Image demonstrating Book festival set to make bestseller list

Book festival set to make bestseller list

The first ever Morpeth Book Festival proved a real hit with lovers of the written word as visitors flocked to hear from world-renowned authors.
 
Around 30 writers took part across the weekend of April 9-10, with something for everyone, from story time and workshops for children to events for avid readers across a range of genres. 
 
Leading the field was one of the UK’s best loved authors – Northumberland’s own Ann Cleeves. Ann is best known for her televised novels including Vera, Shetland and The Long Call, which comes from the Two Rivers series of books. 
 
The festival was organised by Northumberland County Council Library Service in partnership with Greater Morpeth Development Trust, and was held at the new Pleased To Meet You suites in Morpeth. 
 
Councillor Jeff Watson, Cabinet Member responsible for libraries, said: “It was fantastic to see people out and about and enjoying real world events again.  
 
“The two-day festival was such a success that plans are already underway to make it an annual event. 
 
As well as showing the importance of reading and telling stories, proven to help the wellbeing of people of all ages, the festival brought visitors to the area, boosting trade and raising the profile of local businesses. 
 
Although the focus of the festival was rightly on Morpeth, Northumberland has a very strong Library Service across the county. It provides access to thousands of books, IT services, events, community space and friendly meeting places with knowledgeable and helpful staff. 
 
“In fact during the Covid 19 lockdowns the digital and e-book service proved a lifeline for many people, providing entertainment and engagement for those who felt isolated.” 
 
As well as the “In Conversation with Ann Cleeves” event, the festival weekend was also supported by celebrity authors Chuck Hogan and Mari Hannah. Former probation officer turned crime writer Mari is the creator of DCI Kate Daniels based on her partner who is a former Northumbria Police detective. 
 
Chuck is an American novelist, screenwriter and television producer who joined the festival via Zoom link and is best known for writing The Strain series, The Killing Moon and The Devil in Exile. 
 
Other sessions focused on local writers such as Ashington vicar’s daughter Barbara Fox and Miles Hewitt who penned two fascinating books about his travels across the world. 
 
Murder and Mayhem” took centre stage in a session with crime writers Trevor Wood, whose debut novel The Man on the Street won a Crime Writers’ Association Dagger; Robert Scragg, winner of the 2021 Lindisfarne Prize for Crime Writing; Fiona Veitch Smith, who wrote about the exploits of Morpeth-born Poppy Denby; and Fiona Erskine, who penned the Jacqueline Silver books. 
 
For lovers of historical novels Lorna Windham, best known for her novel, The Jacobite’s Daughter and biographer Greg Christie were on hand. And, Chuck Hogan along with local authors, columnists and playwrights Amy Lord, Mark Iveson and Sarah Elliott, led a session on dystopian fiction.
Poetry also figured strongly in the festival with input from Catherine Ayres, Eileen Beers, Roy Heath, Barbara Pringle, Ellen Phethean, Catherine Graham, Elaine Cusack, David Roe, Harry Gallagher, Jan Clark, Pippa Little, Gene Groves, Jean Laurie and Verna Gorman. 
View all news