Isle book lovers have just two weeks until they get their next literary fix at the Margate Bookie.
The festival returns from Friday, September 28 to Sunday, September 30 at Turner Contemporary and venues in Margate’s Old Town.
Headliners include fashion historian Amber Butchart, journalist and author Sathnam Sanghera and poets Dean Atta and Owen Lowery. A series of creative writing workshops will help budding authors and poets to find their style and inspire them to write more, and ten local poets will battle it out to be crowed champion of the second Bookie Slam.
New sessions added to the programme include Murder in the Dark, a panel discussion featuring crime writers led by local author Vicky Newham, and a writing workshop by the Creative Writing Society of Canterbury Christchurch University.
There are children’s events, a pop-up bookshop and daily podcasts. There will also be a poetry slam on September 28 at The Quarterdeck Brewhouse, Dreamland, from 7.30pm, £5 entry.
The slam will involve ten poets battling it out for the Kent Poetry Championships and will have poet Dean Atta as its guest, The event is organised by publisher Whisky and Beards.
Andreas Loizou, from the Margate Bookie, said: “If you’ve ever thought that a literary festival wouldn’t be your cup of tea, the Bookie will surprise you. I’m really proud of the programme and the friendly and relaxed atmosphere we’ve created.
“If you like books, you’ll love the Bookie.”
Check out the programme and get your tickets at www.margatebookie.com
Report by Gemma Pettman