States of Independence is an annual one-day festival that celebrates indie publishing. Now in its 15th year, States 24 will be hosted by the Leicester Centre for Creative Writing at DMU and our industry partner, Dahlia Books. As ever, our ‘Book Festival In a Day’ on Saturday 8th June 2024 will be open to the public and FREE to all.

Our theme this year is writing beyond the page: on the screen, in the galleries, in archives, in music, in collaboration. Novelist and screen writer Louise Doughty will be delivering our keynote, and literary agent Philippa Sitters will be offering 1-2-1s. Join us for workshops and bookstalls galore!

Join us for an hour or the whole day. Attend lots of events – you will be spoiled for choice – or just one, or simply come along and browse the stalls to see what the independent sector has to offer.