Plymouth International Book Festival

Festival Children’s Day

Part of Plymouth International Book Festival

A day of activities and fun for children.

• Join Simon James as he explains how ideas become words and pictures.

• Plymouth Play Association staff as they help you create your own story book.

• After working together for twelve months under the guidance of, Plymouth based writer, Babs Horton, Plymouth Young Writers Squad celebrate the launch of their first book with readings by members of the group.

• Meet Patron of the Letter Box Club Lemn Sissay, talking about his childhood and how he...

Expanded Narrative Symposium

Part of Plymouth International Book Festival

The Expanded Narrative Symposium explores the multidisciplinary field of interactive narrative that reconfigures the form and expands the experience of storytelling. The reader, relocated, becomes a player, co-author or participant. How can we design, develop and experience locative sound, participatory theatre, pervasive and mobile games, flash fiction and works yet to be defined? Through the consideration of these questions, the symposium aims to promote knowledge exchange and collaboration between practitioners from...

Talking Myself Home with Ian McMillan

Part of Plymouth International Book Festival

Ian McMillan, the Bard of Barnsley and a national treasure, brings us his autobiography in verse.

Ian is poet-in-residence for The Academy of Urbanism and Barnsley FC. Previously he was resident poet for English National Opera, UK Trade & Investment Poet, Yorkshire TV’s Investigative Poet and Humberside Police’s Beat Poet. He presents The Verb every week on BBC R3 and he’s a regular on Coast, Pick of the Week, You & Yours, Last Word and The Arts Show. He was recently castaway on Desert Island Discs and...

Later by Philip Gross

Join Philip Gross as he reads from his latest poetry collection. Following his much praised, Deep Field, in which he explored the loosening connections between the self and language in his refugee father's old age, comes the collection Later.

His new book goes further, through the failing of the body and the mind's weakening hold on the borderline between the present and the past. Philip Gross writes poetry that proves it can be trusted with the raw yet essential elements of life.

Philip is the author of several poetry collections, including The Ice Factory; Cat's Whisker;...

Yes Papa! Mrs Chapone and the Bluestocking Circle

Part of Plymouth International Book Festival

Barbara Eaton visits Plymouth to discuss her biography of Hester Chapone, Yes Papa! Mrs Chapone and the Bluestocking Circle. The Bluestockings were an informal women’s social and educational movement in England in the mid- 18th century. The society emphasized education and mutual co-operation rather than the individualism which marked the French version.

“Barbara Eaton’s delightful biography has restored (Hester) Chapone to her rightful place… a vivid portrait of Chapone as both ‘spitfire’ and dutiful daughter...

The Enemy - Charlie Higson

Part of Plymouth International Book Festival

Charlie Higson is a man of many talents. He is a successful actor, comedian and writer for television and radio and has been writing books for children since 2005. Author of the popular series, ‘Young Bond’, Charlie will be discussing his popular series ‘The Enemy’ with horror editor and writer Johnny Mains.

A must see for children and adults.”When the sickness came, every parent, police officer, politician – every adult – fell ill. The lucky ones died. The others are crazed, confused and hungry. Only children...

SS Blue Jacket - Exhibition and Catalogue

Part of Plymouth International Book Festival

Featuring Artists: BERYL COOK, PETER LANYON, SHANA MOULTON, LUCY STEIN, EDWARD STEIN, MERLIN JAMES, ROBERT LENKIEWICZ, MATTHEW RICHARDSON, SIMON BAYLISS, SIMON FUJIWARA as you have never seen them before.

Left at the helm, long after the captain of SS Blue Jacket had retired to his wife below deck, the First Mate became infatuated by an arousing light at sea…

Bayliss & Stein’s erotically-charged interpretation of the fishy local tale of ‘SS Blue Jacket’ - a ship which crashed into a lighthouse on a...

Book Binding Workshop

Part of Plymouth International Book Festival

This unique and fun day is a beginner’s guide to the basics of this fascinating and timeless craft. You will learn several styles of sewing and binding including Coptic binding, Japanese binding and traditional case binding, to produce your very own works of art!

Tom O’Reilly has taught the art of hand bookbinding for many years at Plymouth University, Plymouth College of Art, University College Falmouth and Port Eliot Festival. He has taught all age groups, from children as young as four to retired adults, and...

Plymouth Zombie Ball

Part of Plymouth International Book Festival

Celebrate the most ghoulish holiday of the year, Halloween, by dancing the night away at our retro disco featuring popular horror anthems, zombie themed drinks and a chance to get creative with your fancy dress!

Plymouth Zombie Ball is a celebration of the dark and unnatural nature of gothic fantasy fiction sponsored by Ghostly Publishing, the largest independent Children’s Book Publisher in Plymouth. There will be opportunity to discuss your favourite horror fiction with authors and publishers including People...

Poetry Masterclass with Philip Gross

Part of Plymouth International Book Festival

Join award-winning poet, and Plymouth International Book Festival patron, Philip Gross for a comprehensive workshop on the creation of poems.

Since 2004 Philip has been Professor of Creative Writing at Glamorgan University, previously teaching for some years at Bath Spa University College. He has worked extensively as a writer in schools and leading writing workshops for all ages.

Philip is the author of several adult poetry collections, including The Ice Factory; Cat's Whisker; The Son of the Duke of...

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