I’m rather looking forward to September. I’ll be at the Romantic Novelists’ Association afternoon tea in York on 14th September (with the added thrill of finding out who will win the Joan Hessayon award for new writers this year): then I’ll be at the Narberth Book Fair on 28th and 29th, having enjoyed it so very much last year. Now that might be enough for many, but when I heard about the Chase BookFest, I just couldn’t resist – and you might just like to join me.
Authors Phillipa Ashley and Kim Nash have joined forces with the Museum of Cannock Chase in Staffordshire, to create a book festival where book lovers are invited to meet some of the UK’s most popular authors. The Chase BookFest will be held at the Museum of Cannock Chase, Valley Road, Hednesford on Saturday 21 September 2019.
The event is Cannock Chase’s first book festival devoted to women’s popular fiction and thrillers. It has attracted a host of star names including Milly Johnson, Cathy Bramley, Miranda Dickinson, Iona Grey, Nicola May, Mark Edwards and many more best-selling and award-winning popular novelists.
Readers will be able to enjoy author readings and join in question and answer sessions and discussions with favourite writers from the local area and further afield.
They can even have tea with an author by booking onto ‘Tea and Conversation’ audiences with Sunday Times best sellers Milly Johnson in conversation with Cathy Bramley, Romantic Novel Awards winner Iona Grey, best-selling crime thriller writer K.L. Slater and number one best-selling novelist Mark Edwards.
A pop-up Waterstones book shop will be on site for the day along with a variety of book and craft stalls and a unique book-themed ‘Yarnbombing’ display outside.
Bestselling author Phillipa Ashley said: “The support for previous events shows how much popular fiction is loved by readers. We’re thrilled that the Museum has been so supportive of this event and of fiction in general.”
Author and Head of Publicity at publisher Bookouture, Kim Nash said: “We’ve been so lucky to get so many amazing authors on board and would love to thank them all for being so enthusiastic about the festival.’
Lee Bellingham, Museum Services Manager for Inspiring Healthy Lifestyles, said: “The museum has been hosting very popular ‘Meet the Author’ events for some time now, and along with local authors Phillipa Ashley, Kim Nash and the book loving members of staff, we thought it would be lovely to have a book festival here. We are thrilled to be the venue for the first ever Chase BookFest.
Events like this showcase the museum not just as a home for local history, but as a community venue for arts and cultural activities. We look forward to welcoming authors from around the country to Cannock Chase for the day.”
The day runs 10am until 4pm with tickets available for £3 by calling the museum on 01543 877 666. Tea and Conversation with an author costs £5 and includes tea or coffee and cake, and Q&A Panels cost £3. Don’t miss the chance to meet your favourite author, book in advance to avoid disappointment. Please see the museum’s Facebook page and website for timetables and start planning your BookFest!
And what events have I chosen? It was really difficult to decide – but I went for Tea and Conversation with Iona Grey at 10.30, and the Women’s Panels at 12.15pm and 2pm. And what’s rather lovely is that I should also be able to fit in a few author readings and meet/sign sessions with some more of my favourites. Hope to see you there!
The Chase Book Fest sounds amazing. I am looking forward to seeing you at the RNA York Tea. So lovely to observe your wonderful bookish social event calendar.
I couldn’t resist this one – what’s retirement for, eh? Looking forward to seeing you at York too x
Sounds fabulous. And I look forward to seeing you at the RNA York Tea 🙂 x
And I’ll look forward to seeing you again too, Jessica xx