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X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Whitby Lit Fest
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20251109T170000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20251109T183000
DTSTAMP:20260418T035854
CREATED:20250802T145204Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250802T201313Z
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SUMMARY:Sir Alan Ayckbourn in conversation with Kate Fenton
DESCRIPTION:One of Britain’s most celebrated playwrights is interviewed by festival patron\, the former BBC Radio 4 producer\, Kate Fenton. \nAs funny in person as his plays\, and as penetrating about human nature\, this conversation promises a fascinating insight into his craft\, his global success\, and why as a Londoner – he chose Scarborough to be home. \nThe Olivier and Tony Award winning playwright has written 91 full-length plays\, many of which have been produced in London’s West End and New York as well as around the world. His plays have been translated into more than 35 languages. \nAs an acclaimed director\, Sir Alan has worked extensively in the West End and at the National Theatre. He was the Artistic Director of the Stephen Joseph Theatre\, Scarborough\, from 1972 to 2009. \nNow in his 66th year as a playwright\, Sir Alan continues to write and premiere work from his home in Scarborough\, where he remains closely associated with the Stephen Joseph Theatre. His latest work\, Earth Angel\, will premiere there this September. \nBuy Tickets \n\n			\n				\n			\n				\n				©Tony Bartholomew
URL:https://whitbylitfest.org.uk/event/sir-alan-ayckbourn-in-conversation-with-kate-fenton/
LOCATION:Eighteen91\, Brunswick Street\, Whitby\, North Yorkshire\, YO21 1RB\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Fiction,Headliners,Interviews & Panel Discussions
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://whitbylitfest.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Sir-Alan-AyckbournLIbrary_01-©-Tony-Bartholomew-scaled.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Whitby Lit Fest":MAILTO:info@whitbylitfest.org.uk
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20251109T150000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20251109T163000
DTSTAMP:20260418T035854
CREATED:20250802T144740Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250929T151141Z
UID:474-1762700400-1762705800@whitbylitfest.org.uk
SUMMARY:Let Me In: The Brontës in Bricks and Mortar: Sharon Wright\, Ann Dinsdale and Julie Akhurst
DESCRIPTION:Between wild walks\, Charlotte\, Emily\, and Anne Brontë spent most of their lives indoors\, their imaginations firing behind firmly-closed doors. \nTwo expert writers\, Sharon Wright and Ann Dinsdale\, went on a very personal journey around Britain and Ireland\, enjoying privileged access to private houses\, that shaped and inspired the Brontë sisters and their writing. \nEchoing Cathy’s ghost in Wuthering Heights\, Ann and Sharon ask to be let in – and invite you on an eye-opening odyssey that combines the surprising Bronte history of key houses with their sometimes glorious\, sometimes heartbreaking\, always fascinating afterlives. They’ll also delve into the strong local Brontë connections with Scarborough\, Filey\, and Bridlington. \nAnn Dinsdale\, Principal Curator of the Brontë Parsonage Museum in Haworth\, is an expert on the world-class Brontë collection. Sharon Wright is an award-winning journalist and author of the Amazon #1 bestselling biography of Maria Branwell Brontë. \nThey are interviewed by former journalist\, Julie Akhurst\, who lived in Ponden Hall – the ancient farmhouse on the moors thought to inspire Wuthering Heights. \nBuy Tickets
URL:https://whitbylitfest.org.uk/event/let-me-in-the-brontes-in-bricks-and-mortar-sharon-wright-ann-dinsdale-and-julie-akhurst/
LOCATION:Whitby Mission & Seafarers Centre\, Haggersgate\, Whitby\, North Yorkshire\, YO21 3PP\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Dracula, Dickens & Local Interest,Fiction,Interviews & Panel Discussions
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ORGANIZER;CN="Whitby Lit Fest":MAILTO:info@whitbylitfest.org.uk
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20251109T110000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20251109T123000
DTSTAMP:20260418T035854
CREATED:20250802T131142Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251002T090025Z
UID:465-1762686000-1762691400@whitbylitfest.org.uk
SUMMARY:Outrageous: The Mitford Letters: Rob Rinder and Leticia Lentini
