Suzanne will guide you through creating a monologue – a story with a single voice – from the idea to the final draft. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced writer and whether you want to tell your story or someone else’s, bring along your ideas or be inspired by current and historic prompts. […]
Nancy Walbank is running a story and writing workshop starting by telling the story, ‘Hild the Peacemaker’ from her book ‘The Change makers’ (Hodder and Stoughton 2025). about 2 young children who climb the 199 steps and meet up with Caedmon, the poet, and help him write his poem. The children’s poetry writing will be […]
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. Good Occasionally Rhyming is a love letter in poetry and prose from Britain's literary landscape to this iconic radio broadcast, released […]
Rebeka Russell set up her independent publishing imprint Manderley Press in 2021. It 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.’) A former editor at Thames & Hudson and the National Gallery, Rebeka grew up in Whitby, surrounded by […]
A unique collaboration between Whitby’s professional theatre company, Dogwood Productions and Going For Independence (GFI), the Teesside organisation supporting the blind and partially-sighted has led to the creation of a four-part audio drama. It features a young couple, struggling to run the recently inherited guest house, Bel View, in a fictitious resort north of Whitby. […]
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 […]
In this event, young readers will join Piers in exploring the breathtaking fantasy world of Midnight Treasure, meeting vampires and werewolves along the way. They will learn about the inspirations behind the series, including Dracula and other 'real' vampires, the history of Transylvania and Piers' own journey to uncovering his Romanian family heritage. Piers began his career […]
Focusing on plot, place, and character, best-selling novelist David Mark helps writers to tell their stories in an environment of positivity, encouragement, and shared imagination. David spent more than 15 years as a journalist, including seven years as a crime reporter with the Yorkshire Post - walking the Hull streets that would later become the […]
Ex-soldier, storyteller, and seaside crusader. From 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. Whitby’s towering cliffs and rocky shores offers the perfect backdrop for his latest book, The Restless Coast: A Journey around the Edge of Britain. […]
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 […]
Greta Scacchi was catapulted to stardom at the age of 22 in Merchant Ivory’s HEAT & DUST - based on the Booker prize winning novel by Ruth Prater Jhabvala. Within a year she was playing Sir Laurence Olivier’s muse in John Fowles’ THE EBONY TOWER and opposite Alan Bates in Graham Greene’s DR FISCHER OF […]
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. In 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 […]
The folk-singing bookseller from the Isle of Wight has been compared to Nick Drake and Cat Stevens. A veteran performer with a legion of celebrity fans including Mark Radcliffe, Elbow’s Guy Garvey, Lauren Laverne and Caitlin Moran, Paul’s latest album celebrates the collision of the literary and music world: Between the Covers: 9 Songs for […]
It is the one question we all search an answer to: What is the meaning of life? Unemployed, 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, […]
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. In 2022, aged 57, her childhood dream came true […]
S.J. Baker, author of ‘Calm’ is presenting on dystopian fiction and the writer’s journey. From Handmaids to Hunger Games and beyond, the enduring popularity of dystopian fiction embodies this event, covering a survey of the dystopian genre on YA fiction, and she will discuss her writing journey sharing personal experiences of how to get published […]
Kjartan Poskitt, author of the Math Maze series and Runaway Pea series, introduces his new Mega Maths Maze full of pathways, traps and creatures. Once you’ve found your way through the river rapids, spooky forest and deep dark caves, you get to unlock the secret doors and go back to learn more about the strange […]
Whether you’re a novice, amateur, or professional poet, this workshop themed around coastal history, taking in marine life, will help you explore ideas and be inspired by our beautiful coastal setting. Pens, pads, and other prompt materials will be provided, and feedback will be based wholly on positivity, with constructive ideas for development. Experienced at […]
The psychotherapists coach awaits… Praised as, “Profound, entertaining and enlightening” (Cathy Rensenbrink) and, “Hilarious, honest and helpful” (Dr Alex George), Joshua’s book And How Does That Make You Feel? Everything you (n)ever wanted to know about therapy promises to, “change the way you think about your own mental health” (Dr Nicole Le Pera). Psychotherapist Josh […]
