Calling all Isle of Man writers: this event is for you. There’s something for everyone, with masterclasses and discussions from local and visiting authors, and a talk from literary agent Thérèse Coen, of Hardman & Swainson. The highly sought-after agent pitch slots will be running throughout the day, during which writers will be able to meet Thérèse on a one-to-one basis, for feedback on their manuscripts.
Writers’ Day gets underway with tea/coffee and registration at 9am, and concludes at 4pm. Tea, coffee and a buffet lunch are included in the price.
Hardman & Swainson | Literary Agency London UK (hardmanswainson.com)
www.ticketsource.co.uk/manxlitfest
To enquire about agent slots, email manxlitfest@gmail.com
Candy Gourlay is a Filipino author based in the United Kingdom. She has written several children’s and Young Adult books, notably Tall Story (2010), Shine (2012) and Bone Talk (2018), and her work has been shortlisted for multiple awards. Tall Story won the National Children's Book Award of the Philippines in 2012 and the Crystal Kite Award for Europe in 2011, and Bone Talk was shortlisted for the 2018 Costa Book Awards and the CILIP Carnegie Medal.
This is a fun and interactive event, inspired by Candy's magical 2018 picture book, Is it a Mermaid?
An interactive session in which renowned illustrator Martin Impey will talk about his work, whilst encouraging his audience to draw along with him.
Award-winning illustrator Martin Impey talks about his stunning edition of the famous Wilfred Owen poem, as featured on BBC 1, BBC Radio 4 and Forces TV. In a moving and emotional talk, Martin explores his own family connection to some of the important locations in France; his research, including unrestricted access to Owen's archives at Oxford and the British Library; and the process involved in creating the right 'look' for the book. Martin will also show a couple of fascinating time-lapse films of the images as they come together.
Jamie Mollart’s first novel, The Zoo, published in 2015 by Sandstone Press, saw him named as one of Amazon's rising stars. He has been a long-running guest on Litopia, the web’s biggest writing podcast and has been interviewed by BBC Ulster, BBC Radio Leicester and BBC Radio Nottingham, as well as featuring at several book festivals and writing conferences. He has taught novel writing for Writing School Leicester, and is a member of the Climate Fiction Writers League, a group of global authors who seek to raise awareness about climate change through their writing.
Jamie will be talking about his second novel, Kings of a Dead World, which was published earlier this year, to huge critical acclaim.
Christopher Riley is a writer and filmmaker specialising in science, engineering and history. He has directed and produced more than thirty documentary films for the likes of the BBC, Film4 and Netflix, including the critically acclaimed BBC film, The Girl who talked to Dolphins. Chris is the author of over a dozen books, including the best-selling Haynes Apollo 11 Owner’s Workshop Manual, and the acclaimed children’s book, Where Once We Stood, which was nominated for a 2020 Kate Greenaway award.
Chris will be talking about his work, and the ways in which his writing interacts with his filmmaking.
Michelle Paver is a British novelist who writes for both children and adults. Her children's fantasy series, Chronicles of Ancient Darkness is set in pre-agricultural Stone Age Europe, and the concluding novel, Ghost Hunter, won the Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize. Her novels for adults include the brilliantly chilling Dark Matter, Thin Air and Wakenhyrst.
Michelle will be talking about her critically-acclaimed writing, which has been described by The Daily Mail as "immersive and richly evocative," and by The Observer as “spooky, twisted and unforgettable.”