DESCRIPTION:The fascination with the Mitford sisters is endless. The glamour. The tragedy. The scandal. Each pursued wildly different paths – communism and fascism – often at a great personal cost. \nRecognised for their beauty\, eccentricity\, conflicting political views\, and sharp intellect\, the six Mitford sisters were undoubtedly the ultimate ‘It Girls’ of the 20th century. \nThey’ve spawned numerous biographies and collected letters\, as well as their own books including Decca and Diana Mitford’s autobiographies and Nancy Mitford’s glittering novels. The sisters are also the subject of a TV biopic – Outrageous – on UKTV\, starring Bessie Carter\, Orla Hill\, Will Attenborough\, James Purefoy\, and Anna Chancellor. \nTV personality\, the barrister and author Rob Rinder\, has long had a slight obsession with the sisters\, as has Leticia Lentini\, who runs the Whitby-based publisher\, Crow Emporium. \nJoin them and Jessica Mitford’s son\, Benjamin Treuhaft\, as they delve into the explosive scandal and heartache. \nBuy Tickets SOLD OUT
URL:https://whitbylitfest.org.uk/event/outrageous-the-mitford-letters-rob-rinder-and-leticia-lentini/
LOCATION:Eighteen91\, Brunswick Street\, Whitby\, North Yorkshire\, YO21 1RB\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Fiction,Headliners,Interviews & Panel Discussions
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ORGANIZER;CN="Whitby Lit Fest":MAILTO:info@whitbylitfest.org.uk
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20251108T190000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20251108T203000
DTSTAMP:20260418T035854
CREATED:20250802T115721Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250812T181327Z
UID:462-1762628400-1762633800@whitbylitfest.org.uk
SUMMARY:The Man Behind the Stories: Lee Child in conversation with Rob Rinder
DESCRIPTION:Are you one of the 100 million people in need of an addictive Reacher fix? \nWith a book selling every nine seconds\, famous fans include Tom Cruise (who took Reacher to the big screen)\, Bill Clinton and Stephen King. \nExit Strategy is the 30th Reacher book (now co-written with his brother\, Andrew). \nThe first\, Killing Floor in 1997\, changed the author’s life. Then 40 years-old\, Jim Grant was made redundant from his job at Granada\, and reinvented himself as Lee Child. He spent £3.99 on pencils and paper\, sat down at his kitchen table\, and began to write. \nIt’s the stuff of Hollywood movies\, told in Lee’s first-ever autobiographical collection of essays that puts his writing in a cultural and personal context \nReacher: The Stories Behind the Stories takes us from that first novel scribbled in pencil\, to the advent of the internet and 9/11\, to seeing his books adapted to the big and small screen. \nExamining the story of a man who once put pencil to paper to turn his luck around\, and who made every word count\, is the author\, barrister and TV personality\, Rob Rinder. \nGarrulous and gossipy\, yet thoughtful and heartfelt\, he brings his trademark warmth and wit to gently interrogate one of the world’s leading thriller writers. \nA Holocaust survivor’s grandson\, Strictly Come Dancing contestant\, and regular face on the telly\, Rob began hosting the reality courtroom series Judge Rinder in 2014\, while still a practising barrister. He is also a Sunday Times No.1 bestselling author\, with a series of novels inspired by his experiences as a barrister: The Trial\, The Suspect and The Protest. \nBuy Tickets SOLD OUT
URL:https://whitbylitfest.org.uk/event/the-man-behind-the-stories-lee-child-in-conversation-with-rob-rinder/
LOCATION:Whitby Spa Pavilion Theatre\, West Cliff\, Whitby\, North Yorkshire\, YO21 3EN\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Fiction,Headliners,Interviews & Panel Discussions
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ORGANIZER;CN="Whitby Lit Fest":MAILTO:info@whitbylitfest.org.uk
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20251108T150000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20251108T163000
DTSTAMP:20260418T035854
CREATED:20250802T113943Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250827T161243Z
UID:453-1762614000-1762619400@whitbylitfest.org.uk
SUMMARY:The Little Book of Miriam: Miriam Margolyes
DESCRIPTION:Famed for her unfiltered honesty and big heart\, Miriam Margolyes has a huge capacity for kindness\, is outrageously funny\, and her passion and curiosity cannot be dimmed. Qualities that have propelled her to the position of national treasure. \nAn award-winning actress\, Miriam has featured alongside Leonardo DiCaprio (Romeo and Juliet)\, played the beloved Professor Sprout (Harry Potter)\, and won a BAFTA for her role in Martin Scorsese’s The Age of Innocence. Her stage credits include Dickens’ Women. \nShe has fronted incisive\, award-winning\, and humane documentaries\, including exploring what it means to be Australian. Her appearances on the Graham Norton Show go viral and\, in her eighties\, she was on the cover of Vogue. \nA life-long Dickens aficionado\, her recent Edinburgh Fringe show was Margolyes and Dickens: More Best Bits. She comes to Whitby at the end of a book tour for her latest memoir. \nJoin her for a candid interview with her long-time friend: Dickens’ great\, great\, great granddaughter\, the author\, art historian and broadcaster\, Lucinda Hawksley\, as she discusses her latest book: The Little Book of Miriam\, an A-Z of wit and wisdom. \nBuy Tickets SOLD OUT
