Leiston Book Festival
If you write about land, landscape, nature, climate and environment, Robert Ashton and his team would be pleased to hear from you for next year, in a few weeks' time. I was the first novelist to attend, speaking about my novel The Wilder Path - but I may not be the last!
Here you can see me standing with Bishop Graham Usher in the foyer of the cinema at the end of the day - we are each holding one of our books. It was a joy to meet him and speak alongside him in our joint event, although in the photo below we are both looking rather more serious. Graham has written a beautiful book on the spirituality of walking, The Way Under Our Feet; and my novel begins with a walk on the wild north Cornish coast. As Christians we were invited to talk a little about our books, about the church's approach to environmental issues, and also to give some of our own personal reflections on the importance of walking, on nature and the science of climate change, and what we believe God might be saying to us through Scripture and through the stresses on the natural world.
Other events that day included topics of the history and land use, gulls, enjoying being out in all weathers, some amazing Suffolk walks in the footsteps of Suffolk writers, and Louis de Berniere's new memoir.
It was a wonderful day, and one I thoroughly recommend - superbly organised with a wonderful community feel and a large audience! It's also a beautiful part of the world. Look out for next year's Festival, especially if you are in Suffolk or East Anglia.
Photos: © Callum Hoffman, Hoff Media
