Ilkley Literature Festival
@ilkleylitfest.bsky.social
The north of England's longest-running literature festival. Coming in 2025: 3-19 October 2025. #ILF25 | Produced by @thewordupnorth.bsky.social
Job alert! 👀
Word Up North@thewordupnorth.bsky.social · 5mo agoWe're hiring! We looking for two brilliant communications and marketing folks to join us at Word Up North in our mission to raise up writers, voices and stories in the north of England. For full details of the roles available and info on how to apply, go to wordupnorth.org.uk/about-us/vacancies
Happy #worldbookday! To celebrate, here's the fantastically great Kate Pankhurst (@kateisdrawing) on stage @skiptontownhall last Sunday as part of @thewordupnorth's wonderful #StoryExplorerDay! Huge thanks to everyone who came. Hope you're having another brilliant book-filled day today!
Word Up North@thewordupnorth.bsky.social · 7mo agoReturn to Wonderland with Anna James (@acaseforbooks.bsky.social) at Skipton Town Hall on Sunday 1 March 2026 at 1.15-2.15pm as part of our #StoryExplorerDay! Suitable for ages 7-9. Tickets £4 per person (adults & children). Book now! wordupnorth.org.uk/events/anna-...
Story Explorer Day is back and coming to Skipton this Spring!
Word Up North@thewordupnorth.bsky.social · 7mo agoOur Story Explorer Day is coming to Skipton for the first time on Sunday 1 March 2026! Join us for a celebration of classic children's stories with exciting events & interactive activities for families with children aged 0-11 years. Tickets and full event info: wordupnorth.org.uk/whats-on/chi...
It was a pleasure to host the annual New Northern Poets showcase last month as part of ILF25. Keep an eye on these amazing poets - and keep an ear out for their upcoming podcast series!
Word Up North@thewordupnorth.bsky.social · 9mo agoOur New Northern Poets debuted their latest work at an amazing @ilkleylitfest.bsky.social showcase last month. They also took the chance to record the new series of the New Northern Poets podcast - focussing on the life of a poet. Keep your ears out - coming soon! 🎧
Join us on Sat 31 January as political columnist and man-who saw-it-all Steve Richards casts new light on Blair’s time in office, showing that many of the challenges facing him were the ones that still face Labour today and discussing the lessons today’s government can learn from the Blair years.
Such an interesting and enjoyable time interviewing and presenting an eclectic mix of authors and their fascinating books @ilkleylitfest.bsky.social. And a magnificent effort by the team @thewordupnorth.bsky.social to produce the festival back-to-back with #ContainsStrongLanguage
Last weekend had an amazing time speaking about Rare Tongues @ilkleylitfest.bsky.social Wonderful theatre! Sold out! And only one book left at the end. Relaxed afterwards with Hockney and cello music before the long, reluctant drive home. What a brilliant part of our country!
Puppy love with Mark Radcliffe and Arlo at the King's Hall on Sunday 😍 🐶
Waiting in the green room of the Ilkley Playhouse, matching my snacks with the topic of discussion for @ilkleylitfest.bsky.social
There's a special buzz when you spot your book in a #bookshop window! 🤩 I spy #NaturesMemory in @grovebookshop.bsky.social (ahead of my talk at @ilkleylitfest.bsky.social later)
It's the final weekend (du-du-duuu-du)! But we're certainly not winding down early. Check out what we have on this weekend! There's still time to get your tickets at ilkleylitfest.org.uk or by calling 01943 816714. You can also purchase tickets at our venues.
Excellent afternoon ay @ilkleylitfest.bsky.social - lovely audience, good questions, nice chats afterwards. Thanks to everyone involved and for the great communication throughout.
