Litfest 2024 — Writers in Residence

Litfest has invited four writers – a naturalist, a philosopher, a poet and a reader – to take up short residencies over the first and second weekends of the festival. They will be available to meet and consult at a series of activities ranging from drop-in sessions to schools workshops, and much more!

All good writers are good readers, so whether you’d like recommendations for your next read or are seeking out some top tips for telling your own tales, multi-award-winning children’s author Sophie Anderson is here to offer special targeted suggestions and top tips for books, reading and storytelling.

Saturday 16 March – 10.30am-12.30pm
In the Writer’s Studio: What to Read and Write Next

Drop-in sessions at Lancaster Library:
8–11 yrs – 10.30am
12–15 yrs – 11.30am
16+ yrs – 12.30pm

Saturday 16 March – 2pm
A Walk on the Wild Side — author event. Click here to reserve a ticket.

For the Greek philosopher Socrates the unconsidered life was not worth living. A.C. Grayling has dedicated his own life to taking philosophy out of the ivory tower and into the public square. Now is your chance to discuss life’s big questions with Britain’s most approachable philosopher.

Saturday 16 March – 11.00am
Philosophy Café at The Herbarium
Come to this session at The Herbarium, Lancaster’s delicious vegan café, to discuss the great challenges of life.

Sunday 17 March – 11:30am
Who Owns the Moon? In Defence of Humanity’s Common Interests in Space — author event. Click here to reserve a ticket.

Mark Cocker is one of Britain’s foremost nature writers. As part of his residency, he will take two groups of school students from Morecambe for an afternoon at Leighton Moss, one of his favourite nature reserves.

Mark will also judge the entrants for the Litfest Landscape and Nature Photography Exhibition, which will be displayed in The Gallery at the Storey for the duration of the festival — more info here.

Finally, Mark will hold a workshop for members of the public to attend — click here for more information on this exciting opportunity.

Friday 15 March – 7:30pm

Mark Cocker in conversation – One Midsummer’s Day: Swifts and the Story of Life of the Earth — author event. Click here to reserve a ticket.

Hannah Lowe taught for a decade in an inner-city London sixth form, and out of that long experience wrote her Costa Prize-winning collection, The Kids.

As part of her residency, Hannah will be curating the ‘Histories’ public poetry reading — you can submit to the project, and browse the ‘Histories’ poetry map, here.

Hannah will also be running a workshop in a local school.

Saturday 23 March – 1pm
The Kids by Hannah Lowe — author event. Click here to reserve a ticket.

Saturday 23 March – 7pm
Histories — Gala Poetry Reading, MC’ed by Hannah. Click here to reserve a ticket.