Blandford Literary Festival 2026

The dream for Blandford Literary Festival started a few years ago when a small group of local writers got together with an ambition to make it happen. The inspiration came from a shared love of words and a desire to use the beautiful town of Blandford and its fabulous buildings to take people on an exciting journey incorporating stories, plays, poems, song and much more. We see this as an opportunity to bring people, businesses and schools together. You can read about our festivals from 2019 to 2025 here.

Our Mission:

To cultivate a thriving and inclusive literary community that celebrates diverse voices, fostering a love of reading for all ages, and promoting social good through the power of words.  As a Community Interest Company, we are committed to reinvesting profits to enrich our community and support literacy initiatives.

EVENT SCHEDULE 2026

FRIDAY 13/11/26

2:00-3:00 Blandford Town Museum
New Shoes & Old Knickers May Ellis & Paula Harmon - £6 

May Ellis and Paula Harmon will be speaking about researching their historical novels. From the role of Quakers and secret missions in Somerset, the role of women in shoe factories, the real purpose of Girl Guides via what the well-dressed Edwardian might do with her underwear, May and Paula will share some of the fascinating, and occasionally bizarre, facts they’ve uncovered for their books, including several they’ve had to leave out of her books because no one would believe them.

SATURDAY 14/11/26

10:00-11:00 Town Hall 
Champagne in a Broken Teacup - £6

Greg Duncan will talk about his novel, inspired by the activities of his aunt who was in the French Resistance and shows how he a blended a fictional story and historical reality. He will also be sharing some of the fascinating things he found such as the law banning the making of croissant in France!

10:00-11:00 Council Chambers
What I learned from Stephen King and how not to Self-Publish an Audiobook – free

Family saga novelist Jo Chinn with discuss what she has learned as a writer in conversation with Nat Wood Fox, referring to her book ‘Under the Hickory Tree’ and a fascinating former career.

11:30-12:30 Town Hall within Blandford Corn Exchange 
Bringing Characters to Life- History & Mystery Fiction - £6 

Referring to Carol's crime mysteries set in the New Forest Murders novels and Elisabeth's Strands of Gold trilogy set in South East Asia, Carol Cole and Elisabeth Conway will discuss how to bring characters to life in crime and historical fiction.

11:30-12:30 Council Chambers
Midnight Reflections – free 

Frida Rivero invites you to join her for immersive story-telling exploring a world of magical realism through all five senses. Inspired by the voices of other selves, this event is designed to create a space for shared memory, emotion, and transformation. It’s not just storytelling; it’s a collective, intimate journey.

2:15-3:00 Town Hall 
One Step Ahead of Reality - Novels Which Resonate With Current Affairs - £6 

Bob Fairbrother and David Orson Newton in conversation with Nat Wood Fox talking about how fiction can resonate with current affairs with reference to their novels 'Project Deadhead' and 'Seconds to Midnight' and how they explore what might happen in a near future where ecological disaster and the fragility of human control in the age of intelligent machines.

2:15-3:00 Blandford Town Museum - £6 
Stuart Mysteries and Recipes - Talk with Q&A and Tasting Samples

Georgia Piggott, author of the historical mysteries The Alice Chronicles, will talking about her books and researching the food of rich and poor from 400 years ago. Georgia will bring samples to taste and recipe cards to try at home.

2:00-3:30 Woodhouse Gardens Pavilion
Let’s be Writers - Let’s Make a Book - Workshop for 6-9 year olds– free

Jane Skellett will help you create your own book’ - to take home, with front cover, back cover blurb, etc - - and the content will be your own individual choice of subject. (One parent/guardian per child or familyto stay and of course, create a book of their own too!)

4:00-5:00 Town Hall 
A Writing Life - from thrillers to the world of Georgian Theatre - £6

Starting with psychological thrillers, supernatural thrillers and comedies, Elizabeth Cooke had her breakthrough book in 2000 with The Ice Child. Her latest book is The Tyger Striped Boy, set in the chaotic world of theatre panoramas, freak shows and animal menageries of 18th century London. Elizabeth will talk about her 30 years of writing life.

6:00-7:00 Town Hall 
From Rural Whodunnits to Jurassic Coast Murders? - £6 

Heide Goody and Iain Grant, who co-write as Millie Ravensworth and also collaborate with award-winning Rachel McLean on the Jurassic Coast Mysteries, will be talking about their books, inspiration, Dorset and how co-writing works for them.

SUNDAY 15/11/26

11:00-3:00 Blandford Town Museum
Inspiration & Creation – Free

Bring your notebook, laptop, sketchbook, paints, camera and join Paula Harmon, Nat Wood Fox and Sylvia Hixson Andrews for a relaxed creative session - be inspired by your surroundings,, take prompts, discuss ideas or simply write, sketch or photograph. At least one workshop will be available – TBC. Tours of the museum will be available. A calm day for your inner artist. (Bring your packed lunch too.)