URL:https://whitbylitfest.org.uk/event/the-little-book-of-miriam-miriam-margolyes/
LOCATION:Whitby Spa Pavilion Theatre\, West Cliff\, Whitby\, North Yorkshire\, YO21 3EN\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Dracula, Dickens & Local Interest,Fiction,Headliners,Interviews & Panel Discussions,Non-Fiction
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ORGANIZER;CN="Whitby Lit Fest":MAILTO:info@whitbylitfest.org.uk
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20251108T140000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20251108T153000
DTSTAMP:20260418T035854
CREATED:20250802T113039Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251004T170257Z
UID:448-1762610400-1762615800@whitbylitfest.org.uk
SUMMARY:Forgotten Women of History Fight Back: Anna Mazzola\, Liz Hyder\, and Donna Moore
DESCRIPTION:Join three powerhouse authors for a journey through time and place\, and delve into the stories that reclaim women from the footnote of history – with a thrilling vengeance. \nAnna Mazzola is the award-winning writer of historical\, Gothic and crime fiction. She also writes thrillers under the pen name Anna Sharpe. Her most recent historical novel\, The Book of Secrets\, was awarded the CWA Gold Dagger for Crime Novel of the Year\, 2025. A dark tale\, inspired by real events that took place in 17th century Italy\, it delves into the moral rights and wrongs of self-defensive murder in a male-dominated society. \nLiz Hyder’s adult debut\, The Gifts was the award-winning historical novel set in 1840 following four women who extraordinarily sprout wings in an age defined by men. Her next novel\, The Illusions\, inspired by real-life illusionists\, is an astonishing story of women and talent\, magic\, and power. \nDonna Moore’s The Devil’s Draper is a historical crime novel set in Glasgow in 1920 following an intrepid trio of women on a perilous journey. Where women’s voices are often silenced\, this thrilling tale weaves together crime\, justice\, and the fight for equality. \nBuy Tickets
URL:https://whitbylitfest.org.uk/event/forgotten-women-of-history-fight-back-anna-mazzola-liz-hyder-and-donna-moore/
LOCATION:Whitby Mission & Seafarers Centre\, Haggersgate\, Whitby\, North Yorkshire\, YO21 3PP\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Fiction,Interviews & Panel Discussions
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ORGANIZER;CN="Whitby Lit Fest":MAILTO:info@whitbylitfest.org.uk
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20251108T123000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20251108T140000
DTSTAMP:20260418T035854
CREATED:20250802T094929Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251030T160455Z
UID:429-1762605000-1762610400@whitbylitfest.org.uk
SUMMARY:The Working-Class Library: Live Podcast with special guest author Adelle Stripe
DESCRIPTION:Join writer and editor Richard Benson (The Farm\, The Valley) and Claire Malcolm (CEO of New Writing North) from the Working Class Library podcast as they seek to explore and reclaim working-class people’s contribution to English literature. \nTheir quest is to establish a new ‘canon’ of working-class books that tell a different story to the established British literary canon. For this live edition of the podcast and programmed especially for the inaugural year of the festival they will explore the working class credentials and perspectives of Bram Stoker’s classic\, Dracula. They will be joined by special guest writer Adelle Stripe (Basenotes). The Working Class Library podcast is a venture of The Bee\, a new magazine of writing by working class writers published by New Writing North. \nBuy Tickets
URL:https://whitbylitfest.org.uk/event/the-working-class-library-live-podcast-with-special-guest-author-adelle-stripe/
LOCATION:Coliseum Centre\, Victoria Place\, Whitby\, North Yorkshire\, YO21 1EZ\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Gothic Literature,Interviews & Panel Discussions
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ORGANIZER;CN="Whitby Lit Fest":MAILTO:info@whitbylitfest.org.uk
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20251108T110000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20251108T123000
DTSTAMP:20260418T035854
CREATED:20250802T095739Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251004T170129Z
