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An at-a-glance chronological list of all the Fringe and Main Festival events to help you plan your visits. more ›
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Friday, 13th September 2024, 5:30pm to 6:30pm. In November 2023, eighteen writers met at Barnaby’s Lounge to tackle a challenge: write a 50,000-word book in thirty days. Join some of them to hear how they fared, and how the experience led to an art exhibition… more ›
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Monday, 16th September 2024, 4pm to 5:30pm. In this fun and unusual workshop, you’ll have the chance to visit a travelling cabinet of curiosities to inspire your writing. more ›
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Monday, 16th September 2024, 6pm to 8pm. An evening of readings from creative writing tutor Joan Taylor-Rowan and friends. more ›
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Tuesday, 17th September 2024, 2pm to 4pm. Drift along with Stephanie’s beautiful words, unusual phrasing, complex imagery, and emotive expression, then share your reflections… more ›
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Tuesday, 17th September 2024, 7pm to 8:30pm. Tim B’vard (host of the monthly Bavard Bars in Eastbourne and at Kino-Teatr in St Leonards) presents an evening with three very different writers. Expect the unexpected! more ›
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Wednesday, 18th September 2024, 6pm to 8pm. Stella Cutler hosts her monthly book club at Barnaby’s Lounge. All welcome. more ›
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Thursday, 19th September 2024, 5pm to 6:30pm. Creative Writing tutor Joan Taylor-Rowan leads a workshop on the theme of ‘Lost and Found.’ Eight places only – please book in advance. more ›
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Friday, 20th September 2024, 5pm to 6:30pm. In this free session, Kim Lasky will give advice on entering writing competitions. What makes a winning poem, flash fiction or short story? more ›
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Saturday, 21st September 2024, 12pm to 4pm. Enjoy inks and pens? Or fancy a quiet time to read or write in peace with others? Join this drop-in session with Stephanie Chamberlain and Christine. more ›
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Sunday, 22nd September 2024, 6pm to 7pm. Della Reynolds is the author of a searing critique of the office of the Ombudsman, borne of her fruitless, frustrating clashes with that body. Join her for this free, fascinating talk. more ›
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Sunday, 22nd September 2024, 7:30pm to 9pm. Five local published writers talk about their work and the publishing process. more ›
This website is an archive of information about the 2024 Hastings Book Festival Fringe.
For exciting news about our current events and the 2025 Fringe, please visit our Substack page at this link:
Hastings Book Festival Fringe | Substack
About the 2024 Fringe…
The Hastings Book Festival Fringe 2024 was an unofficial series of eleven events running alongside the Hastings Book Festival. Over twenty local speakers delivered workshops, performances, readings and discussions covering prose, poetry, art and literature.
Our speakers included Alan Durant, Cat Rowe, Cathryn Kemp, Claire Baldry, Dean Stalham, Evie King, Jane Metcalfe, Joan Taylor-Rowan, Kim Lasky, Louise Witham, Melanie Atkinson, Paul Coomey, Rachel Evans-White, Stella Cutler, Stephanie Chamberlain, Susie Warren, Tim Crook, Della Reynolds and Tim Barlow.
The Fringe was FREE. The speakers were unpaid, and the organisers are volunteers; we are an informal, non-profitmaking group of individuals and we received no funding. Our ten-day Fringe featured 11 free events and 20 speakers, and with only a month’s preparation we built a social media following of 700 people and received 1,000 visitors to this website.
The events took place at Barnaby’s Lounge, 46 Robertson Street, Hastings, England – just five minutes’ walk from the official Book Festival at the Observer Building. Our events were timed to take place between events at the official Book Festival so that people could attend both.
Scroll down to see the 2024 events…
“Congratulations on your fringe festival program…the perfect supplement to the Book Fest. Thank you so so much for setting this up and I look forward to attending!” – Orna Ross, novelist, poet and founder of the Alliance of Independent Authors
Hastings Book Festival Fringe 