Derby Book Festival’s Autumn Edition opens on Thursday

Derby Book Festival’s Autumn Edition opens on Thursday 13 November with 25 events in venues across the city, including QUAD, Derby Museum, Derby Theatre, Central Co-op Cricket Ground, Artcore and local libraries. Tickets can be booked online at: https://www.derbybookfestival.co.uk/whats-on/events

Tickets are still available for most events and can be bought on the day at venues. Please check website for details of availability.

The Festival is organised with the support of all the major arts and cultural partners in the city with funding from the Arts Council England, the University of Derby and businesses and individuals across the city.

Highlights of this year’s Autumn Edition include:

• Sir Tony Robinson, actor, presenter, historical expert and star of Blackadder and Time Team and Patron of RSPCA Derby – who makes his adult fiction debut with The House of Wolf
• Jane Austen fans can look forward to Paula Byrne, whose latest novel, Six Weeks by the Sea, recounts the fascinating story of how Jane Austen fell in love for the first time
• For politics lovers, Richard Vinen will discuss Churchill and De Gaulle
• David Bowie fans can hear renowned music journalist Paul Morley discuss Far Above the World, in which he celebrates Bowie’s enduring influence
• History lovers can enjoy Jonathan Healey talking about The Blood in Winter, in which he explains the background to the outbreak of the Civil War, historian Tessa Dunlop has travelled the length of breadth of the UK to write Lest We Forget: War and Peace in 100 British Monuments
• Nick Higham brings us a fascinating story from the First World War with Mavericks
• Women’s history is celebrated by Victoria Bateman in her book Economica: A Global History of Women, Wealth and Power
• Sarah Dunant joins us for a Cream Tea event when she will share her latest book bringing Renaissance history to life with The Marchesa, the first female art collector and patron of her time
• Renowned crime and thriller writer Denise Mina will be joining us with her latest: The Good Liar
• And for those who love alternative lifestyles, Jo Bell, former UK Canal Laureate, will share her memoir Boater: A Life on England’s Waterways.

For children and families, we have a wide range of creative activities to attend including:

• Lanisha Butterfield, who recently won ‘The Wainwright Children’s Nature Book of the Year’ prize for Flower Block, illustrated by Hoang Giang. Flower Block was also voted winner of our Derby Children’s Picture Book Award in April. Lanisha will hold two events at the Joseph Wright Centre at Derby College: a meet the author event and a fairytale writing workshop and will also hold events for schools during her visit.
• Imagine going to the cinema and becoming part of a pop-up orchestra who create every single sound FX and the musical score? You can do this at two events with The Enchanted Cinema at Derby Theatre on 16 November.
• Children can also join us for story times with Claire Powell, interactive habitat poetry with Katherine Wheatley.

The Autumn Edition is a ‘hybrid’ Festival of in-person events, with 13 events being filmed. People can buy individual recordings of events (for 50% of the in-person ticket price) or a Digital Pass is available giving access to all 13 recorded events, which will be available to watch for six weeks after the Festival ends (from 20 November to 2 January) for £40.

Professor Keith McLay, Chair of the Festival and Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University of Derby, said: “It has been another outstanding year for the Derby Book Festival as we bring its 10th anniversary year to a close.  

“Derby Book Festival continues to inspire a love of reading and encourage people across the city and county to explore new authors, ideas, and perspectives.  

“The University of Derby, as a Civic University and champion of local arts and culture, is proud to support the Festival and its role in strengthening Derby’s cultural scene.” 

Following the success of previous Book Appeals, the Festival is organising another Children's Book Appeal to coincide with the Autumn Edition. Since autumn 2023 over 11,000 books have been donated and distributed to schools, nurseries and children’s charities in Derby to pass on to children.

Throughout the Autumn Edition people are invited to donate gently used, pre-loved books suitable for primary school children. Drop off venues include partners City Lab in the Market Hall, Derbion, Moorways Sports Village, Morley Hayes, Wathalls and QUAD. Local businesses are also getting involved with collections from staff, including Rolls-Royce and Cosy. 

Festival audiences can also bring their books to events where they will be gratefully received. Throughout the Festival there will be a book stall at QUAD selling all the books featured at the Festival, plus signed books from the Autumn Edition and previous Festivals, as well as a selection of Book Aid Charity Christmas cards, children’s books and a Mystery Book selection. 

There will also be a prize raffle, the Big Birthday Book Bonanza, with the chance to win one of four sets of 10 books by authors who have previously visited the Festival. The sets include books for children. Tickets cost £1 and will be on sale at all Festival events.

The Festival programme, designed by local digital marketing company, Gravity, is available from QUAD, other arts venues, all libraries and tourist offices. Tickets can be booked online: or in person or phone at QUAD or Derby Theatre for the events they are hosting – please check QUAD opening times first.