UID:433-1762599600-1762605000@whitbylitfest.org.uk
SUMMARY:Upon A White Horse: Peter Ross
DESCRIPTION:Join award-winning author Peter Ross (Tomb with a View\, Steeplechasing) in discussion about his latest book Upon A White Horse\, a celebration of landscape and people – and all that is beautiful\, strange\, and old. \nThe prehistoric sites of Britain and Ireland are places of wonder and wondering. Who made these structures? What did they mean to them? And what do they mean to us now? A journey from midwinter at Stonehenge to midsummer at Sycamore Gap. \nAlong the way encountering bog bodies in Dublin\, a wooden goddess in Edinburgh and a chalk giant in Dorset. These objects and structures speak of the long human story. They offer the comfort of recognition and the pleasure of mystery. There is something about ancient places that fills a hollow in our souls. \nPeter is interviewed by Leticia Lentini\, founder of the local publisher\, The Crow Emporium Press. \nBuy Tickets
URL:https://whitbylitfest.org.uk/event/upon-a-white-horse-peter-ross/
LOCATION:Coliseum Centre\, Victoria Place\, Whitby\, North Yorkshire\, YO21 1EZ\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Fiction,Interviews & Panel Discussions
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ORGANIZER;CN="Whitby Lit Fest":MAILTO:info@whitbylitfest.org.uk
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20251108T100000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20251108T113000
DTSTAMP:20260418T035854
CREATED:20250802T092020Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250805T111220Z
UID:418-1762596000-1762601400@whitbylitfest.org.uk
SUMMARY:Great Expectations: Barbara Havelocke and Lucinda Hawksley
DESCRIPTION:Great Expectations meets Killing Eve. \nDubbed ‘gloriously Gothic’ (Daily Mail)\, Estella’s Revenge reimagines the story of Charles Dickens’ Miss Havisham – the world’s most famous jilted bride. Long fascinated with Miss Havisham’s daughter\, Estella\, Barbara asks the question: What kind of emotionally-scarred adult would Estella become? \nA journalist\, Barbara has interviewed victims and perpetrators of crime\, which informs her fiction. Estella’s Revenge is the first in her new historical thriller series; she has written six bestselling psychological thrillers under her real name\, Barbara Copperthwaite. \nBarbara Havelock\nWho better than to darkly explore the matter than Dicken’s great\, great\, great granddaughter herself – author\, art historian and broadcaster\, Lucinda Hawksley. For the past decade\, Lucinda has been a Patron of the Charles Dickens Museum. Her books include Victorian Christmas\, Dickens and Travel\, and Charles Dickens and his Circle. \nBuy Tickets
URL:https://whitbylitfest.org.uk/event/great-expectations-barbara-havelocke-and-lucinda-hawksley/
LOCATION:Whitby Museum\, Pannett Park\, Whitby\, North Yorkshire\, YO21 1RE\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Fiction,Interviews & Panel Discussions
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ORGANIZER;CN="Whitby Lit Fest":MAILTO:info@whitbylitfest.org.uk
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20251107T160000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20251107T173000
DTSTAMP:20260418T035854
CREATED:20250801T163913Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251105T140836Z
UID:410-1762531200-1762536600@whitbylitfest.org.uk
SUMMARY:Red Hot Crime Writers: Abir Mukherjee and Vaseem Khan
DESCRIPTION:The name’s Khan\, Vaseem Khan. Move over Bond\, and hello\, Q. \nAuthor of two award-winning crime series set in India\, the Baby Ganesh Agency series and the Malabar House historical crime novels\, Vaseem brings a new James Bond spin-off featuring Ian Flemming’s most beloved of characters. \nQuantum of Menace sees Q ousted from his job developing gadgets for 00 agents and back in his sleepy hometown. When his childhood friend\, renowned quantum computer scientist Peter Napier dies in mysterious circumstances\, Q feels compelled to investigate… \nThe Burning Grounds is the next thrilling novel from Abir Mukherjee\, author of the British Book Awards Crime Thriller of the Year 2025\, Hunted. \nIn the Burning Ghats of Calcutta\, a renowned patron of the arts is found murdered. Enter Detective Sam Wyndham and Surendranath Banerjee\, who need to put their differences aside to solve the case\, as they’re thrust into the glamorous world of Indian cinema. \nExpect a criminally good\, and thrillingly entertaining chat from Vaseem and Abir – hosts of the Red-Hot Chilli Writers podcast on Spotify. \nBuy Tickets SOLD OUT
URL:https://whitbylitfest.org.uk/event/red-hot-crime-writers-abir-mukherjee-and-vaseem-khan/
LOCATION:Hetty & Betty\, 7 Baxtergate\, Whitby\, North Yorkshire\, YO21 1BW\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Fiction,Interviews & Panel Discussions
