Hi guys 👋🏻
Last weekend, Friday 2nd – Sunday 4th October was the second Ipswich Book Festival!
Last years was one of my favourite weekends so I have been looking forward and anticipating this one for a while (and I’m happy to report that it did not disappoint!)
This year was extra special because I was a volunteer!
Friday 2nd October 2026
I was working for the majority of this first day but I did manage to fit in two talks in the late afternoon/evening.
Ashley Hickson- Lovence was the first event, 4pm and he was amazing, a real wonder to listen to! He was a fantastic way to start the book festival and I would attend an event of his again in a heartbeat. I can’t wait to start my books! I picked up two to try. I love discovering new authors. His books are not my ‘usual’ read but I am converted, proof you should always give something a chance!
After talk one I went for a spot of dinner with my husband as I only had an hour and a half between the two events.
After that, I headed to the second talk of the evening – the Look East Legend, Stewart White. I spent my childhood years with my parents putting this on the TV, and it was always Stewart White (& Susie Fowler-Watt!!) This was another brilliant and interesting talk about his career. Highs, lows and funny anecdotes. It was particularly interesting as he covered lots of big local news stories.
Saturday 3rd October 2026
Day Two was a blast! Sandwiched between my volunteering was a brilliant mixture of fiction and creativity.
I knew I wouldn’t be around alot this weekend so me and hubby started the day off together with a spot of breakfast. Fuelling up for a busy weekend.
We tried out a new local spot and it was insanely good. Delcious iced coffee and a almighty brunch. We will be back Harmonious Cafe ☕️
After a quick bit of volunteering I made my way to the central local library where the majority of my activities were being held.
I was a bit early so I continued reading my current book (in prep for the Book festival and I would highly recommend it) ‘Roman Mornings’ by Matson Taylor.
Ruth Dugdall (who I met in the cafe beforehand! – she was lovely) was my first talk of the day and she was great to listen to! I like crime fiction alot and her Cate Austin series, set in Suffolk, is brilliant… so much so that I bought the remaining ones that I haven’t read yet 😅 I love that she is a Suffolk Girl, there is something very satisfying about really being able to picture the setting and it being your hometown/area.
Imbetween the two author talks I was going to at the library there was another brilliant workshop for a little creative break, collage bookmarks.
The author whose book I was reading, Matson Taylor, was great to listen to. As a fellow Rome fan it was great to hear about his time in Rome and his love of such a wonderful city. ‘Roman Mornings’ is a lovely read.
I rounded off my attending events with the hilarious, witty and engaging Caroline Quentin. This was a fantastic talk and it was so lovely to hear someone so passionate about Suffolk and wildlife. She was just so entertaining and I think she would make most subjects interesting and amusing.
I finished day two with my first full volunteering slot 🫡
All went well and after a fun, busy and tiring day I went home for an early night. Ready to do it all again tomorrow.
Sunday 4th October 2026
Sunday started off with another fun volunteer slot, supporting the local authors (love that!) at the Ipswich Institute…
My talks for today were Ted Powell, discussing Churchill and The Crown 👑 which was very interesting! Robin Ince who was great to listen to, very funny, articulate and talking about the things that REALLY need to be talked about, and finally rounding off the day with Janet Street Porter… and what an experience that was 😅
I loved volunteering at ‘The Hub’ for the book festival as well during Sunday.
The town was buzzing, the red t shirts were out in full force and the feeling around my lovely home town of Ipswich was just great. I felt very proud to be just a tiny part of something so lovely for book lovers and the town in general.
I had a great time and I hope everyone else did too – roll on next year!
Until Next Time,
Roseanne 🙂
