Festival planning in motion

After a quiet start to the year, our festival management team has been busy with a flurry of activity, and a number of acclaimed authors already secured for what promises to be an exceptional literary lineup.

Read on to find out more!

Photo credit: Nick Gregan

Iain Dale

We are delighted to announce that first up at 10am on the Saturday morning is Iain Dale coming to talk about his book on Mrs Thatcher, which is published in June.

Iain said he thought 10am might be too early for an audience but we assured him that the people of Cuckfield love a political theme to start proceedings, particularly if it’s Iain delivering it!

Photo credit: Janie Airey

The independent crossbench peer, Baroness Lola Young joins us on Saturday 4th October.  In 2004, Baroness Young became one of the first Black women members of the House of Lords.

Her book Eight Weeks, tells the powerful story of her determination to defy the odds; she has been an actress, an academic, an activist and campaigner for social justice as well as a peer. She is also a very beguiling speaker and we are thrilled that she will join us on stage this year.

Photo credit: Charlotte Gray

BIG BOOK GROUP

And one to get the juices flowing – the book selected for the Big Book Group on Sunday evening is SWEAT by Emma Healey whose first book Elizabeth is Missing sold many thousands of copies all over the world.

SWEAT is a gripping psychological novel that explores the dangerous territories of obsession and control. Through its intricate narrative, the book examines how the pursuit of revenge can consume both predator and prey, while raising thought-provoking questions about power dynamics in relationships.

The story’s complex themes and moral ambiguities will make it an excellent catalyst for meaningful discussions about human nature and destructive behaviour patterns.

volunteers needed!

Be part of something special and join our Festival Family.

We’re looking to boost our management team and in particular would love to hear from anyone interested in volunteering for the following areas:

• Developing our Friends & Benefactors programme
• Crafting compelling grant applications
• Leading our children’s initiatives and school partnerships
• Creating exciting year-round events

Whether you have a flair for fundraising, a way with words, or love bringing people together, we’d love to hear from you!  Please drop us a line at info@cuckfieldbookfest.co.uk. 

There are lots more authors to be announced and as usual there will be events catered for children.  We will keep you informed in our monthly newsletters and in the meantime you can follow us on social media for the latest news.

Best wishes

Cuckfield Bookfest Team