States of Independence, an annual one-day festival celebrating independent presses and writing, returns to Clephan this March. This year's theme is on 'What keeps you going?'
States is a unique opportunity to meet independent presses from across the region and beyond. Join us for an hour or the whole day. Attend lots of events - you will be spoiled for choice - or just one, or simply come along and browse the stalls to see what the independent sector has to offer.
Programme highlights include:
Monique Roffey in conversation - due to RMT strike action this event has been postponed for a later date
Keynote address by Lydia Towsey
Panel discussions on immersive role-play, writers and heritage, publishing and editing short stories
Talks on Poetry and film collaborations, writing and wellbeing, AI chatbots, Dungeon Masters, and Richard III and ‘disaster patriarchy’
Participate in workshops on discovering the heart of your novel, short stories, and writing poetry using found materials
The full programme will be published on our website once it has been finalised.
Stallholders include Dahlia Books, Five Leaves Books, Nine Arches Press, New Walk Editions, Space Cat Press, Shearsman Books, Comma Press, Global Wordsmiths, Head Shot Press, Salo Press, Leicester Writers' Club, Soundswrite Poetry Group, Leicester Libraries, Bad Betty Press and more!
States of Independence is a free event, hosted by DMU’s Leicester Centre for Creative Writing, with the support of the small presses. Our industry partner this year is Dahlia Books.
States of Independence supports independent thinking, independent writing and independent publishing.