Dudley Writers' Festival this June

Taking place in Dudley Libraries for the second consecutive year, literary genres represented include crime and thriller, science fiction and fantasy, romance, family saga, historical, young adult, contemporary fiction and comedy. There will also be poetry, music and plays.

Among those appearing are Emma Purshouse, the first Poet Laureate for the city of Wolverhampton, at Gornal Library on Wednesday, 11 June at 6pm; West Midlands ‘Queen of Crime’ Judith Cutler and her crime-writing partner Edward Marston at Halesowen Library on Thursday, 12 June at 11am; thriller writers Lisa Hall and M J Arlidge at Stourbridge Library on 12 June at 6.30pm; and Top Ten Sunday Times Bestselling contemporary author Mike Gayle at Netherton Library on Friday, 20 June at 2pm.

One of the festival’s highlights is ‘Imaginary Landscapes’ – a hugely popular collaboration between leading poet, author and raconteur Chris Tutton and award-winning international harpist Lucy Nolan. Taking place at Dudley Library on 18 June at 6.30pm, the programme promises a unique and spellbinding fusion of magical music and words.

Royal Literary Fund Fellows Juliet Clare Bell, Helen Kelly and Leila Rasheed will discuss aspects of the writing life and answer audience questions at Stourbridge Library on 9 June at 6pm and again at Halesowen Library on Friday, 13 June at 4pm.

Another panel session, this time about fantasy writing, will be hosted by Anna Stephens (Godblind, Songs of the Drowned), Holly Tinsley (The Vanguard Chronicles), Alex S Bradshaw (Windborn, Trollgrave) and Stewart Hotston (Daybreak Legacy, Tangles Game) at Stourbridge on Saturday, 21 June at 2pm. Anna will also be running a science fantasy and world building workshop there at 11am on the same day.

There will be a play by Laura Liptrot at Stourbridge on Thursday, 19 June at 6.30pm, a talk by historical novelists Annie Lyons and Kerry Barrett at Dudley Library on Thursday, 19 June at 2pm and a multi-performer piece entitled ‘Crown Her With Ivy’ at Dudley on Tuesday, 19 June at 7pm.

Operating under the Better brand, GLL is the not-for-profit social enterprise that runs Dudley Libraries on behalf of the council.

“Our new writers’ festival is packed full of free events across our thirteen libraries and boasts some extraordinary talent,” said Annette Templar, Library Manager. 

“GLL is a great supporter of the arts – as evidenced by the recent launch of the GLL Literary Foundation and active support for The Reading Agency’s Summer Reading Challenge. 

“That’s why the Dudley Writers’ Festival is so important and why we’re delighted to be running it for a second year. Places are limited so booking is essential.”

Councillor Damian Corfield, cabinet member responsible for libraries, said: “This is the second year our libraries have run this festival which offers a mix of readings, talks, Q&As, spoken word and musical performances.

“There’s something for all tastes and with events happening across the borough there’s plenty of opportunity to catch a free event near you.”

For the full event programme, visit better.org.uk/library/dudley/dudley-library/whats-on/dudley-writers-festival