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://whitbylitfest.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Vaseem-Khan-2022d-scaled.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Whitby Lit Fest":MAILTO:info@whitbylitfest.org.uk
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20251107T150000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20251107T163000
DTSTAMP:20260418T035854
CREATED:20250801T160916Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251030T160455Z
UID:403-1762527600-1762533000@whitbylitfest.org.uk
SUMMARY:Gothic Tales: Essie Fox in conversation with Amanda Mason
DESCRIPTION:Essie Fox’s debut novel\, The Somnambulist\, was selected for the Channel 4 Book Club. Her latest novel Dangerous: A Lord Byron Mystery has been declared ‘A magnificent gothic tale of scandal\, secrets and murder’ by Janice Hallett. \nSet in Venice and drawing on real events from Byron’s life it follows the story of a novel called The Vampyre\, which is published under Byron’s name. Rumours begin as local women are found dead with wounds to their throats. Haunted by whispering campaigns and the scandals of his past\, Byron is forced to play detective and discover who is really behind the heinous crimes. \nAmanda Mason was born and brought up in Whitby. Her debut novel The Wayward Girls is a dark and captivating story of sisterhood and family secrets. Her second\, The Hiding Place\, a chilling ghost story about mothers and daughters was declared the ‘perfect modern ghost story’ and a ‘supernatural tour-de-force’ (Daily Mail). \nBuy Tickets
URL:https://whitbylitfest.org.uk/event/gothic-tales-essie-fox-in-conversation-with-amanda-mason/
LOCATION:Whitby Museum\, Pannett Park\, Whitby\, North Yorkshire\, YO21 1RE\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Dracula, Dickens & Local Interest,Fiction,Gothic Literature,Interviews & Panel Discussions
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ORGANIZER;CN="Whitby Lit Fest":MAILTO:info@whitbylitfest.org.uk
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20251107T120000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20251107T133000
DTSTAMP:20260418T035854
CREATED:20250801T153718Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250922T091234Z
UID:393-1762516800-1762522200@whitbylitfest.org.uk
SUMMARY:Filling a Heart-Shaped Hole: The Romance Panel: Rowan Coleman\, Jess Kitching\, Jenna Warren
DESCRIPTION:Get ready for a swooningly-good panel…The Sunday Times bestselling author Rowan Coleman (who lives down the road in Scarborough) has written many award-winning novels. She’ll discuss her latest\, Never Tear Us Apart\, a spellbinding tale of love\, strength and sacrifice set during World War Two on the island of Malta\, as well as her Scarborough/Whitby set Romcom\, The Good Boy. \nOriginally from Bradford Jess Kitching now lives in Australia. She brings to Whitby her new novel – a poignant\, life-affirming love story\, The Life Experiment. Perfect for fans of David Nicholls and Matt Haig\, it follows the lives of two people whose lives are turned upside down when they enter an experiment that predicts when they will die. \nThey’re joined by Jenna Warren\, bookshop owner and author from Saltburn\, whose second novel The Hometown Bookshop is an uplifting tale of friendship and connection. It tells the tale of actress Charlotte who has it all: a starring role in a West End show\, a glittering social life\, and an equally high-flying boyfriend. But when her perfect existence abruptly falls apart\, she retreats to her hometown on the North Yorkshire coast\, finding a summer job in the local bookshop. \nBuy Tickets
URL:https://whitbylitfest.org.uk/event/filling-a-heart-shaped-hole-the-romance-panel-rowan-coleman-jess-kitching-jenna-warren/
LOCATION:Whitby Mission & Seafarers Centre\, Haggersgate\, Whitby\, North Yorkshire\, YO21 3PP\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Fiction,Interviews & Panel Discussions
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://whitbylitfest.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/life_experiment_never_tear_us_apart.png
ORGANIZER;CN="Whitby Lit Fest":MAILTO:info@whitbylitfest.org.uk
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20251107T100000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20251107T113000
DTSTAMP:20260418T035854
CREATED:20250801T143220Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251029T094531Z
UID:375-1762509600-1762515000@whitbylitfest.org.uk
SUMMARY:Older\, Bolder\, Colder: Jo Moseley and Sara Barnes
