Festival 2023

The Shadow Health Secretary talked about his new book - One Boy, Two Bills and a Fry Up – A Memoir of Growing Up and Getting On.

Celebrated actor and writer NIGEL PLANER, star of The Young Ones, talked about the first book in the Time Shard Chronicles - a new time-travel fantasy trilogy.

Multiple award winning writer, Graham Duff, held a three hour workshop on writing for screen and radio.

Trix Worrell, creator and writer of television's Desmond's, Patrice Lawrence MBE, award winning writer, and Henry Normal, retired managing director of Baby Cow Productions, talked about the challenges and successes of their careers.

Author Alex Milway hosted a lively session of stories, music and drawing for children.

The comedian, television presenter and writer talked about her debut novel - Weirdo.

CHILDREN'S EVENT : Patrice Lawrence at the Hastings Library - A lively, fun and free event for children from 3-7 years old

Tom Crewe - one of the Granta Best of Young British Novelists 2023 - talked to BBC producer Simon Richardson about his historical novel The New Life which has won the 2023 Orwell Prize.

A fast moving morning in which a specially chosen set of local , published non fiction authors, talked about their specialist subjects for just 10 minutes each.

We offered a limited number of one-to-one sessions with a brilliant literary agent.

We were joined by one of the UK’s foremost poets and writers - Salena Godden - for an explosive evening with an electrifying performance

An evening showcasing local talent hosted by the legendary VG Lee.

Magicians and Fools - Tarot For Writers, Andrew Wille explored the potential of the tarot in this three hour interactive workshop.

Robyn Drury Editorial Director for Non-Fiction at Ebury, a division of Penguin Random House ran a three-hour interactive exploration into life writing - biography, memoir and all forms of non-fiction writing in the authorial first person ‘I’.

The Book Festival’s first Poetry Open Mic Lottery night was hosted by Henry Normal.

Instagram’s fun and famous cook - The School Night Vegan - on his new and beautiful cookery book - Anything You Can Cook, I Can Cook Vegan

Christine Harmar-Brown ran a three-hour workshop for all who wanted to pack a verbal punch, catch the eye and say something pithy and memorable.

Our immensely impressive Hastings Young Writers took to the stage to read their own works.