Jump in the Wordpool

Elisabeth Carpenter the author of the chilling psychological thriller 99 Red Balloons will be sharing her journey to success over brunch. Weds 16th May – Palatine Library 11am-12.30pm.

New Festival of Written Word, Wordpool launches mid-May
Wordpool, Blackpool’s popular Festival of Written Words is back!

Now in its twelfth year the festival which runs from Tuesday 15 – Thursday 17 May will once again offer an entertaining programme of creative events with amazing writers, artists and poets sharing the power of words. Managed by Blackpool Council’s Arts and Libraries Services this annual celebration of words and writing will see a range of well-known and emerging writers in the town to delight audiences. And for budding writers there are not to be missed opportunities to get advice and guidance from experienced and popular authors – as well as the chance to get published in an ebook!

 What’s On – An amazing literary journey every day

 Tuesday 15 May – G & Tea with Carole Matthews and Fiona Walker
Launch Event. A night of romantic fiction 6.30pm-9.30pm. Stanley Park Art Deco Cafe

Days before the Royal Wedding, romance will be in the air during an evening of romantic fiction at Wordpool’s launch event in Stanley Park’s Art Deco Café.

International best-selling authors Carole Matthews and Fiona Walker will join host Hayley Kay of Radio Wave for a fundraising night that will offer a wonderful mix of romance, food, music and laughter. Carole has written over 30 novels. Her most recent book Million Love Songs was out in March this year. Fiona’s novels have sold millions of copies worldwide and is dubbed ‘the Jilly Cooper of the Cosmo generation’.

Fiona Walker whose novels have sold millions of copies worldwide and is dubbed ‘the Jilly Cooper of the Cosmo generation’. Tuesday 16th May – 6.30pm-9.30pm. Stanley Park Art Deco Cafe

Wednesday 16 May – Thrilling and Historical Characters
Blackpool’s branch libraries are hosting special events throughout the festival, offering a tasty mix of tea, cake and fiction.

• Palatine Library 11am-12.30pm. Elisabeth Carpenter the author of the chilling psychological thriller 99 Red Balloons will be sharing her journey to success over brunch.

• Moor Park Library 3pm-5pm. Join ex BBC News and Arts presenter and historical novelist Joanna Hickson for cream tea as she reveals the hidden stories behind some of her characters.

• Central Library 6pm-7.30pm. Independent publishers BlueMoose are launching their eagerly awaited anthology of short stories inspired by the North-West coast, Seaside Special: Postcards from the Edge. Kevin Duffy from BlueMoose Books joins three of the Seaside Special authors, Costa ‘First Novel’ award winner Andrew Michael Hurley, Anita Sethi, Lucy Wilkinson Yates and editor Jenn Ashworth, named by The Culture Show in 2011 as one of the UK’s twelve best new writers.

• Central Library 8pm-9.30pm. TV writer, comedian and Sunday Times number one bestseller Mark Billingham will be discussing the fourteenth book in his Tom Thorne series with Head of Blackpool Libraries Mark McCree. Tackling the difficult and emotive subject of honour killings in the UK this shocking thriller has received much critical acclaim.

Wordpool on location at Blackpool Sixth Form College from 10.30 am (Students only)

Expect lively debate at the college with Darren McGarvey aka Scottish rapper, Loki who will be challenging our young audiences with his wise and witty manifesto for change, Poverty Safari.

New talent and 2018 publishing sensations C J Tudor and Nick Clark Windo are creating quite a buzz with a TV series already in production for Windo’s The Feed and Tudor’s first novel The Chalk Man tipped to be the novel of the year – and there is talk of major film.

Thursday 17 May

 Writers’ Day – Not to be Missed!

• Central Library 12pm – 4.30pm. Following on from the success of last year’s Writers’ Day, Wordpool is delighted to partner with Comma Press on a full-day programme of events for writers wanting to hone their skills and learn more about the journey to publication. Budding and emerging writers can learn from established writers with topics from creating strong characters, finding your own writing voice to generating interest in your work with publishers.

Sharing their knowledge and experience will be Amy McCauley whose first novel Oedipa will be published this year, Clare Fisher the author of All The Good Things, Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature Jacob Ross, short story writer and poet Tania Hershman and other specially invited contributors.

Criminally food afternoon tea with Frances Brody

• Anchorsholme Library 2.30pm-4.30pm. Frances Brody will be talking about her ninth Kate Shackleton novel Death in the Stars and disclosing some of the secrets of her crime writing success.

Thursday 14 June (Start of Course)

Short Story Writing Course – Calling Budding Writers

• Palatine Library 6pm-8pm. Calling all aspiring short story and creative writers. Independent publisher Comma Press will be partnering with Wordpool to deliver a short story course with author Tania Hershman. During 6 weekly sessions budding writers will receive expert guidance and even the opportunity to feature a story in an ebook at the end of the course. It is hoped that the course will unearth interesting new writers.

Saturday 7 July

And don’t forget…It’s Family Day at Stanley Park.

Wordpool’s ever popular Family Day will be returning to Stanley Park on Saturday 7 July.  Roll Up, Roll Up to Wordpool’s most marvellous Family Day with wondrous fun for all ages.

Councillor Gillian Campbell, Deputy Leader of Blackpool Council, said ‘Wordpool is fantastic event. It’s entertaining, informative and inspiring. Once again it has attracted acclaimed writers and authors to Blackpool. There really is something to suit all tastes. It is not only a wonderful opportunity to hear from established writers about their experience, I hope that it will encourage new talent to explore the magical world of words.’

This is the second year of Wordpool’s two year development programme funded through Arts Council England National Lottery Project Grants.

For tickets and more information on Wordpool and the Festival of Written Word, please go to www.wordpoolfestival.co.uk, like us on Facebook and follow them on Twitter and Instagram @Wordpoolfest