DESCRIPTION:Local author Jo Moseley Jo went from ‘crying in the biscuit aisle of Tesco’ (we’ve all been there) to becoming the first woman to paddleboard 162 miles coast to coast aged 54\, fundraising and picking up litter. Jo found joy\, adventure\, and a fresh start in nature. \nIn 2022\, aged 57\, her childhood dream came true when her first book Stand Up Paddleboarding in Great Britain was published and went on to become a bestseller. Her second book Stand Up Paddleboarding in the Lake District won the Lakeland Book Awards Zeffirellis Guides & Places Award 2025. \nFind out about the joy of ageing well\, Jo’s third book\, and what she is up to next with fellow author\, Sara Barnes. Living in the Lake District\, the outdoors inspires much of Sara’s writing\, including The Cold Fix which discovers strength from cold water swimming\, and her novel about three menopausal wild swimmers\, The Winter of Our Lives. \nTurning 60 is never too old to start something new. The pair will inspire you to be older\, bolder\, and colder. \nBuy Tickets SOLD OUT
URL:https://whitbylitfest.org.uk/event/older-bolder-colder-jo-moseley-and-sara-barnes/
LOCATION:Whitby Museum\, Pannett Park\, Whitby\, North Yorkshire\, YO21 1RE\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Interviews & Panel Discussions,Mental Health,Nature & Environment,Non-Fiction
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://whitbylitfest.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Jo-Moseley-3-photo-credit-Jumpy-James.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Whitby Lit Fest":MAILTO:info@whitbylitfest.org.uk
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20251106T190000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20251106T203000
DTSTAMP:20260418T035854
CREATED:20250801T141620Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251027T124037Z
UID:371-1762455600-1762461000@whitbylitfest.org.uk
SUMMARY:The Meaning of Life: James Bailey and Joshua Fletcher
DESCRIPTION:It is the one question we all search an answer to: What is the meaning of life? \nUnemployed\, heartbroken\, and questioning his purpose on the planet\, James Bailey wrote to some of the world’s leading minds – poets\, philosophers\, politicians\, scientists – asking what the point of it all was. Where could he find happiness\, purpose and meaning? \nThe result is his book: The Meaning of Life: Letters from Extraordinary People and their Answer to Life’s Biggest Question. \nIn what promises to be an illuminating\, moving\, funny\, and fascinating evening\, reading a selection of letters on stage in Whitby will be the acclaimed actor Ace Bhatti (subject to filming availability). \n\n			\n				\n			\n				\n				Ace Bhatti\n				\n			\n				\n			\n				\n				Joshua Fletcher\n				\n		\n\nJames will also be in conversation with Joshua Fletcher – one of the extraordinary people who wrote back to James for the book. \nPsychotherapist and author\, Joshua’s expertise in understanding what makes us tick has seen him amass over 300\,000 followers on TikTok. His latest bestselling book is And How Does That Make You Feel? Everything You (N)ever Wanted to Know About Therapy. \nHear some of the insightful answers to the biggest question we have\, to help frame our days on Earth. \nBuy Tickets
URL:https://whitbylitfest.org.uk/event/the-meaning-of-life-james-bailey-and-joshua-fletcher/
LOCATION:Eighteen91\, Brunswick Street\, Whitby\, North Yorkshire\, YO21 1RB\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Interviews & Panel Discussions,Mental Health,Non-Fiction
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ORGANIZER;CN="Whitby Lit Fest":MAILTO:info@whitbylitfest.org.uk
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DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20251106T170000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20251106T183000
DTSTAMP:20260418T035854
CREATED:20250801T135939Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251031T174850Z
UID:361-1762448400-1762453800@whitbylitfest.org.uk
SUMMARY:Through a Lynchian Lens: John Higgs
DESCRIPTION:Writer\, novelist\, journalist\, and cultural historian\, John Higgs has written on subjects that shape our cultural landscape\, from The Beatles\, to William Blake and Doctor Who. \nIn Lynchian\, he explores the appeal of the enigmatic genius David Lynch and what that appeal says about who we are. Much like the loss of David Bowie\, Lynch’s death produced an extraordinary outpouring of love and grief. \nSo why does his work affect people so deeply? Why do some find it haunting and unforgettable while others dismiss it as meaningless? Answering that question takes us into the strange realms of psychology\, art\, and theology. Lynchian unpacks the mystery but refuses to solve the enigma. \nInterviewing Higgs is Mark Goodall\, writer and filmmaker. He is the author of Sweet and Savage a book about mondo films\, and Gathering of the Tribe about music and the occult (both published by Headpress). He co-produced and directed the film Holy Terrors based on the stories of Arthur Machen. He is currently singer/guitarist with the group Rudolf Rocker. \nBuy Tickets
