April 2016 will see the launch of a new event for Abergavenny: the Aber Writing Fest. Event founder and organiser Lucie Parkin is aiming to provide an eclectic range of events for all age groups and tastes.
The event is designed to appeal to anyone with an interest in writing and words, whether professional or personal. The festival will take place from Thursday 21st through to Saturday 23rd April and is being generously hosted by the Kings Arms Hotel in Abergavenny and supported by founding partner Christie Residential.
Helen-O-Sullivan
Visitors to the festival will be able to sit back and enjoy inspiring talks and readings from local writers including the much respected poet and songwriter Paul Henry who will be reading from his latest collection ‘Boy Running’ as well as sharing some songs. Eddie Butler: journalist, sports commentator, former Welsh rugby union player and all round local legend will be sharing his writing experiences. And Robert Penn, The Man who Made Things out of Trees, will be talking frankly about how difficult the writing process can be.
There will also be lots of opportunities for visitors to immerse themselves in hands-on writing workshops. Tyler Keevil, award-winning author and creative writing teacher, is offering an interactive session for aspiring novelists to include writing exercises and lively discussion. Aimed at beginning and aspiring writers looking to find out more about the craft, and have some fun while doing so!
There will be a great range of events to get children immersed in the world of storytelling, invention and writing, including ‘Wild Mapping: Children’s spaces at Linda Vista gardens with Wild Tots’, this session is aimed at 0-7 year olds and their families. For the slightly older kids Abergavenny theatre practitioner Naomi Doyle will be running a fun and fearsome ‘Imaginary Monsters’ workshop where 7-11 year olds are invited to describe and make monsters in person and on paper. Through writing and rhyming, performing and improvising, creatures will be brought to life! There will also be a children’s poetry workshop inspired by Roald Dahl’s writings from award winning poet Sophie McKeand and readings from local children’s authors including Helen O’Sullivan and Mari Ellis Dunning.
For those with a professional interest in writing Arts Alive will host a Creative Network event ‘meet the professionals: editing & publishing’. This session will provide an insight into getting your work published. Simon Lancaster top speechwriter and author of Speechwriting: The Expert Guide and Winning Minds: Secrets from the Language of Leadership will be offering a speechwriting workshop. And Fergus Collins, editor of Countryfile Magazine will be sharing his insider tips and knowledge to help writers get their work published.
Expect some very lively evening sessions too packed full of discussion, performance, music, poetry and prose. It promises to be a creative, action packed three days for all!
If you’d like to find out more see the festival’s Facebook page, follow on Twitter or see the website: F www.facebook.com/abergavennywritingfestival | T @AberWritingFest | W www.abergavennywritingfestival.com
