Martello Tower. Ruth spent a week at the tower, talking with visitors, writing and delivering writing workshops. Let’s Go Fly a Kite was used as a basis for storytelling as part of our Festival Finale on 31 March. Let’s Go Fly a... Read more »...
For Essex Book Festival 2018 we invited Ruth Raymer to be writer-in-residence at Jaywick Martello Tower. Ruth spent a week at the tower, talking with Jaywick residents and visitors, researching into its history, writing and delivering writing workshops, and storytelling as part of our Festival Finale on 31 March. Tower ‘C’ – Peace Tower... Read more »...
For Essex Book Festival 2018 we invited Ruth Raymer to be writer-in-residence at Jaywick Martello Tower. In this entry Ruth talks broadly about her experience, recounting her week at the tower, time spent talking with Jaywick residents and visitors, writing, and walking in and around the area. Jaywick Martello Tower – Writer’s Residency Report... Read more »...