Saturday 14 September to Saturday 21 September 2024
ReadFest aims to deliver a wide-ranging selection of local, national and internationally acclaimed writers especially selected to entertain and inform. Held in Barking and Dagenham Libraries each September and produced by Pen to Print, we have been celebrating readers, writers and books at ReadFest since 2011. 2024 is our thirteenth festival!
Along with the launch of our next series of our extremely popular Creative Writing & Poetry classes, on Saturday 14 September, at Barking Learning Centre. Our ReadFest 2024 programme includes events for readers and writers with talks, workshops and an Independent authors Book Fair.
We are thrilled to be welcoming Elaine Spires on 18 September. Elaine will be leading a session on researching your book ideas at Valance House Local Studies Centre and talking about her approach to writing novels based on real people and locations.
Novel Writing for beginners with award winning Hema Macherla will be at Dagenham Library on 19 September, A not to be missed session, Hema will share how she approaches her writing, as an author with English as an additional language.
Hidden Literature will be comparing Loud In A Library, our ReadFest spoken word Open Mic, on 19 September at Dagenham Library.
Our day starts bright and early on 20 September, with The London Library hosting Write & Shine, online with Gemma Seltza.
We will also be welcoming debut author H.B. O’Neill, with his Book Challenge Novel – According to Mark at Barking Learning Centre.
On our final day, 21 September, brings us acclaimed author Barbara Nadel. Barbara’s Inspector Ikmen crime series has now been adapted for TV. Barbara will be talking about the books which have inspired this fabulous new crime series. The Turkish Detective is now available to view on BBC Two and iPlayer.
All ReadFest 2024 events go live to book in August 2024 and links will be here on this page. These along with other Pen to Print sessions will be listed below.
For latest updates on Pen to Print and ReadFest 2024 sign up for our e-newsletter.
Leading writers who have featured at previous ReadFest include:
Martina Cole | Lemn Sissay | Ben Aaronovitch | Jaspreet Kaur | Dina Begum | Simon Toyne | Patrice Lawrence | Simon Brett | Sarah Ward
Dr Janina Ramirez | Laura Barnett | Catriona Ward | Jane Corry | Dreda Say Mitchell | Kimberley Chambers | David Neita | Miranda Kaufman
Ayisha Malik | Christy Lefteri | Lavie Tidhar | Maggie Harris
and many, many more.
If you would like to take part in a future ReadFest contact the Pen to Print team, email pentoprint@lbbd.gov.uk to find out more.
You can also find details of all our Pen to Print online and live events, classes and workshops that run throughout the year at: pentoprint.org/events
Tava O’Halloran Queen of Clubs Soundtrack featured at Digital ReadFest in 2020