From poetry to sci-fi, this one-day literary festival has something for everyone


Book-lovers from across the country will be flocking to De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) on Saturday (10 March) for the latest States of Independence literary festival.

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Now in its ninth year, the free event boasts approximately 20 bookstalls from the region’s finest, as well as talks by bestselling writers, readings, book launches and panel discussions.

Visitors can learn about a broad range of topics, including what editors look for in manuscripts from new writers, where crime writers’ inspiration for characters comes from, the long career of sci-fi and fantasy writer Ursula Le Guin, why humour should be taken seriously, women in science fiction, Lithuanian detective fiction and much more.

Co-ordinated by Five Leaves Books in Nottingham and the Leicester Centre for Creative Writing at DMU, the festival takes place at DMU’s Clephan Building with readings from crime writer John Harvey and children’s author Will Buckingham, as well as Robert Sheppard and his collaborators on the European Union of Imaginary Authors project.

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Those attending will also have the chance to attend book launches by poets Simon Perril, Pam Thompson and Malka Al-Haddad, and novelist Rob Duncan whose fairy story is set in the woodlands of Leicestershire.

Dr Simon Perril, Director of Leicester Centre for Creative Writing at DMU, said: “States of Independence is a splash of colour against the corporate grey of the publishing world, so do come and join us!

“It’s a book festival in a day, a marketplace, a conference, a place to relax and listen to some readings, an opportunity to debate about issues in the industry and to meet with independent presses from across the region.

“It supports independent thinking, independent writing and independent presses. Join us for the day or an hour. Attend lots of events - you will be spoiled for choice - or just one, or simply come along and browse through the 20 or so bookstalls to see what the independent sector is publishing.”

For more information, see the festival’s Facebook and Twitter pages.

Posted on Monday 5 March 2018

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