Chris Goodall, Marianna Spring, Patrick Dixon and Chris Atkins are set to appear on Saturday 29th March, with bookings also now open for poetry and nature writing workshops in the new year.
The north’s longest-running literary festival, Ilkley Literature Festival, has announced a series of events and workshops taking place in early 2025, including a mix of rescheduled and newly programmed author talks at Ilkley Grammar School on Saturday 29th March.
Marianna Spring, the BBC’s award-winning Disinformation & Social Media Correspondent and host of Americast, is appearing to discuss her book Among the Trolls. Spring will delve into the world of conspiracy theories, trolls and algorithms and explore how the information war threatens our society and values.
Former inmate, documentary maker and bestselling author Chris Atkins leads a discussion on the UK’s broken justice system in a conversation on his book Time After Time: Why Criminals Can’t Quit Crime.
In a timely event on the repercussions of AI, Patrick Dixon, Europe’s leading futurist and influential business thinker, will discuss his book How AI Will Change Your Life, exploring the existential threats as well as the tremendous benefits that AI could bring us.
Chris Goodall (pictured below), the world’s foremost expert on climate technologies, explains how a carbon neutral future is possible as he explores the themes and discoveries from his book Possible – Ways to Net Zero.
Word Up North, the arts charity that manages and programmes the Ilkley Literature Festival, has also announced a series of poetry and nature writing workshops in the first half of 2025.
In January, two of this year’s New Northern Poets, Claire Lynn and Mike Farren will host online poetry workshops via Zoom. In Lynn’s workshop on Saturday 18th January, writers will be introduced to the art of ekphrastic poetry (poetry that takes artwork as its inspiration) and Farren’s workshop on Wednesday 22nd January will explore the poetry of place.
The Yorkshire landscape is both location and muse in two Nature Writing by the Wharfe workshops that take place on Saturday 5th April and Saturday 10th May at the picturesque Nell Bank, on the outskirts of Ilkley. Led by renowned writers John Whale and Matt Howard, these one-day nature writing workshops include a morning of guided exploration on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales, drawing creative inspiration from the winding river Wharfe, ancient oak woodlands and stunning views across the Wharfe Valley, before an afternoon spent crafting creative responses, expertly guided by Howard and Whale. The workshop also includes welcome refreshments and a delicious, locally sourced lunch.
Erica Morris, Director of Word Up North & the Ilkley Literature Festival, said:
“Saturday 29th March promises an exciting array of bestselling authors and leading thinkers discussing timely topics from AI to the climate crisis, the state of the UK’s justice system and the future of democracy in this age of division and disinformation.
We’re also thrilled to be hosting online poetry workshops with two rising talents from this year’s cohort of New Northern Poets, as well as giving writers the opportunity through two nature writing workshops to immerse themselves in the Yorkshire landscape that has inspired countless writers before them.”
For more information and to book tickets: www.ilkleyliteraturefestival.org.uk or call the Box Office on 01943 816714
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