Finchley Literary Festival: May 24th - 31st 2014

When I welcomed our audience to the Greenacre Writers Mini Literary Festival on 26th May 2012, I said something like 'this year it's a mini lit fest, next year it will be a lit fest - then, move over Hay-on Wye'. It was meant as a joke of course but I'm beginning to think I wasn't so far off the mark. From one event that year, the following year we had four events: two workshops, an Open Mic and the main speakers' event. This year there has been an explosion of events - something for everyone, of all ages.

 

Greenacre Writers decided to re-invent the festival as Finchley Literary Festival so as to include the wider writing community in and around Finchley and that proved an excellent move. 

 

This year's festival has a huge variety of events:  talks, Meet the Author book signings, writing workshops, a social media workshop, a literary slideshow of Finchley, a literary walk, the main events with three authors and much more!

Sponsorship from the main venue, Stephens House and Gardens,  The Finchley Society  Greenacre Writers along with Squires Estates and Waitrose, Finchley means that most events are free or are very reasonably priced. No, actually I mean cheap.

All the events are listed here on Greenacre Writers - FLF blog. Keep an eye on this for updates.

I am involved with the launch of the Greenacre Writers Anthology Volume 3 on Sunday 25th May at 3.00-5.00pm at Café Buzz, the literary café of Finchley. Grab a cup of delicious coffee and listen to readings from the anthology by the authors - including Sal Page the winner of the first prize from last year's competition, 783 High Road, N12 8JY.

I'll also be reading at the Spoken Word on Friday 30th May at 7.00-10.00pm at Friern Barnet Community Library, Friern Barnet Road, N11 3DS. Last year this event was a wonderful mix of literary genres and styles and I'm sure this year will offer an exciting mix of literary brilliance.

I will also be involved in the Main Event on Saturday 31st May which kicks off at 2.00pm at Stephens House and Gardens, 17 East End Road, N3 3QE.

Alex Wheatle, who spoke the first festival and joined the discussion panel last year, will join  Caitlin Davies and Rosie Fiore. They will discuss their latest work and give readings. There will also be readings from members of Greenacre Writers, Emily Benet and A.L. Michael who are on the festival's organizing committee. This event will followed by a discussion panel facilitated by Allen Ashley. You can book tickets for the Main Event and debate  here.

 

It promises to be a wonderful afternoon and I hope the weather will be sunny so we can all enjoy a wander in the gorgeous gardens during the break and after the event. When I first came to live in Finchley I lived nearby in a second floor flat and I adopted this garden as 'my' garden! You will also be able to take a look at the little museum featuring Inky Stephens, the inventor of Stephens Ink. How many writers have used that I wonder? Perhaps not many now, but I certainly remember using it at school. Read about it here.

 

I'll be attending as many of the other events as I can as they all promise to be stimulating and interesting. Please join me and help make this festival the best one yet.