FESTIVAL SCHEDULE 2024
All timings and details subject to change
Thursday 10th October
5.30 pm
Ivybridge Bookshop
Free
Launch of Anthology of Short Stories and Flash Fiction: 'Eclipse'
Anne Thomson, John McKenna and Tony Rea met in 2023 at the Ivybridge Writers’ Group, where they first shared their short stories. They quickly realised their work complemented each other’s not least with a close connection to the West Country.
They decided to compile a collection of their creative work, which became Eclipse.
Eclipse is an anthology of short fiction where strange things happen. Beginning with Anne’s eponymous short story and ending with Tony’s Men they Couldn’t Hang, this collection of fiction takes the reader from misty, tor-topped Dartmoor to the foaming, frothing, formidable seas below. From the dark depths of Cornish history and myth, as in John’s Jack Pendragon, to forecasts of the future.
Their stories entertain, surprise and startle at every twist.
To register email: info@ivybridgebookshop.com
Friday 11th October
1.30 – 2:10 pm
Zoom link
Free
Online 'open mic', part 1, for those unable to attend the festival in person.
Now fully booked. Listeners welcome.
EXCITING NEWS 3/9/24: Palm Radio DJ Catherine Dodd from the Book & Film Review show will be coming along to listen and find out more about you all.
2.10 – 2.50 pm
Zoom link
Free
Online 'open mic', part 2, for those unable to attend the festival in person
Now fully booked. Listeneres welcome.
2.30 – 4:30 pm
Chapel Place
CANCELLED
Ivybridge Community Arts will be presenting “Women Talking” with a one act satirical play, “Just Fourteen” by Alice Gerstenberg and short readings from other well known playwrights.
3.45 – 4.45 pm
Ivybridge Library
Free tickets
Children’s event: BRIAN THE BEAR AND FRIENDS with Mark Blackburn suitable for ages 5 -7 year olds
Every teddy bear has a story! Brian has lots of stories – the day he was lost in the woods! When he was stuck in the snow! When he was stranded at the airport!
What’s YOUR bear’s story? Come along and share it at Brian the Bear and Friends.
5.30 – 6.30 pm
Ivybridge Bookshop
Free
MEET THE AUTHORS FABULOUS FICTION!
Come and tantalise your reading tastebuds with this tempting assortment of recently published novels from great local authors. Members of the South Hams Authors Network will be reading short extracts of their work for your delight and delectation. Who knows what you might discover?
To register email: info@ivybridgebookshop.com
Saturday 12th October
Morning
Drop in from 9.30 am – 12.00
Watermark Stowford Hall
£2 + 50p booking fee
WRITERS ADVICE FAIR Do you want to publish a book?
Experienced local authors will be here to give advice on: self-publishing, barcodes, ISBNs, hybrid publishing, marketing, planning writing, approaching agents, ACPS, PLR, British Library, etc. Find out more.
Informal drop-in.
10 - 11 am
Watermark Beeson Suite
£4 + 50p booking fee
BEGINNERS WRITING WORKSHOP with LOUISE SHARLAND
Introduction to the key elements of fiction writing
This one hour session will introduce writers to some key elements of fiction writing including finding and developing ideas, exploring characterisation, setting and genre. Fun, interactive and for people of any age and ability this is a great way to start your writing journey.
This ticket also includes free entry to the writers’ advice fair, open 9.30 -12.00.
11 - 11:30 am
Break for advice fair
11:30 - 12:30
Watermark Beeson Suite
£4 + 50p booking fee
DEVELOPING YOUR WRITING WORKSHOP with KEITH ROSSITER & JASON MANN
A WORLD OF YOUR OWN - how to create a world in your novel that captivates readers
Come fly with us … to a world beyond the world we all know. Writers need to build worlds that are believable and interesting for their readers. In this workshop we will help you to explore vital tools of the trade.
This ticket also includes free entry to the writers’ advice fair, open 9.30 -12.00.
Saturday 12th October
All day
Watermark Centre
Free
Meet and greet by Merlin Smallbone, our wandering jester, and the 'Everything Ivybridge' team.
10.00–midday
Ivybridge Library
Free Tickets
Children's event: COLOURFUL HORIZONS with Kayleigh Swann.
Suitable for children of all ages. Parents welcome.
