In our first event since the sudden death of director Tanya Bruce-Lockhart in April, award-winning author Tracy Chevalier brought her novel, The Glassmaker, to life last week

She was in conversation with local writer Jo Willett at The Electric Palace, Bridport, and it was almost a full house, even on a sunny Thursday afternoon.

Tracy read an excerpt from the book, setting the scene beautifully for discussing both the story, and the process behind creating her latest work of fiction.

Audience questions demonstrated she has a real fan base here in Bridport, as did the queue for book signings afterwards.

The next event prior to the main festival from 2-8 November is the worldwide best-selling author, Alexander McCall Smith, at the Electric Palace on 23 October, where he will be in conversation with Nikki May at 7pm.

The master storyteller will entertain with tales from the latest 44 Scotland Street novel, Bertie’s Theory of Ice Cream, and discuss In the Time of Five Pumpkins, the new novel in the No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series.

Tickets are £16 and will soon be on sale via the Electric Palace and BridLit websites and from Bridport Tourist Information Centre, either in person or on the phone – 01308 424901.

Full details of this year’s festival week will be released in due course, with tickets on sale to Friends of Bridport Literary Festival from 1 August and to the public on 22 August.

Friends receive an advance copy of the festival brochure, priority booking of tickets, free postal booking and no booking fee, regular events and gatherings, an annual party, a twice-yearly newsletter and an opportunity to get involved.

Individual membership costs £20 for a year, and £30 for couples. For more information, visit become-a-friend

Photo by Christopher Middleton