THEME: Strength of Character (10th Birthday Special)

VENUE: The Church of St Mary the Virgin, Hawkesbury GL9 1BN

Come and join us for a fascinating day of talks by authors (plus one artist!) on the theme of Strength of Character in an event marking our Festival’s 10th Birthday.

Overview

Our Autumn 2025 event will approach its theme of “Strength of Character” from many different angles, including talks, readings, and panel discussions by the following special guests:

• AA Abbott, author of the Lies thriller series, on writing villains you love to hate
• Ali Bacon, historical novelist, speaking about Robert Louis Stevenson’s first love as featured in her new novel The Absent Heart
• Gerard Boyce, retired academic, on characterisation in Shakespeare
• Lucienne Boyce, historical novelist and historian, on Charles Dickens’ characters
• Sarah Sian Chave, author of Hafren: The Wisdom of the River Severn
• Frances Evesham, cosy crime writer of two series set in Somerset
• Lorna Fergusson, novelist and writing coach on the impact of place on character, as demonstrated by her new collection of short stories, One Morning in Provence
• Stefania Hartley, reading one of her short stories about strong Sicilian characters
• Helen Idris-Jones, nurse and nurse educator, and author of Missing Ella
• James Nickells, portrait artist at the Global Portrait Project
• Mark Rutterford, storyteller, performing a story written especially for the event
• Debbie Young, cosy mystery author and festival founder, chairing a panel on the strength of character required to be an author

The event will be chaired by HULF Founder and Director Debbie Young, who will combine this fascinating line-up into a coherent whole.

This occasion marks the 10th Birthday of the Hawkesbury Upton Literature Festival. There will be cake!

TICKETS

Tickets are now available to order online via the Eventbrite link below. Tickets are priced at £10 and a small admin charge will be added per ticket to cover box office costs.

***CLICK HERE TO BUY FESTIVAL TICKETS NOW***

VENUE

We hope that by the end of September, the beautiful ancient parish church of St Mary the Virgin, will be warmer than it has been at past events held in the spring, but so please wrap up warm just in case. Seating is on antique wooden church pews, so feel free to bring a cushion.

Free parking available in the adjacent field. Please leave the hardstanding in front of the church free for those with limited mobility.

REFRESHMENTS

Tea, coffee and cake are included in the ticket price of £10. A small booking charge will be added at the time of booking to cover administration costs. Please book early to avoid disappointment – and to make sure we have enough cake for everyone! Feel free to bring your own refreshments if you prefer.

BOOKSHOP

A £2 book voucher is included with the ticket, valid at the event. All our speakers give their time for free, so please make the most of your voucher to support them by buying their books. A book stall manned by the authors will be open before and after the talks and during the breaks.

A NOTE ABOUT FUNDING

Like all Hawkesbury Upton Literature Festival events, this is a not-for-profit venture run by and featuring volunteers, who receive no payment for their time. Ticket prices are kept low to make the event accessible and affordable to as many people as possible. Additional donations would be most welcome, and may be made in cash or by card on the day. Thank you for your continuing support that enables us to run this event for benefit of the local and wider community of all who love books and reading.