Activity 1 - COLLAGE inspired by your favourite animal in a book.
Using collaged papers, there will be plenty of inspiration to work from. The papers you will be cutting out of will be colourful and full of pattern, and will be embellished with mark making once your collage has been assembled.
Activity 2 - Design your own ELMER THE ELEPHANT using coloured tissue paper and milk bottles - yes milk bottles!
Plus FANCY DRESS: come dressed as your favourite book character! There's a prize for the best one.
Tickets from Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/colourful-horizons-tickets-957204643857
12.00 – 1 pm
Watermark Stowford Hall
Free
Register and enter fancy dress competition
12.30 – 1 pm
Watermark Stowford Hall
Free
Short story competition results announced by David Fitzgerald (Fitz).
1.30 – 2.10 pm
Watermark Stowford Hall
Free
Fancy dress judging and results with Ivybridge town mayor, Cllr Alan Spencer
12.00 – 5 pm
Watermark Stowford Hall
Free
Book fair open to the public. Free entry.
Book trail around the stalls. 'Find the book title'. Prize: book token (sponsored by SW Law).
1:15 – 2:15 pm
Watermark Beeson Suite
£4 + 50p booking fee
AUTHORS IN CONVERSATION: Romance and Historical Fiction.
Two authors (Mary Georgina De Grey & Lily Style) will be interviewed about their work. Questions taken from the audience as well. The interviewer (Sharon Cook) will be in conversation with the authors about their lives, inspirations and their latest projects. There is also the opportunity to meet the authors and have books signed.
Interviewer: Sharon Cook
2.30 – 3.30 pm
Ivybridge Bookshop
Free
Children’s event: PAUL ROBERTS
Let’s write a book together
For ages 8 to 12 (parents, grandparents, sisters and brothers are welcome too)
An hour of fun thinking about how to write a story. Who should be in it and where would the danger, or fun, come from?
Having decided if there’s magic or aliens, dinosaurs or treasure, or even something more mysterious - how should the story turn out?
Every writer has to decide all these things and hundreds more… but no matter where you think a story is taking you… it still has a strange way of writing itself.
To register email: info@ivybridgebookshop.com
2:15 – 3 pm
Watermark Stowford Hall
Free
Break for book signings and book fair browsing, meet the authors, book trail
(book trail entries must be in by 3.30pm)
3:30 pm
Watermark Stowford Hall
Deadline for book trail entries and raffle ticket sales
3 – 4 pm
Watermark Beeson Suite
£4 + 50p booking fee
AUTHORS IN CONVERSATION: Crime Fiction/Thrillers.
Two authors (David Sharp & Elizabeth Ducie) will be interviewed about their work. Questions taken from the audience as well. The interviewer (Richard Handy) will be in conversation with the authors about their lives, inspirations and their latest projects. There is also the opportunity to meet the authors and have books signed.
Interviewer: Richard Handy
4:15 pm
Watermark Stowford Hall
Free
Book trail winner announced
Raffle drawn
4 – 5 pm
Watermark Stowford Hall
Free
Book signings and book fair browsing, meet the authors.
PRICES AT WATERMARK
MORNING
WORKSHOP 1 AND ADVICE FAIR: £4 plus 50p booking fee
WORKSHOP 2 AND ADVICE FAIR: £4 plus 50p booking fee
ADVICE FAIR ONLY: £2 plus 50p booking fee
AFTERNOON
TALK 1 AND BOOK FAIR: £4 plus 50p booking fee
TALK 2 AND BOOK FAIR: £4 plus 50p booking fee
BOOK FAIR ONLY: FREE
All tickets available from the Watermark box office/website
Sunday 13th October
Afternoon and evening
4.30 – 6.30 pm
Imperial Inn
£1 per participant, on the night
Book, film & TV quiz, £1 per person for quiz entry. Optional snacks available at extra cost (bar snacks, sharing platters etc). Cash prize (sponsored by SW Law).
Suitable for families
Quiz master: Lily Style
7.30 – 9.30 pm
Imperial Inn
Free
Poetry open mic - get your work heard in a supportive, friendly group of like-minded people. Listeners also welcome.
Free tickets from Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/poetry-open-mic-tickets-957213650797?aff=oddtdtcreator
Email: southhamsauthors@gmail.com to book a reading slot of up to 10 minutes.