- 28 May -30 June 2025
- Fiction
- ONLY A FEW TICKETS LEFT!
A Criminally Good Afternoon Tea: Nine Lessons with Nicola Upson
At the turn of the century, M R James told ghost stories by candlelight to a handful of scholars over supper after Christmas Eve’s carol service. Twenty-five years later, they are being killed off one by one... Nicola Upson tells you about the seventh novel in her highly praised Josephine They series. Read more
- Fiction
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The Special Girls: Isabelle Grey
DI Grace Fisher investigates a cold case and the murder of a young doctor, all connected to a summer camp for young patients with eating disorders located deep in the Essex countryside. The Special Girls is a nailbiting psychological thriller with a main character you will love and a final twist that will break your heart. Read more
- In partnership
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- Re-Writing the Archive
- Workshop
Re-Writing the Archive – Online Writing Workshop with Thurrock Museum
Essex Book Festival has joined forces with the Essex Museums on an exciting new writing project: Rewriting the Archive. A team of writers and artists, assisted by four curators, have each been invited to select ten objects from the County’s heritage collections that tell difficult ‘stories’. These objects will form the basis of four two-hour online writing/artist workshops. Thurrock Museums hosts Syd Moore, writer, activist and founding member of Essex Girls Liberation Front as she explores the collection at Thurrock… Read more
- Discussion
- Festival Launch
- Non-fiction
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Festival Launch – We need to talk about Essex Girls
Join us for the Launch event of the 2021 festival with the amazing Women of Essex: Sarah Perry, Patron of Essex Book Festival, Syd Moore, Writer, Co- founder of the Essex Girls Liberation Front, Sadie Hasler, Playwright, Journalist and Director of Old Trunk Theatre Company, and honorary Essex Girl, Festival Director Ros Green, who will be discussing what it means to be an Essex Girl: the jokes, the misconceptions, and the strengths and growing movements that are starting to challenge… Read more
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- Theatre
MASKED – a zoom theatre event plus Q & A
MASKED – a zoom theatre event plus Q&A Written by award winning Essex writer, Nicola Werenowska, MASKED explores undiagnosed female neurodivergency through the lives of three women. What happens when you know you're the weird girl? The one no one wants to play with. The one who can't hold down a job. How do you hide who you are? And what happens when you can't hide it anymore? MASKED is directed by Jeni Draper and supported by Arts Council… Read more
- For Writers
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- Workshop
Self Editing and Self Publishing Workshop
Why is it important to self-edit your manuscript and how should you do it? What are the advantages of self-publishing your book, and what do you need to be aware of if you’re looking to collaborate with a professional or publishing business? Find the answers to these questions in this Zoom workshop with author and editor, Maddy Glenn. Read more
- Essex Writers House
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Fens, Forests and Fields
Fens, forests and Fields is an astonishing new book about a landscape in Essex that time forgot; The Land of the Fanns: www.landofthefanns.org In this talk, one of its authors, Ken Worpole, will discuss what he discovered on his journeys through ‘the Fanns’, exploring the ebb and flow between London and Essex that has created this liminal landscape. Ken Worpole is a renowned author and social historian. His many books include 350 Miles: An Essex Journey (2005) & The New… Read more
- In My Steps - Radical Walks in Essex
- In person
- Music
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Mountaineers of Essex Expedition 001
Did you know Essex has 28 mountains? Join husband and wife artist team Hartle O’Hare on their first summit expedition of the Mountaineers of Essex: Canvey Heights, a man-made mountain with expansive views out towards the mouth of the Thames Estuary and across to Kent. Muse upon the marvellous vistas, discuss perception and the effect on the emotions of place, experience Canvey Island from its constructed giddy heights. Like life, it could be that the journey is more important than… Read more
- Non-fiction
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Thames Estuary Trail – A Journey Round the End of the World
Writer Tom King will be discussing the new edition of his now legendary book Thames Estuary Trail, complete with new chapters and adventures. Join us for what is sure to be an educating and illuminating night full of Tom’s many musings from along the trail, together a discussion around the two additional chapters with the opportunity to see and purchase the newly designed edition published on 30th May 2021 as part of Estuary 2021. Read more