URL:https://whitbylitfest.org.uk/event/through-a-lynchian-lens-john-higgs/
LOCATION:Hetty & Betty\, 7 Baxtergate\, Whitby\, North Yorkshire\, YO21 1BW\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Interviews & Panel Discussions,Non-Fiction
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ORGANIZER;CN="Whitby Lit Fest":MAILTO:info@whitbylitfest.org.uk
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20251106T150000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20251106T163000
DTSTAMP:20260418T035854
CREATED:20250801T130656Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251030T160455Z
UID:350-1762441200-1762446600@whitbylitfest.org.uk
SUMMARY:New Blood: Stoker’s Undying Legacy: Gavin Collinson\, Amanda Mason\, and Leticia Lentini
DESCRIPTION:Bram Stoker’s legacy on the world is immense\, from literature to TV and film. Join author and cultural historian\, Gavin Collinson\, who worked on the BBC’s 1977 version of Dracula\, and more recently has written extensively for the BBC\, BFI\, and Hammer Films on gothic horror. A crime writer\, his latest is his Moriarty series of books. Gavin has also written for BBC’s Doctor Who. \nLocal lass and Whitby author Amanda Mason was born within the sound of the bells of St Mary’s Church\, an inspiration for Bram Stoker’s Dracula. This Gothic background has nourished a fervent imagination and curious mind creating wonderfully dark and mysterious novels set in Whitby. \nThey’re joined by Leticia Lentini\, founder of the Whitby publishers\, The Crow Emporium\, who recently brought new blood to the classic tale with a bespoke illustrated version of Dracula. \nBuy Tickets
URL:https://whitbylitfest.org.uk/event/new-blood-stokers-undying-legacy-gavin-collinson-amanda-mason-and-leticia-lentini/
LOCATION:Whitby Mission & Seafarers Centre\, Haggersgate\, Whitby\, North Yorkshire\, YO21 3PP\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Dracula, Dickens & Local Interest,Fiction,Gothic Literature,Interviews & Panel Discussions
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://whitbylitfest.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Leticia-Lentini-left-scaled.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Whitby Lit Fest":MAILTO:info@whitbylitfest.org.uk
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20251106T150000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20251106T163000
DTSTAMP:20260418T035854
CREATED:20250801T125541Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251105T140858Z
UID:345-1762441200-1762446600@whitbylitfest.org.uk
SUMMARY:The Restless Coast: Roger Morgan Grenville
DESCRIPTION:Ex-soldier\, storyteller\, and seaside crusader. \nFrom helping to set up the charity Help For Heroes to co-founding Curlew Action\, Roger Morgan Grenville is no stranger to standing up for a cause. \nWhitby’s towering cliffs and rocky shores offers the perfect backdrop for his latest book\, The Restless Coast: A Journey around the Edge of Britain. \nRoger’s 10\,000-mile adventure around the country’s coastline is a moving and beautiful journey – a delightful travelogue and passionate defence – a personal love letter to the coast. \nInterviewing Roger is the Chief Executive of Northumberland Wildlife Trust\, Mike Pratt. \nMike has worked in conservation for over 40 years and is passionate about reconnecting people with nature. He is also a writer. His books include Infinite Wonder which explores the healing power of nature and My Wild Northumbria. \nBuy Tickets SOLD OUT
URL:https://whitbylitfest.org.uk/event/the-restless-coast-roger-morgan-grenville/
LOCATION:Hetty & Betty\, 7 Baxtergate\, Whitby\, North Yorkshire\, YO21 1BW\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Interviews & Panel Discussions,Nature & Environment,Non-Fiction
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ORGANIZER;CN="Whitby Lit Fest":MAILTO:info@whitbylitfest.org.uk
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20251106T130000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20251106T153000
DTSTAMP:20260418T035854
CREATED:20250801T131940Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251014T165457Z
UID:353-1762434000-1762443000@whitbylitfest.org.uk
SUMMARY:Horror\, Humour\, and The Hand of Glory: Bob Beagrie and Bob Fischer
