After last year when the Festival had to be hastily organised to go online, we were all hoping that 2021 might be better. Well, it is in a way but my goodness the amount of work that has gone in to its organisation is mind boggling and I am sure is the same to all other similar events.
Many of those speakers who could not appear last year have very kindly agreed to return and it is worth mentioning here that quite a few of the authors did not take a fee for their online appearance in 2020 and we are most grateful to them.
So it was decided to be prudent and not hope that all would be back to "normal" by June of this year which was just as well in light of the announcement that Freedom Day was being postponed. The Festival had been organised so we could hold live events but with reduced attendees and social distancing in place and also online speakers returned so there is an eclectic mix of authors.
All was going well until the Orwell Hotel, who have hosted the Festival, informed the Festival Director that they could not allow it to take place at their venue. Perfect timing as tickets had just gone on sale. Within 24 hours another venue had been secured and thanks are due to Harvest House, a residential block of flats overlooking the sea which used to be a grand Edwardian Hotel with a ballroom and rooms which had just received a licence for public events. Relief all round.
All going smoothly and then after the Prime Minister's announcement re the continuation of restrictions, the committee started receiving anxious queries as to whether it was going ahead and IT IS. So I am posting here now just to let everyone know that it is taking place 25-27th June and among the speakers we have Jo Jo Moyes, Terry Waite, Esther Freud, Elly Griffiths, Anthony Horowirz and many more. Please check out the link to the Festival for a full programme.
I know many of my readers here on Random live in the US and some abroad so may I just say that buying a ticket or two for the online events would be a huge help and support to us. They will be available to view until 2 July so you will have time to watch. And I have to mention that one of those speakers online will be my daughter Helen McCarthy talking about her book Double Lives.
The launch date of this book last year coincided with the lockdown and so many plans had to be abandoned, not just for her, but for all authors but it garnered wonderful reviews and was shortlisted for the Wolfson Prize. So if you are looking for an interesting hour, then do check it out.
Of course I am biaised....
I shall be in attendance at the Festival, taking photos and tweeting like mad and I am really looking forward to it.
Do come along if you can. Tickets can be bought via the website.