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 […]
Poet Wendy Pratt lives on the North Yorkshire coast, a place that inspires her to write about nature as refuge, and landscape as connection – as we walk on the land our ancestors did. She talks about her 2024 memoir The Ghost Lake, a powerful exploration of grief and belonging, was described as ‘remarkable’ (Observer), […]
Mike Edwards will talk to children about his book, Riverskin. This inspired debut has its roots in a Teeside myth about a green-skinned witch who drags people to their doom from the banks of the river but offers so much more than a retelling of folklore. Using unique and compelling language to give Tess, the main […]
Yvette Fielding will be talking about her book ‘The Vampire of Whitby’. The Vampire of Whitby follows the tale of a young archaeologist who disappears during a dig at Whitby Abbey, triggering a terrifying and sinister chain of events. As an eerie fog settles on the town, young ghost hunters Eve, Clovis and Tom come […]
The best poetry is original yet accessible; it stirs the mind or moves the emotions. The 1950s, ‘60s and ‘70s were arguably the greatest eras for poetry in the UK. But many writers are now forgotten - producing a wide range of pocket masterpieces, some arising from the upheavals of those decades, others apparently untouched […]
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. Set in Venice and drawing on real events from Byron’s life it follows the story of a novel […]
Three poets from the Yorkshire coast - Wendy Pratt, Rowena Somerville, and Charlotte Oliver - perform a selection of their poetry as a dynamic group. Wendy Pratt is the founder and editor of Spelt magazine, dedicated to celebrating rural life. She runs short courses and workshops through her Substack writing community, Notes from the Margin. […]
The name's Khan, Vaseem Khan. Move over Bond, and hello, Q. Author 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. Quantum of Menace sees Q ousted from his job […]
From the rollercoaster ride of being Blue Peter’s youngest ever presenter to the rather unusual job of ‘ghost hunter,’ real-life Ghostbuster Yvette Fielding has Whitby spooked. The coastal town is the setting of her latest children’s book The Vampire of Whitby and the place she told the Yorkshire Post she’d like to retire to. The […]
Shaun Usher is a literary phenomenon - the appointed custodian of letters, lists and now, diaries. His book Letters of Note not only became a huge bestseller, it evolved into Letters Live featuring A-list actors reading out the letters on iconic stages in London, New York, LA, and Venice. This year, he took it to […]
Great Expectations meets Killing Eve. Dubbed ‘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? A journalist, Barbara has interviewed victims and perpetrators of […]
Informative, empathetic, and empowering, ADHD: How to Raise a Happy ADHD Child is the must-read book for parents and teachers. Jessie Hewitson is an award-winning journalist, ADHD-er and parent to two neurodivergent children. For more than a decade, Jessie has been on a quest to better understand neurodivergent happiness and the many barriers young ADHD […]
Using nothing but their collective imagination, teenagers are invited to join writer and workshop leader Liz Hyder in creating the concept, characters, and plot ideas for a brand-new TV series in only an hour. From sci-fi to fantasy, from gritty drama to comedy, anything could happen! Majority rules in this fast-paced workshop with ideas being […]
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. The prehistoric sites of Britain and Ireland are places of wonder and wondering. Who made these structures? What did they […]
One of the UK’s most original voices on nature, Rob Cowen’s latest book, The North Road, has attracted universal acclaim: ‘Astonishing’ (The Telegraph); ‘Remarkable’ (The Financial Times), ‘Entrancing’ (The Observer). The A1: The Great North Road. A 400-mile multiplicity of ancient trackway, Roman road, pilgrim path, coach route and motorway that has run like a […]
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. Their 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 […]
Whitby takes centre stage with cult writer Paul Magrs – known for his writings around Doctor Who. Paul’s Brenda and Effie Mystery series of novels merge comedy, fantasy, high art, and popular culture. Who knew that from the annals of Mary Shelley’s Gothic seminal work Frankenstein Brenda’s story would arise? Running a BnB in Whitby, Brenda is a […]
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. Anna 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 […]
