Ipswich Book Festival

13/09/2026

We are thrilled to bring this event to this year’s festival ♥️

You can see Peter in conversation with Deb Bunt on Saturday 3 October, 2pm at Old Custom House on the waterfront. Tickets are free but please book through our website so we can give you a seat 😊

Deb & Peter have now written two books: Slow Puncture: Living Well With Dementia, and Patching the Puncture: Continuing to Live Well With Dementia.

Both books are on sale now at Dial Lane Books and will be available to buy at the event.

With thanks to Smith and Co Solicitors for their support.

10/09/2026

Grab your pens, totes and reusable cups: is collaborating with Ipswich Book Festival again! For Chapter 2, we’re incredibly chuffed to be joined by Emily Buchanan, the sensational debut author of SEND FLOWERS.
💚 Wolsey Writers x Ipswich Book Festival
ECOFICTION with EMILY BUCHANAN
SAT 3 OCT at 10:30am-12pm
New Wolsey Theatre, Civic Drive, Ipswich, Suffolk IP1 2AS
https://www.wolseytheatre.co.uk/events/wolsey-writers-2026/
Pay what you feel tickets from NWT Box Office £0-£25.
01473 295900
[email protected]
Send Flowers is a ‘magical realism’ meets ‘climate fiction’ novel, about a green activist called Fifi who believes a houseplant is her dead boyfriend. Speaking to issues such as grief and climate anxiety, Send Flowers is a funny, romantic, hopeful novel, that gives the reader a sense of wonder and purpose.
This event will be a special Ecofiction masterclass: We will explore how impactful writing about climate and ecology has the potential to move beyond the page, and help change the world for the better. It is most suitable for adults with a strong interest in nature writing, the environment, and allegorical storytelling; and for writers interested in speculative fiction.
Emily Buchanan will share her creative process with us, drawing insights from her practice as a novelist, and her extensive experience as a campaigner. Values are at the heart of everything Emily does: equity, centring underserved communities, and defending the natural world. She is a multidisciplinary creative with a portfolio that includes design, content and strategy. Previously she worked for Greenpeace, campaigning on issues such as the UK fracking ban and the UN Global Oceans Treaty. Now Emily runs global digital communications for Madre Brava, an NGO aiming to achieve 100% sustainable, healthy, affordable food for all.
Copies of Send Flowers will be available to buy on the day c/o Dial Lane Books and of course Emily will be happy to sign them for you. And don't forget that Ipswich Book Festival events are happening around town all weekend, Friday 2nd - Sunday 4th October 2026, with lots of wonderful opportunities to meet authors, get creative and celebrate books.
🌿 Important note: This event is an Ipswich Book Festival & Wolsey Writers collaboration. When you click the booking link you will see the Wolsey Writers tickets page; you should select ‘Saturday 3rd October’ from the list.
Power to your pens and the planet, Katie Ward x

30/08/2026

♥️♥️

Happy Saturday all🥰

It may be a little showery today BUT we are all open The Saints IPS

AND
5 week countdown to ipswichbookfestival

Posters are up, tickets are on sale and we have programmes and bookmarks in store and all over Ipswich 🥰

Pick up a copy and book some tickets 👍👍

17/08/2026

Our beautiful programmes have been gradually making their way out into the wild… Grab your drink, and a highlighter…

And if you prefer your programme digital, you can download it from our website.

Either way, time to decide who you’re going to see ♥️

24/07/2026

Thank you East Anglian Daily Times ♥️

Ipswich Book Festival is back! 📚

20/07/2026

Grab your pens, totes and reusable cups: Wolsey Writers is collaborating with Ipswich Book Festival again! For Chapter 2, we’re incredibly chuffed to be joined by Emily Buchanan the sensational debut author of Send Flowers.
Send Flowers is a ‘magical realism’ meets ‘climate fiction’ novel, about a green activist called Fifi who believes a houseplant is her dead boyfriend. Speaking to issues such as grief and climate anxiety, Send Flowers is a funny, romantic, hopeful novel, that gives the reader a sense of wonder and purpose.
This event will be a special Ecofiction masterclass: We will explore how impactful writing about climate and ecology has the potential to move beyond the page, and help change the world for the better. It is most suitable for adults with a strong interest in nature writing, the environment, and allegorical storytelling; and for writers interested in speculative fiction.
Emily Buchanan will share her creative process with us, drawing insights from her practice as a novelist, and her extensive experience as a campaigner. Values are at the heart of everything Emily does: equity, centring underserved communities, and defending the natural world. She is a multidisciplinary creative with a portfolio that includes design, content and strategy. Previously she worked for Greenpeace, campaigning on issues such as the UK fracking ban and the UN Global Oceans Treaty. Now Emily runs global digital communications for Madre Brava, an NGO aiming to achieve 100% sustainable, healthy, affordable food for all.
x Ipswich Book Festival
🪴 Ecofiction with Emily Buchanan
SAT 3 OCT at 10:30am-12pm
New Wolsey Theatre Civic Drive, Ipswich, Suffolk IP1 2AS
https://www.wolseytheatre.co.uk/events/wolsey-writers-2026/
Pay what you feel tickets from NWT Box Office £0-£25.
01473 295900
[email protected]
🌿 Important Note: This event is an Ipswich Book Festival & Wolsey Writers collaboration. When you click the booking link you will see the Wolsey Writers tickets page, you should select ‘Saturday 3rd October’ from the list.

06/07/2026

Join us 2–4 October 2026 for an unforgettable weekend celebrating books that move us. Stories and ideas that connect us, inspire change and challenge the status quo.

What's on?
Author talks & panels
Book signings & meet-the-author sessions
Writing workshops & masterclasses
Poetry & spoken word performances
Children's & family activities

There's something for every reader, writer and book lover.
Secure your tickets today via the link in our bio.

24/06/2026

A year after arriving with 46 events, nine sell-outs and more than 1,000 tickets sold, the Ipswich Book Festival team has set its sights higher still – announcing 54 events, new venues, a dedicated Schools Week and a theme that promises to go far beyond the page.

19/06/2026

About last night... ❤️

What a wonderful evening celebrating More Than Words, our second Ipswich Book Festival, taking place from 2-4 October 2026.

There was conversation, music, fizz, laughter and My Favourite Book photography exhibition by John Ferguson. Most importantly, there was a room full of people who believe in the power of stories, ideas and community.

We are incredibly grateful to our partners, sponsors, patrons, venues, volunteers and local media supporters, many of whom have been with us since Chapter One last year.

We are also delighted to share that our raffle raised £295 for James' Team and every guest took home a copy of Matthew Syed's You Are Awesome in their goody bag.

As we said last night, we are about more than just reading. We are more than a literary festival.

And if you haven't yet discovered Ben Aitken's books (or read his recent Sunday Times piece on Ipswich and Norwich), you have a treat waiting for you.

Tickets go on sale in early July. We can't wait to welcome you. 📚

02/06/2026

We are nothing without our volunteers. A big thank you to all of you - see you again later this year ♥️