Book your place at a new book festival

Fancy finding a new favourite author and hear insider tips about how to get published? Then Bob Fairbrother has a festival for you.

Totnes Civic Hall will be filled with literary chat on November 22 when 50 local writers get together to sell books, talk about books and help others get their works to a wider readership.

Totnes seemed the ideal location

Bob, who is writing a future-focused trilogy – the first, Project Deadhead, is already on sale – had the idea for a festival just six months ago. “I wondered if there was an appetite for it is South Devon and the response was pretty positive. Totnes seemed the ideal location and the Civic Hall staff have been superb.”

Among the authors who will be selling their books is local legend Graham Walker, who has just finished his second memoir about his life. His account of his fund raising walk for Bob the Bus was one of the Pulse’s most popular reads. “This is aimed at independent authors and up and coming writers,” Bob said.

There is also a writing competition for schoolchildren with prizes from the town’s own East Gate bookshop. As part of the festival 11 writers will be interviewed throughout the day by broadcaster Cathy Dodd from Phonic Radio in Exeter, including Derek Air, whose subject will be dear to the heart of anyone who spent their youth with tiny plastic footballers – Subbuteo. Derek’s book, Land of the Giants, is all about that favourite game and to add to the atmosphere the South Devon Subbuteo Club will be installing two tables and will be playing exhibition matches. Prepare to join in!

Described on a certain book selling site as a love letter to the old fashioned game which refuses to die, Derek spent three years immersing himself in the vibrant Subbuteo sub culture.

Experts will be giving workshops on all aspects of publishing, including Mark Swan, who is a professional cover designer; Jonathan Posner, who will talk about how to overcome writers’ block and Tim Kindberg from Bristol will be exploring AI.

The Green Cafe is catering for the hungry book worms and the Mayor will perform the opening. The library is supporting the festival and the festival is supporting the Read Easy charity, which helps people to learn to read.

Bob says that the festival is free but tickets from Eventbrite are available so he can make sure there will be a place for everyone.