Amy Jeffs, author of the Sunday Times bestseller Storyland and Wild, artist Gwen Burns, and musician Natalie Brice combine forces to create a rich compendium, singing of mystery, magic and, above all, humanity. The three celebrate their illustrated and music-infused book, Old Songs: Stories of Love and Death from Traditional Ballads, which fuses short stories, […]
Join us for the awards ceremony for our children's writing competition. Winners will be announced across the four age categories for both poetry and short story categories. Winning entries will be read by the authors, or one of our judging panel. Free to attend (although donations are welcome). Book Tickets
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. An award-winning actress, Miriam has featured alongside Leonardo DiCaprio (Romeo and Juliet), played the beloved Professor Sprout […]
For readers aged 9+, bite into vampish powers with a brand-new adventure series following three cousins who discover they’re the descendants of Dracula. The trio combine their vampish powers to form the infamous vampire healing company, Dracula & Daughters! A tale dangerously close to the heart! Emma Carroll is a multi-award winning and bestselling author […]
Join authors and gothic literature experts, Dr Michael Stewart and Dr Claire O'Callaghan, as they discuss Michael's latest gothic novel, Black Wood Women, and where it sits within the canon of gothic literature. Where did gothic fiction come from and why did it catch fire? And how has it developed and adapted to the cultural […]
Your child has been kidnapped. You're live on television. Going live in 10, 9, 8 . . . Today is a huge day for TV reporter Rose’s career. A live interview with one of the most powerful men in the country, on one of the nation’s biggest TV shows. 7, 6, 5 . . . […]
We’re offering a platform for local/regional writers, reading and writing groups, and for new and upcoming authors, poets, and performers to have the opportunity to share some of their work or perform a piece to the audience. Whether it is a poem, a monologue, a folk tale, or excerpt from your book, we welcome all, […]
Are you one of the 100 million people in need of an addictive Reacher fix? With a book selling every nine seconds, famous fans include Tom Cruise (who took Reacher to the big screen), Bill Clinton and Stephen King. Exit Strategy is the 30th Reacher book (now co-written with his brother, Andrew). The first, Killing […]
Join a descendant of Dickens over a delicious dinner at The White Horse and Griffin, the original coaching inn where Dickens stayed whilst visiting Whitby. His great, great, great granddaughter, Lucinda Hawksley, is an acclaimed biographer, author, art historian and travel writer. Her books include Victorian Christmas, Dickens and Travel, and Charles Dickens and his […]
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. Recognised for their beauty, eccentricity, conflicting political views, and sharp intellect, the six Mitford sisters were undoubtedly the ultimate ‘It Girls’ of the 20th century. […]
This engaging and emotive session offers a personal reflection from the author of Expelled from Uganda. Noreen’s memoir traces the journey of her father's traumatic expulsion from Uganda in 1972, under the brutal regime of Idi Amin, and how this became a powerful reclamation of a forgotten history. Praised for its warmth and courage, this […]
Vera’s Ann Cleeves declared Belinda Bauer’s The Impossible Thing ‘extraordinary.’ Val McDermid said it gifts the ‘pure joy of reading’ and Lee Child declared it ‘solid gold.’ Literary crime writing at its best, this gloriously gripping novel follows one of the most daring crimes of the century. 1926. On the towering cliffs of Yorkshire, men […]
Whitby has been inspiring writers for centuries. From Caedmon to Atkinson, Gaskell to Brody, Julie’s aim is to introduce you to a variety of writing about Whitby and how and why this place captures the heart of so many writers. In the first part of this workshop session, she will read some book extracts, then you […]
Fearless and dogged, Rose George began her journalism career as an intern at The Nation in New York, and has since written for the New York Times, Guardian and Independent. Every Last Fish: What Fish Do For Us and What We Do To Them is a shocking expose of the fishing industry’s misdeeds. An essential […]
Between wild walks, Charlotte, Emily, and Anne Brontë spent most of their lives indoors, their imaginations firing behind firmly-closed doors. Two 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. Echoing […]
One of Britain’s most celebrated playwrights is interviewed by festival patron, the former BBC Radio 4 producer, Kate Fenton. As 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 […]
