Suffolk Libraries is working in collaboration with Suffolk Archives and the University of Suffolk to hold an exciting two-day book festival at The Hold in Ipswich this May as part of its DiscoveReads book promotion for 2025.
The festival will include writing workshops, archive rummages, a pop-up book shop and six author talks – five at the Hold and one online, featuring the authors of six specially selected DiscoveReads books: Syd Moore, Helen McDonald & Sin Blaché, Jyoti Patel, Elizabeth Freemantle, Amelia Gentleman and Jill Dawson.
DiscoveReads is a reading programme to help people discover new and exciting reads by promoting six recommended books. These are:
Between April and June, Ipswich County library, Felixstowe Library, Woodbridge Library and Needham Market Library will all have a book display featuring the six DiscoveReads books, but they can also be reserved and borrowed via any library in Suffolk.
Lisa Brennan is Literary Events Lead at Suffolk Libraries and has coordinated the DiscoveReads booklist and events. She says:
“Our annual DiscoveReads book promotion begins in April where we will be highlighting six recommended titles by six brilliant authors. We are delighted that each author is also taking part in an author event as part of the promotion which includes an amazing two-day book festival which is taking place at The Hold in Ipswich. It will be a fantastic opportunity for readers to meet the authors of the books and ask their questions.”
The festival is taking place in partnership with Suffolk Archives at The Hold, and the University of Suffolk, on Ipswich’s Waterfront. Events take place on Saturday 24 May and Sunday 25 May. Limited early bird tickets of £3 are available for the author events until Thursday 1 May. General admission will then rise to £5 per ticket.
Saturday 24 May at 10:30AM & 2:00PM - If these walls could talk...How to write historical fiction
Inspired by our featured DiscoveReads authors this half day course run by Dr Amanda Hodgkinson, award-winning author and Associate Professor in Creative Writing at the University of Suffolk looks at ways of researching the past and understanding how to bring it to life in your writing in authentic ways. Open to all, whether you have a story you are writing, or you’re just curious to give historical fiction a try, this workshop is for you!
Saturday 24 May at 1PM - Syd Moore
Syd Moore is best known for the Essex Witch Museum Mysteries which were shortlisted for the Good Reader Holmes and Watson Award 2018 and has also written two short stories which were shortlisted for the ‘Dagger awards’ by the Crime Writers’ Association. The Grand Illusion, first in her new Section W series and set during WW2, was published in 2024 and is one of the DiscoveReads titles.
Saturday 24 May at 3PM - Helen McDonald and Sin Blaché
Helen Macdonald is a writer, poet, and naturalist best known for the internationally bestselling, prize-winning memoir H Is for Hawk and the essay collection Vesper. Helen’s most recent book is the sci-fi thriller Prophet which is the first written in collaboration with author and musician Sin Blaché.
Sunday 25 May at 11AM – Jyoti Patel
Jyoti was selected as one of The Observer’s 10 Best New Novelists for 2023 and an extract of her debut novel The Things That We Lost was chosen as the winning submission for the 2021 #Merky Books New Writers' Prize, selected from over 2,000 entries. The Things That We Lost is a beautifully tender exploration of family, loss and how far we will go to protect the ones we love.
Sunday 25 May at 1PM – Amelia Gentleman
Amelia Gentleman is a reporter and author of The Windrush Betrayal, Exposing the Hostile Environment. She won the Paul Foot award, Cudlipp award, an Amnesty award, journalist of the year British journalism awards and London press club print journalist of the year for Windrush investigations. Her exposé of the Windrush scandal – where thousands of British citizens were wrongly classified as illegal immigrants with life-shattering consequences – shocked the nation and led to the resignation of Amber Rudd as Home Secretary.
Sunday 25 May at 3PM – Elizabeth Freemantle
Elizabeth Fremantle is the critically acclaimed author of four Tudor historical novels: Firebrand (formerly Queen’s Gambit), Sisters of Treason, Watch the Lady and The Girl in the Glass Tower. As E.C. Fremantle she has written two historical thrillers: The Poison Bed and The Honey and the Sting. Her most recent novel, Disobedient, is a feminist retelling of the life of seventeenth-century Italian painter Artemisia Gentileschi.
Saturday 24 May at 11AM – 3PM and Sunday 25 May at 10AM – 3PM - Archives Rummage
Stop by Suffolk Archives John Blatchly Local Studies Library for a chance to see a wonderful selection of items from the archives relating to the diverse topics covered by the DiscoveReads authors. From the Windrush community to UFOs, witches and ‘disobedient’ women. Drop-in. No booking required.
Saturday 24 May at 11AM, 12PM & 2PM and Sunday 25 May 10AM, 12PM & 2PM - Behind the Scenes Tour
Join Suffolk Archives for a behind-the-scenes tour of The Hold. See our award nominated new archive building and experience our collections in their natural habitat. Free but booking required. Suitable for all ages
These events will then be followed by a final online DiscoveReads author interview with Jill Dawson on Wednesday 4 June at 6PM. Tickets to this event are free but must be booked in advance.
Jill Dawson is the award-winning author of twelve novels, including The Crime Writer, about author Patricia Highsmith’s time living in Suffolk, which won the East Anglian book of the year and The Language of Birds, about the nanny murdered at the home of Lord Lucan. Her latest is The Bewitching, the true story set in the 16th century, of the witches of Warboys.
For full details of the events and DiscoveReads books visit suffolklibraries.co.uk/discovereads
