Books, authors, sunshine and red wine
Satisfying my curiosity at the Cheltenham Literature Festival
A few weeks ago I spent a few autumn sunshine-filled days at the Cheltenham Literature festival. It’s difficult to believe it’s my first time there, I used to do stuff like this all the time in my 20s before work took hold of my free time and mental availability and that part of me slowly slipped away. Year by year I made less and less time for curiosity and discovery. But since I’ve returned to that part of myself I’ve felt sharper and more alive.
Over two days I saw some amazing authors and discovered some new ones too, I filled my mind with new ideas, possibilities, inspiration and new ways of doing things. I loved the feeling of being among people who have that same curiosity and love of books. Here are some of the wonderful authors I had the opportunity to hear speak and some new discoveries along the way.
Lizzie Penny and Helen Beedham - How we work: Time for a change
I have had a curiosity when it comes to the world of work ever since I suffered burnout in 2020. I can’t get enough of organisational psychology and can’t shake the feeling that there must be a better way, and there is. Lizzie Penny and Alex Hirst came up with the concept of Workstyle in a pub in 2014 and set about launching Hoxby, a freelance collective. Their book Workstyle talks about the freedom to choose when and where you work, making work more accessible to all and improving well-being. Lizzie talked about her book and her revolutionary approach to working alongside the literary editor for the times Johanna Thomas Corr and Helen Beedham talking about her book The Future of Time which talks about re-working the concept of time in working life. If you’ve ever wondered, is this it, when it come to working life I highly recommend you check these out.
Rachel Marks
One of those exciting discoveries was a local author of 3 novels, her latest being Hello Stranger. I listened to Rachel talk about her journey to becoming a writer. From self-doubt to taking a chance on the Curtis Brown writing course, which gave her the confidence to finish her first novel. This was an intimate gathering with the opportunity to ask many questions about her writing process. She begins with themes and an ending, then writes as the story unfolds. I walked away with more wonderful fiction for my reading list.
Dolly Alderton
I’ve been a fan of Dolly’s writing since I read her memoir Everything I know about Love. I’ve never laughed as hard as I did while reading her hilarious and somewhat accurate account of a passive-aggressive hen-do. I gift that book whenever I get the opportunity, joyously marking my favourite pages for the recipient to find. Her new book, Dear Dolly, is a collection of her columns from the Sunday Times Style. She was interviewed by the hugely talented Poorna Bell on what it’s like dishing out advice and writing for the screen (her brilliant Everything I know about love was made into a series for the BBC) She rocked a three piece leopard print suit and was as brilliantly funny in person as she is in her writing.
Ruth Jones
She has humour and ability to write novels you can almost devour in one sitting and her story craft and characters have always given me much to admire. Not to mention her brilliant writing for TV with Gavin and Stacey and Stella. Her new novel Love Untold promises more welsh humour, more unique characters and more late nights when you just can put it down. She was as hilarious in person as she is in her writing. While I was in the queue to have her new novel signed, I spoke to girl of about 20 who was mad about books, this was actually the highlight for me. That there’s a generation still to come that loves books, what a relief.
If you get a chance to go to Cheltenham, even just for a few days, I highly recommend it. It was a hugely inspiring few days of listening and talking about books. I came back feeling inspired, my cup well and truly filled. This experience is certainly something I’ve been missing all these years, and I won’t be giving it up again. Next time I will pack less, leaving more room for books.
I’d love to hear any recommendations for interesting UK festivals. Please share any in the comments.
Before I go I’ll leave you with some recommendations for where to eat if you do happen to visit. I was travelling solo and didn’t feel out of place eating alone at any of these.
The Beehive - beautiful pub tucked away in the area of Montpellier, conveniently located just moments away from the festival. Amazing Sunday roasts and little nooks for stealing away with a glass of wine and a book.
Baker and Graze - best cinnamon buns I’ve enjoyed in a long time. A cross between a cross isn’t and a bun and most importantly generously coated in cinnamon and sugar. Perfect window seat, great for people watching. One of the only cafes I’ve been to where I noticed a sign in the window asking people not to sit at tables with laptops or work devices. Brilliant if you’re alone and tempted to fill the void, pull out a book instead.
The Scandinavian Coffee Pod - the architecture of this tiny find in the back streets of Cheltenham is as amazing as the coffee. The pared back wood seating, impressive glass windows and black coffee cups add to the scandi vibe. Acoustics are great for listing to the stories of the other patrons if you’re in need to some story inspiration.