MINEHEAD’S first literary festival will take place on April 27 at the Methodist Hall, Minehead.

It will feature presentations by four leading writers with ties to the area who will explore the importance of place in their writing.  

Tessa Hadley, who heads the line-up of festival speakers, has just published her seventh novel Late in the Dayto rapturous reviews in the UK and US. 

She is joined by best-selling author Pamela Holmes, whose heartfelt novel Wyld Dreamers, which was published last Autumn, is loosely based on her experiences living on a farm on Exmoor in the 1970s.  Pamela will also run a workshop on how to find your voice as a writer and get published.

Afternoon Sessions

These will feature a talk by writer and bird watcher Tim Dee, who mixes autobiography with nature writing to captivating effect in his latest book Landfill, which is about how rubbish tips sustain bird life. 

For younger readers popular local writer Victoria Eveleigh will be giving an illustrated presentation about how farming on Exmoor inspired her ‘Katy’s Ponies’ stories, offering a chance to meet ‘the best contemporary writer of pony stories around’.

“Minehead Literary Festival organisers are looking forward to welcoming such an illustrious line-up of writers to Minehead,” says chair Victoria Thomas.  “Tessa Hadley’s latest novel has consolidated her position as one of the country’s top fiction writers and, according to Vogue, ‘one of the greatest stylists alive’, while Tim Dee has been described as ‘one of Britain’s very best writers about nature’.  

“And just check out those stars awarded to books by Pamela Holmes and Victoria Eveleigh on Amazon – need I say more?” 

Refreshments 

These may be booked in advance, including a light lunch and cream tea provided by Minehead’s newly-opened Magpies Café. 

Across the road, the full Regal bar will be open from 12.30 until 2pm for festival goers to enjoy a drink and a chat with fellow book lovers.

Art Exhibition

To celebrate the festival, an art exhibition runs until May 6 at the Regal Theatre and Toucan Wholefoods, featuring work by local artists and also focusing on the theme of the importance of place.  

Tickets prices start at £7.50.  For more information and to book visit the website www.mineheadliteraryfestival.org, email mineheadliteraryfestival@gmail.comor telephone Janet Styles on 01643 822097.