HAY FESTIVAL

There is something slightly magical about doing Hay Festival.

For those unaware it is probably the largest and most famous literary festival in the UK. Weirdly it is a tiny village on the Welsh border. It takes me (about an hour from London) just under three hours to drive there, which is what I did, first thing on a Thursday Morning.

Unlike the other poor authors having to plead for audience when they are up against mega names in the literary scene, I was fortunate to be booked on the opening of the festival where the organisers, caterers and shops get to hone their skills on short people. The entire festival is open to schools. Coach-loads of children walking in crocodiles clutching sandwiches escorted by the noblest and most needing of caffeine librarians and teachers you’ve ever seen. This is great for authors like me as it only takes a few schools to fill up a massive tent that is the starlight stage.

Sneaking a bit of The Unstoppable Letty Pegg in - demonstrating how to throw a policeman.

I also cheated. The advantages of being a historical fiction author is that you get to talk about HISTORY, which feels a bit more solid than talking about stuff I made up in my brain. ALSO I cheated because the history I talk about is cool.

Titling my talk ‘How to Crash a Spitfire’ may have helped too.

You can catch my talk on Hay’s Website:

Please bear in mind I’d drunk a LOT of caffeine and was a bit um… bouncy.

Starlight stage at Hay before the audience comes in.