ReadFest 2026: The Book Challenge Panel

21 August 2026

Book Challenge finalists Lee James, Gulnaz, Nick, Ruth and Yana share their journey. Perfect for aspiring authors and emerging writers.

NB: You can also book to join online.

Join Book Challenge finalists Lee James, Gulnaz, Nick, Ruth and Yana as they share their experience in an inspiring discussion on being new to the publishing industry, the process of writing, and how it feels to see their book in print.

Perfect for aspiring authors, emerging writers and anyone interested in publishing their first novel.

The Book Challenge is our premier competition, with the fabulous prize of becoming part of our free mentoring programme, offering support to write and publish your own book.

Click here for more details about The Book Challenge.

If you have any accessibility requirements, please directly get in touch with us at pentoprint@lbbd.gov.uk

Booking is essential and you will be asked to present your booking confirmation upon arrival.

Pen to Print and our partners reserve the right to remove participants who are disruptive to a session.

NB: May feature content that some people may find upsetting, uses language or depicts scenes reflecting attitudes that are no longer seen as acceptable.

Pen to Print shall not be liable to attendees for any injury, loss or damage of or to personal equipment belonging to the attendees or any indirect or consequential loss or damage whatsoever arising out of the attendance of the event

Pen to Print reserves the right to cancel, delay or postpone the event for any reason, including adverse weather conditions, an emergency situation or unforeseen or unavoidable circumstances out of its reasonable control. In such cases, the event organiser will endeavour to inform participants as quickly as is possible.

Barking and Dagenham Libraries and Pen to Print are proud to present the fifteenth annual literary festival, running from Saturday 12 September to Saturday 19 September.

This year’s festival offers a vibrant mix of in‑person, online and hybrid events, celebrating the power of storytelling and the joy of reading, as part of our contribution to the National Year of Reading.

This festival is proudly supported by the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham and Arts Council England, funded by the UK Government.

The National Year of Reading 2026 is a UK-wide campaign designed to inspire people to make reading a regular part of their lives.

We all understand the benefits of reading and how it expands our minds, builds confidence and fuels creativity, yet fewer people are doing it. With growing distractions and limited time, reading for pleasure is declining across many groups.

This national campaign aims to change this by reconnecting reading with everyday culture. It is not about guilt or obligation, it is about showing that stories, ideas and imagination have a place in everyone’s daily life. Click here to find out more!