Budleigh Salterton Literary Festival takes place in the town from 15-19 September this year and organisers are busy putting the final touches to an exciting programme of authors, speakers and events. Chair of the Festival, Sue Briggs, brings us up to date with the latest plans...

As well as our festival in September, we’re really pleased to offer other exciting initiatives designed to get people reading and talking about books.

We have a brilliant team who look after our schools’ outreach programme and for the first time this year we have introduced a ‘Festival Read’. There’s something really special about a group of people reading and sharing thoughts on the same book, like a really large book club, and we’re keen to get as many people reading along as possible. The book we have selected is The Lamplighters by Emma Stonex. And, the best part is, you get to meet the author, as Emma will be at the festival.

Inspired by a haunting true story, The Lamplighters, is the gorgeous and atmospheric debut novel about the mysterious disappearance of three lighthouse keepers from a remote tower miles from the Cornish coast, and about the wives who were left behind.

We are fortunate to have amazing support from businesses in Budleigh, and our friend Karen at The Rowan Tree on the High Street is stocking the book for us, so you can pop in and buy one from there – it’s just £10, discounted from the RRP of £14.99, please note that Karen is only able to accept cash payments for the book. Rowan Tree is a beautiful independent gift shop, an absolute treasure trove of gorgeous gifts and homewares. If you’re not in Budleigh you can order the book by mail order from Winstone Books in Sidmouth.

Keep a look out for more news from the festival, as we’re planning to announce the line up at the end of this month; it’s so exciting, we’ve got some amazing authors coming to our town.

To hear the latest news, sign up for our newsletter, or become a Friend of the Festival to receive priority booking when the event tickets go on sale. Visit www.budlitfest.co.uk
Sue Briggs, chair of Budleigh Literary Festival