DESCRIPTION:The Folklore of Freebrough Hill is a series of short stories spanning 12\,000 years of history. Bob Fischer takes us on a dream-like journey through the folklore attached to Freebrough Hill\, a curious peak located beside the A171 moorland road to Whitby. Travelling from the last Ice Age to present-day North Yorkshire\, Bob weaves a magical tale of Vikings\, Romans\, giants\, demons and even the sleeping knights of the legendary King Arthur. \nBob Beagrie will perform extracts from his new collection of poems\, The Hand of Glory: a biography to an accompanying eerie soundscape composed by Project Lono. The collection has been described as\, “a real rollercoaster of a read full of fireworks – lyrical\, rhythmical\, and bursting with imagery. The Hand of Glory is a fable for our times. (Ann Caldwell) and\, “a fascinating cavalcade of dark humour and social observation.” (Ville Hytönen). \nBuy Tickets SOLD OUT
URL:https://whitbylitfest.org.uk/event/horror-humour-and-the-hand-of-glory-bob-beagrie-and-bob-fischer/
LOCATION:Whitby Museum\, Pannett Park\, Whitby\, North Yorkshire\, YO21 1RE\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Dracula, Dickens & Local Interest,Fiction,Interviews & Panel Discussions,Non-Fiction
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://whitbylitfest.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/46223387ml-w1920.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Whitby Lit Fest":MAILTO:info@whitbylitfest.org.uk
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20251106T130000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20251106T143000
DTSTAMP:20260418T035854
CREATED:20250801T123040Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251004T165616Z
UID:341-1762434000-1762439400@whitbylitfest.org.uk
SUMMARY:Last Night I Dreamt I Went to Whitby Again: Rebeka Russell and Dr Katherine Cooper
DESCRIPTION:Rebeka Russell set up her independent publishing imprint Manderley Press in 2021. \nIt specialises in literary classics featuring distinctive settings\, taking its name from Daphne Du Maurier’s Rebecca (‘Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again.’) \nA former editor at Thames & Hudson and the National Gallery\, Rebeka grew up in Whitby\, surrounded by historic houses and architecture. \nShe describes it as a muse to many wonderful authors new and old (think Bram Stoker\, Elizabeth Gaskell\, Storm Jameson\, and Kate Atkinson). \nHer 2026 release is Storm Jameson’s Whitby-inspired novel The Moon is Making. Rebeka talks about her background in publishing in conversation with the writer\, broadcaster and academic\, Dr Katherine Cooper\, who has collaborated on the forthcoming book. \nBuy Tickets
URL:https://whitbylitfest.org.uk/event/last-night-i-dreamt-i-went-to-whitby-again-rebeka-russell-and-dr-katherine-cooper/
LOCATION:Hetty & Betty\, 7 Baxtergate\, Whitby\, North Yorkshire\, YO21 1BW\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Fiction,Interviews & Panel Discussions
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://whitbylitfest.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/AdobeStock_7498923961.jpeg
ORGANIZER;CN="Whitby Lit Fest":MAILTO:info@whitbylitfest.org.uk
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20251106T110000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20251106T123000
DTSTAMP:20260418T035854
CREATED:20250801T122753Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250818T085400Z
UID:337-1762426800-1762432200@whitbylitfest.org.uk
SUMMARY:The Shipping Forecast: Rob Stepney and Kathy Biggs
DESCRIPTION:Often described as a litany\, mantra or lullaby\, the practical marine weather forecast has become much-loved for its gentle rhythm and curious wording as a comfort\, a charm\, or fail-safe formula for inducing sleep. \nGood Occasionally Rhyming is a love letter in poetry and prose from Britain’s literary landscape to this iconic radio broadcast\, released for the 100th anniversary of the first BBC Broadcast. It’s co-editor Rob Stepney joins author Kathy Biggs\, with her new literary novel\, Attention All Shipping. \nCompared to Alan Bennett for her fine line between humour and sadness\, Biggs tells the story of Grace\, who lives with her father Jack\, who has dementia. After losing his son to a tragic sea accident\, each night he’s soothed by an old recording of the Shipping Forecast. When a young woman turns up at their farm\, it leads to a journey from the Welsh valleys to Whitby\, which will change all their lives forever. \nWhen you’re feeling lost at sea\, what will it take to guide you home? \nBuy Tickets
URL:https://whitbylitfest.org.uk/event/the-shipping-forecast-rob-stepney-and-kathy-biggs/
LOCATION:Whitby Mission & Seafarers Centre\, Haggersgate\, Whitby\, North Yorkshire\, YO21 3PP\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Fiction,Interviews & Panel Discussions,Nature & Environment
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ORGANIZER;CN="Whitby Lit Fest":MAILTO:info@whitbylitfest.org.uk
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