Literacy lovers will be able to meet authors, hear about how to publish books, and have a chance to hone their writing skills at Barking and Dagenham’s very own book festival.

Now in its tenth year, ReadFest will take place between Monday, 6 and Friday, 24 September, and aims to deliver a selection of local, national and internationally acclaimed writers.

Among the names appearing at the free festival this year include author and broadcaster, Lemn Sissay OBE, biographer and great-great-great-granddaughter of Charles Dickens, Lucinda Hawksley, and Bangladeshi cookbook expert, Dina Begum.

We’re delighted to reach this milestone tenth anniversary and proud to once again welcome some truly remarkable authors for people to enjoy – all for free.

Normally held in libraries across Barking and Dagenham, ReadFest is taking place online this year – the second time this has happened due to the on-going pandemic. 

Councillor Saima Ashraf, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Community Leadership and Engagement, said: “Over the last decade, ReadFest has played host to some of the most well-known authors in the industry and helped bring excitement around literature to Barking and Dagenham, which has ignited people’s interest in books and stoked their passions to pick up a pen and write.

“We’re delighted to reach this milestone tenth anniversary and proud to once again welcome some truly remarkable authors for people to enjoy – all for free.”

The jam-packed festival also offers a range of free workshops people can join, including poetry introductions, how to plot a novel, how to self-publish a book, and how to write screenplays.

The literacy festival has been supported by Arts Council England through Pen to Print as a National Portfolio Organisation since 2018 with more than £725,000 of funding.

For more information and to book free tickets, visit pentoprint.org/readfest.