4 Reasons to Enjoy the LitFest This Year

In partnership with Guernsey Literary Festival

It’s no secret that we love the Guernsey Literary Festival. In fact, for full disclosure, our own Stefanie has been on the steering committee for the Festival for over 5 years and runs all of the social media for the festival in her spare time (not that there is much of that these days!)

As writers and avid readers, we also want to support the art of the written word in as many ways as we can and we want to urge you to do the same. And to be honest, it’s not that difficult when the events are as varied and interesting as they are this year.  

Here are a few reasons to pop along to one (or more!) of the events this year. 

 

 

1.  You Can Support Local

It’s been a long couple of years and live events have suffered hugely. That means so did venues and those who work in the industry. This year, the festival is back with a bang and it deserves our support. As do the local authors who will be taking part.

Here’s our pick of some of the local writers and artists with events this year.

Local author Jenny O'Brien is an inspiration. Juggling her successful writing career with shifts as a nurse on a busy ward at the local hospital and raising her three children, she gave us an insight into her life in our recent Listed feature. She will be sharing the details of her rather unconventional route to publishing when she discusses her latest crime thriller Buried Lies at her Lit Fest event.

Tish Delaney is based in Alderney and she will be reflecting on her childhood in Northern Island during the Troubles, in her novel Before My Actual Heart Breaks. It's an unusual love story set against the madness of those times and it shows the ordinary lives being led behind the headlines of the Troubles but leaves us in no doubt that there is no such thing as an ordinary life.

Former bookseller Ben Hinshaw has returned to his island home with his family to release his debut novel Exactly What You Mean. His cast of characters grapple with unexpected deception, the loss of innocence and the lies we tell, when a Guernsey teenager discovers a secret that has the power to ruin lives.

And if you’re a fan of Ebenezer Le Page, you won’t want to miss this exhibition of watercolour works by Guernsey based artist and illustrator Charlie Buchanan. She brings the characters and the island to life as Ebenezer grows from a boy in the early 1900s, through the German Occupation of the island and onwards to Ebenezer in old age.

 

2.  You Can Make It A Social Event 

How do you feel about combining a book talk with a wine tasting, pairing four different wines with a selection of cheese and charcuterie? We thought so. Yep, we're in too.

If you always ask for the same old wine, the usual pint, the reliable spirit but want to find new favourites, join Rob Buckhaven as he takes you on a journey of discovery of tailor-designed beverages to appeal to the widest of taste buds. Rob is a drinks expert with 14 years’ experience in the wine and spirits industry, and he will draw on his informative and light-hearted guide The Alcorithm to advise what you might like to try next, regardless of whether your favourite tipple is peppermint tea or Sauvignon Blanc.

 

Image credit: Maisons Victor Hugo Paris

3.  You Can Get Exclusive Access To Hauteville House

We're so lucky to have such a wonderfully interesting place to visit right on our doorstep. And the LitFest allows you fascinating access into the history of the place from those who know it well.

A new documentary, Victor Hugo and the Channel Islands - A Love Affair is planned to tell the story of Victor Hugo’s exile in the Channel Islands. It will be scripted entirely in his own words and in those of his contemporaries, and the executive producers Martin Morgan, Chris Denton and Warren Mauger will discuss the texts and illustrate them with readings by local dramatists and clips from the production at this talk, which is taking place at Hauteville House.

But if you prefer a blend of fact and fiction, The French House could be the talk for you. Jacquie Bloese's debut novel is set on Guernsey during the German Occupation and is inspired by both family history and her time working at Victor Hugo’s residence-in-exile, Hauteville House. Jacquie will be speaking about combining fact with fiction to create stories in the past, and she will also be sharing tips for new writers on how to get published.

 

4.  You Can Attend Mental Health & Wellbeing Events

It’s not all fiction and history at the LitFest. A large number of the events this year are wellbeing related. Here's our pick, covering ways to destress, dealing with addiction, the benefits of sea swimming and our very own sponsored talk on A journey through Madness, Mania and Healing.

So, if you're looking for ways to destress, join Sarah Sands, former editor of the BBC’s Today Programme. Suffering from information overload and unable to sleep, Sarah went on a pilgrimage to ten monasteries around the world, where she discovered an unexpected capacity for solitude which enabled her, after insomnia, to experience that elusive, dreamless sleep. She will share her experieces when whe discusses The Interior Silence in conversation with Terry Waite CBE.

There is also a sobering story of addiction driving you to the edge, with Gambling Addiction and Me. For more than 12 years, Patrick Foster lived a double life. A popular young teacher and former professional cricketer, he had a lovely girlfriend and a supportive family - but he was hiding a secret and debilitating gambling addiction from them. In this event, Patrick will tell his story, from rock bottom to recovery, as he explores the gambling industry in the UK, and discusses what needs to change to better protect the public.

The Outdoor Swimmers Handbook is guaranteed to be a popular event with the growing community of sea swimmers here in the Bailiwick. Wild swimming is growing in polularity around the globe and Kate Rew is the leader in the field, spearheading an international resurgence in swimming outdoors in recent years. Kate will bring together the art, sport and science of being an outdoor swimmer and share everything you need to know to enjoy swimming in the wild.

And last but by no means least, we are proud to sponsor Heavy Light - A Journey Through Madness Mania and Healing together with our charity partner Guernsey Mind. Horatio Clare is a travel writer, academic and person who has chosen to transparently document his mental health story. Come along to hear Horatio talking about the experiences that led to the book. We can all take something from his story that will help determine how we relate to others and make healthy choices for our own mental wellbeing. If you're at this event, say hi!

 

 

This year’s Festival takes place from 11th May until 26th June and boasts more than 60 events. Other big names this year include Anthony Horowitz, comedian Jack Dee, UK senior judge Dame Lady Hale, Yorkshire shepherdess Amanda Owen, scientist Richard Dawkins, Poet Laureate Simon Armitage, president and founding CEO of Virgin Unite Jean Oelwang, journalist and novelist Jonathan Freedland. 

Events are selling out, so book your tickets soon!