Join us on Saturday at Ilkley Literature Festival! The Poems: 40 Years in the North, with Ian Harker Saturday 18 October, 3.30pm More details and tickets: www.ilkleyliteraturefestival.org.uk/events/62-th... @ilkleylitfest.bsky.social
Thanks to the 90+ people who came to the launch event for Malachi Whitaker's 1939 memoir, And So Did I @ilkleylitfest.bsky.social reprinted after 38 years by @bhousepress.bsky.social Thanks for the great questions & for buying so many copies of our Malachi's marvellous book!
Had a lovely afternoon at @ilkleylitfest.bsky.social listening to Sadiah Qureshi in discussion with Greg Radick on her latest book, Vanished. Very excited to get stuck into it!
Brilliant, fascinating couple of Maybe I'm Amazed events this weekend in Durham & Ilkley. Big thanks to Paul Smith & @frankjf.bsky.social for such perceptive interviews, the organisers of two superb festivals & everyone who came Order the book here linktr.ee/maybeimamazed
John Harris@johnharris1969.bsky.social · 10mo agoBrilliant, fascinating couple of Maybe I'm Amazed events this weekend in Durham & Ilkley. Big thanks to Paul Smith & @frankjf.bsky.social for such perceptive interviews, the organisers of two superb festivals & everyone who came Order the book here linktr.ee/maybeimamazed
I’ll be at @ilkleylitfest.bsky.social on October 18th talking about Alan Bennett’s brilliant memoir Untold Stories on a live recording of @beelitmag.bsky.social’s brilliant Working Class Library podcast. There are still a few tickets left and are priced at pay what you feel. Link in bio.
Signing copies of my Afterword in Malachi Whitaker's 1939 memoir 'And So Did I' yesterday @ilkleylitfest.bsky.social with Malachi's daughter Val Tordoff. Reprinted for the first time in 38 years by Recovered Books, Boiler House Press, University of East Anglia @bhousepress.bsky.social (Valerie)
The queue for the post-event book signing is generally a reliable indicator of how well an author has been received, and it was through the door for @johnharris1969.bsky.social yesterday @ilkleylitfest.bsky.social
Wonderful talk by author @lamornaash.bsky.social on Sat @ilkleylitfest.bsky.social about her new book - courageous, honest & uplifting. Thanks not just for signing copy for my son but also for unpacking what ‘The Grand Inquisitor’ is all about - after reading your book I finally get it! (at last!)
NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM FANS (and skeptics), if you're around #Yorkshire this weekend, I'll be speaking at @ilkleylitfest.bsky.social about #NaturesMemory: Behind the Scenes at the World's Natural History #Museums. Book here: ilkleyliteraturefestival-tickets.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/...
If you're in or near Ilkley this weekend, I'm at Church House at 2.30 on Saturday.
Ilkley Literature Festival@ilkleylitfest.bsky.social · 10mo agoDiaries out - here's what we have in store for you at ILF this week and weekend! 🗓️ 📚 Tickets available at ilkleylitfest.org.uk or call the box office on 01943 816714 🎟️
Diaries out - here's what we have in store for you at ILF this week and weekend! 🗓️ 📚 Tickets available at ilkleylitfest.org.uk or call the box office on 01943 816714 🎟️
Had a marvellous time talking about Lost Boys at the @ilkleylitfest.bsky.social yesterday with Sally Johnson. Thanks to the organisers and those who braved the weather to turn out for a packed event.
Really looking forward to interviewing @johnharris1969.bsky.social @ilkleylitfest.bsky.social. #MaybeImAmazed is my personal choice for book of the year; a tender, deeply moving memoir about music and autism — and essential reading!
What an opening weekend! ILF25 is well and truly underway. And there's plenty more to come from now until Sunday 19 October. What were your highlights from our opening weekend? (don't mention the weather ☔ - that part was out of our hands...) 📸 Rich Bunce, Walking Photographer
Aaaand we're off! What a fantastic turn out to our opening night event with Nick Clegg at the King's Hall. Thank you to everyone who braved the weather last night and good luck to everyone braving it today to see us! Lots more brilliant events coming up this weekend and until Sunday 19 October. 🧡 📚
