Farsley Lit Fest at various venues

Sarah-Clare Conlon, Literature Editor
Kate Mosse
Kate Mosse. Image supplied by Leeds Inspired

Farsley Lit Fest at Truman Books, Leeds Until 22 November 2024 Tickets from £8.00 — Book now

The third edition of Farsley Literature Festival is full steam ahead, organised in conjunction with Truman Books and The Old Woollen, and encompassing some of their friends from in and around Leeds suburb Farsley.

Headline names include Cecelia Ahern talking about her latest novel Into the Storm to Gaby Roslin, while award-winning novelist, playwright, performer, campaigner, interviewer and non-fiction writer Kate Mosse is in town on 2 November. The author of ten novels and short-story collections, her books have sold over five million copies, been translated into 38 languages and published in more than 40 countries, and she will be talking about her latest novel The Map of Bones, hot off the press, published as it was on 10 October.

Short story writer SJ Bradley popped into Farsley’s Truman Books with her new collection Maps of Imaginary Towns , published by Manchester’s Fly On The Wall Press (you can also catch up with her at Ilkley’s The Grove Bookshop on 7 November and the Book Corner in Halifax on 21 November), and Tawseef Khan will be following in her footsteps on 5 November when he discusses his latest modern contemporary fiction Determination at the indie bookshop.

On 6 November, music journalist, DJ and author Patrick Clarke will be in conversation about his latest release Bedsit Land – The Strange Worlds of Soft Cell with journalist, broadcaster and musician John Robb, while on 13 November, award-winning pop writer Miranda Sawyer will be sharing the vivid stories behind 20 key songs of the 90s in Uncommon People: Britpop and Beyond in 20 Songs.

Crime sells, and on 10 November, acclaimed crime author Elly Griffiths (also at Todmorden Book Festival the day before) will be in the spotlight rounding off a special Crime Day at 7pm – Josie Lloyd, JM Hall and Antony Johnston take on Cosy Crime at 3pm and Saima Mir and Lesley McEvoy investigate how to go about Creating Kick-Ass Female Protagonists at 5pm.

On 14 November, Yorkshire crime writer JM Hall (A Spoonful of Murder, A Pen Dipped in Poison and A Clock Stopped Dead) chairs an evening of discussion with Tom Hindle and Rachel North, exploring the lure of the glamorous location for thriller writers – these guys are experts: Tom Hindle’s Murder on Lake Garda involves a fancy party on the private island of Castello Fiore; Rachel North’s Happily Never After involves a wedding at a magical castle, the Finca Incantata.

Closing Farsley Lit Fest for 2024 on 22 November is award-winning, multimillion-copy worldwide-bestselling writer Sir Ian Rankin will introduce audiences to the brand-new John Rebus thriller Midnight and Blue, just out in October (tickets sold out at time of writing, but there may be returns, so keep your peelers, er, peeled).

Farsley Lit Fest at Truman Books, Leeds Until 22 November 2024 Tickets from £8.00 Book now

Where to go near Farsley Lit Fest at various venues

Mandarin
Blackpool
Restaurant
Michael Wan’s Mandarin

Think of Blackpool and what springs to mind? Whatever it is, it’s probably not top tier Cantonese dining. But a visit to Michael Wan’s Mandarin might just change that.

Dirty Blonde's
Blackpool
Restaurant
Dirty Blonde’s

Dirty Blonde’s is a dive bar and pizza joint that feels more downtown New York than British seaside town.

gallery 2
Liverpool
Gallery
Bridewell Studios

Bridewell Studios is a gallery space and artist studios located in an old police station, hosting regular contemporary art exhibitions.

Blackpool South Pier courtesy of Visit Blackpool.
Blackpool
Tourist Attraction
Blackpool South Pier

Offering something of a mini theme park to visitors, Blackpool South Pier has a ton of white-knuckle rides to get stuck into.

Interplay works across all definitions of exclusion to create a special theatre that places the audience at the centre of the experience.
Leeds
Theatre
Interplay Theatre

Interplay works across all definitions of exclusion to create a special theatre that places the audience at the centre of the experience.

SEA Life Blackpool Seahorse
Blackpool
Tourist Attraction
SEA LIFE Blackpool

Deep dive into the wonders of the ocean – without getting wet. Meet stunning sea creatures including tropical sharks, colourful reef fish, majestic rays, and Phoenix, the green sea turtle.

Bailey's
Blackpool
Restaurant
Bailey’s Cheese & Charcuterie

Serving exceptional meats, cheeses and wines from all over the world, Bailey’s Cheese & Charcuterie offers a laid-back, sophisticated experience you’ll be hard-pressed to find anywhere else in Blackpool.

The Buccaneer
Blackpool
Restaurant
The Buccaneer

Set in Coral Island, The Buccaneer isn’t just family-friendly, it’s above above-and-beyond family-friendly, thanks to the very generous kids eat free offer.

Coral Island
Blackpool
Coral Island

When you think of Blackpool, Coral Island is the type of place that takes front and centre: big, bold and flat-out fun.

Bar and pub 2
Liverpool
Restaurant
Hobo Kiosk

Hobo Kiosk is an independent pub in the heart of the Baltic Triangle, celebrating all things bohemian with its décor, drinks and events.

Doric Hotel Blackpool
Blackpool
Hotel
Doric Hotel

Previously ranked TripAdvisor’s number 1 family hotel in the UK, Blackpool’s bright and airy Doric Hotel offers breathtaking views of the Irish Sea.

Cliffs Hotel
Blackpool
Hotel
Cliffs Hotel

A hit with families seeking the all-inclusive treatment, this Baroque-style hotel on the north shore is one of Blackpool’s oldest and most popular.

What's on: Literature

Poet Maria Sledmere.
LiteratureManchester
Peter Barlow’s Cigarette at the Carlton Club

For Peter Barlow’s Cigarette #46, the organising team – Tim Allen, Joey Frances and Rachel Sills – have invited Maria Sledmere, Harriet Tarlo and Lucy Wilkinson along to read.

free entry
David Gaffney
LiteratureManchester
Blue Diode readings at Saul Hay Gallery

This special one-off features readings from four writers, and includes launches on Blue Diode Press by Olga Stehlíková and Christopher Crawford, with two special guests David Gaffney and Lydia Unsworth.

free entry
Rebecca Hurst
LiteratureWest Yorkshire
Poetry at the Dusty Miller

Poetry at the Dusty Miller is a now regular night with invited readers, organised by Carcanet-published Carola Luther and Judith Willson in the Coiners’ Room in the Mytholmroyd pub.

free entry

Culture Guides

Theatre in Manchester and the North
Theatre in Manchester and the North

Alongside experimental performance, new writing and free arts festivals, we take a look at some of the Christmas shows happening in the North.