At Tunbridge Wells Literary Festival

On By Mick CanningIn books, Exhibitions, Literary festival, Tunbridge Wells

Tunbridge Wells now boasts a literary festival. Over four days this year it hosts talks from well-known writers such as Michael Rosen, Michael Parkinson and Sheila Hancock. But not just the big names.

Yesterday was the day local writers could book a table and hawk their wares. It’s been some time since I’ve taken part in one of these, in fact, I’ve only done it once before, I think. When I used to regularly have paintings in exhibitions, I spent a lot of time essentially doing the same thing – chatting to other painters, talking to members of the public who might buy a painting and generally ‘networking’ (I still find that a slightly silly word). Although talking about Making Friends with the Crocodile did have another effect – it reminded me again that I’m beginning to feel I ought to take one final trip to India, sometime.

Anyway, I think I should probably do one of these more often. Did I sell armfuls of books? No, but I sold a few. I had some good conversations with members of the public and other writers, It also seems to have the effect of energising my commitment to writing, which is something that happened to my painting at exhibitions, too. Talking about my books and projects encourages me to focus afresh on them and, basically, get my finger out and get on with it, which can’t be a bad thing.

So, I’d better get on with it.

30 thoughts on “At Tunbridge Wells Literary Festival”

  1. Hi Mick, book fairs have the same effect on me although I usually don’t sell that much either. South Africans are not a nation of readers like the British are. It is one of the reasons I want to move to the UK, there is so much more appreciation for literature and art in Britain and Europe.

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          1. Not on the larger scale under our current corrupt government. There are a lot of people who try to make a difference. I am one of them and that is why I write books for children. I keep hoping and trying and I at least make a small difference in some children’s lives.

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  8. Daniel Kemp

    I used to go to every book fair I could find within travelling distance when I was younger. I would come away with arm fulls of books. I found some real treasures that way and it was a real, meaningful introduction to literature in a sense. Although, of course, it was taught at school Shakespeare and the others were a subject to avoid in favour of dreaming of the game (rugby or cricket) coming up next.
    I was invited to Waterstones in Tunbridge Wells to sign copies twice when the first book I wrote was published. The first time was great. It was at the same time as 50 Shades of Grey was doing so well, so the shop was busy. I can’t be absolutely sure but I think I signed about 30 copies. I know the shop had not ordered enough copies of the book, but fortunately, I had brought some myself. The second visit was a bit of a disaster.

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    1. Ah, you’re not going to enlighten us as to the nature of the disaster?

      I suppose it must be an ambition of mine to do a book signing at Tunbridge Wells Waterstones. In the unlikely event of the book I’ve almost finished being accepted by a publisher I’d like to try for that.

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    1. It is partly a kindred spirit sort of thing, Dave, although there were a fair few ‘ordinary’ members of the public there.

      As to where I’d want to go in India, I suspect the north would call me again. The Himalaya foothills, especially.

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  11. I think it’s good that you decided to do the festival – it keeps one young, getting out there and doing things like that. It’s interesting to know that participating in events like this actually energized you for doing more work, that could be reason enough.

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