Festival week will soon be upon us and will give the town a boost with darker evenings around the corner.  Our bumper programme has something for everyone, and many events have already sold out.  If you have missed out, have a look at those events that still have tickets available – sometimes the things you don’t consider the first time around can turn out to be some of the best!

With this in mind:

Those of you with children can start your Sunday early at Mercato Italiano with coffee and pastries whilst your little ones enjoy Ruby Wright and her book Animal Crackers on Sunday 5th November where she’ll demonstrate her drawing skills, and then everyone has a chance to decorate their own Animal Crackers – delicious biscuits made at Mercato!

Come and see Helen Rebanks on Sunday 5th November afternoon talking about her life living close to the land and raising a family.

On Tuesday 7th November, Keggie Carew, author of the brilliant Dadlands, brings us her latest book, Beastly, which was nominated for the Wainwright Prize, and explores our deep relationship with the wild animals around us, and how it is more important than ever.

Ruth Padel with her beautiful collection of poems, Watershed, will be talking to James Crowden at Sladers Yard on Tuesday 7th November, which always provides the perfect venue for a convivial and interesting evening.  Pen Vogler will be there on Thursday evening to discuss her book Stuffed. It is a fantastic read and Pen’s lively personality and knowledge of food history will not disappoint.

Also on Tuesday 7th, festival favourite Max Porter is back with his brilliant and sparse novel SHY, portraying the most fragile of characters and subjects with deep compassion.

Also on our fiction list is the ever wonderful bestseller, Amanda Craig who will be in Bridport Arts Centre on Friday 10th November discussing her witty and most personal novel yet The Three Graces.  

End the week on Saturday 11th November with Megan McCubbin, step daughter to Chris Packham, a rising star on our screens, and passionate wildlife campaigner.  She talks to Sam Rose about her book An Atlas of Endangered Species.

And as a finale, and new departure for BridLit, local folk legend Reg Meuross will be joined by Kora player Suntou Susso for a musical event – a song cycle which tells of the history of Slavery in the SouthWest.

Tickets are all available online www.bridlit.com or by phoning the Tourist Information Centre 01308 424901.

We are very much looking forward to spending the week with our audiences and creating a literary buzz around town!