With the majority of the events sold out, more than 650 people took to venues across Frinton and Walton for the 22nd annual Literary Festival.
This year’s top names included etiquette guru William Hanson, international bestseller David Nicholls, esteemed crime writers Fiona Cummins and Dorothy Koomson, and the return of local legend and master of the timeslip novel, Barbara Erskine.
The festival also added an extra day to this year’s programme with a rendition of Playing Jane, an homage to the work of Jane Austen.
With attendees travelling as far as Scotland, Bristol and Brighton this year, it is fair to say that Frinton Literary Festival continues to put itself on the map.
Co-chairs of the Frinton Literary Festival Committee, Clive Brill and Gordon Wise, said: “It has been another exceptional year for Frinton Literary Festival. Thank you to everyone who attended and engaged so thoughtfully with our speakers. We know how much they appreciated looking out to see full audiences every night.
“We remain committed to championing local and up-and-coming creatives – whether it’s inviting back some of our Frinton Summer Theatre favourites for Playing Jane, supporting writers and poets from the local area at our annual Spoken Word night, or encouraging local creatives in our scriptwriting masterclass with Mike Harris.
“We also hope that we managed to provide some local teachers and over 300 schoolchildren with a good dose of creativity and fun with the fabulously talented authors and illustrators Andy Riley and brothers Rob and Tom Sears.
“Thank you for another wonderful festival run and we look forward to seeing even more faces in the crowd in 2025!”
The winner of the Frinton Literary Festival Robert Bucke Short Story Prize was announced at the Afternoon Tea with William Hanson. The three shortlisted stories – ‘Ebb and Flow’ by A.M. Obst, ‘Orbit’ by Daisy Jones, and ‘Shoes in the Wardrobe’ by Tony Oswick – all showed promise and creativity with the theme ‘What If?’ but, ultimately, ‘Orbit’ was crowned the winner. You can read all three entries here.
This year’s Frinton Literary Festival was full of tips, tricks and thoughtful discussions between authors, creatives and the local community. Below are some of the committee’s favourite bits of advice from this year’s authors:
“Reading is fuel…writers don’t acknowledge how much they take from other writers” – David Nicholls, internationally bestselling author of One Day and recent chart-topper You Are Here.
“It’s so important that we stand up for each other…you must build community. I want to help as many people as I can” – bestselling author Dorothy Koomson on her passion for making literacy accessible for those from disadvantaged backgrounds.
“My one piece of advice to new writers? Read it again! Even Shakespeare had to do rewrites” – former local resident and Sunday Times bestselling author Barbara Erskine.
“Following etiquette but not getting your manners right is the cardinal sin of etiquette.” William Hanson.
Next year’s Frinton Literary Festival will take place from Tuesday 21st October to Sunday 26th October 2025.
The full line up will be revealed at the festival’s annual fundraising quiz in Spring 2025.
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