Running from 4 – 6 October, the Liverpool Literary Festival is returning for its 9th year. This annual celebration brings together writers, poets, and storytellers for a weekend of engaging discussions, thought-provoking readings, and a shared love of literature in the heart of Liverpool.
This year’s festival features the Sunday Times Number One best-selling author Adele Parks MBE.
Adele Parks, who has sold more than five million UK editions of her 24 novels, translated into 31 different languages, is returning to the festival, following her first visit to Liverpool in 2022.
This year, Adele will be discussing her latest publication First Wife’s Shadow, which was released this summer to critical acclaim, in what promises to be an amusing and insightful discussion with her husband, Jim.
Described by Louise Candlish as a “Devious and dizzying, with twist after twist after twist,” First Wife’s Shadow is a must-read, suspenseful psychological thriller.
This year’s festival also features international best-selling author Sarah Perry who will discuss her latest novel, Enlightenment, local poet and performer Levi Tafari, and Tony Schumacher, writer of the BBC award-winning TV drama The Responder starring Martin Freeman.
Closing the festival will be an exclusive discussion about the acclaimed BBC Drama, Mother’s Day, with critically acclaimed actor Daniel Mays.
Mother’s Day is based on the true events and aftermath of the 1993 IRA bombing in Warrington town centre, on the eve of Mother’s Day 1993. The atrocity took the lives of twelve-year-old Tim Parry and three-year-old Johnathan Ball and injured a further fifty-four people.
Tim’s father, the peace campaigner Colin Parry OBE, BAFTA winning actress Anna Maxwell Martin, actor Daniel Mays and writer Nick Leather will appear at the festival to discuss the challenges of making a tragedy into a powerful drama. Colin will also discuss the book he wrote with Wendy, Tim: An Ordinary Boy, about Tim’s life and their family’s journey.
The festival will host an exclusive screening of the drama followed by a unique discussion between Colin Parry OBE, actress Anna Maxwell Martin, actor Daniel Mays and writer Nick Leather. Daniel and Anna will provide insight into how they approached playing Colin and Wendy’s characters, while Colin himself will share his thoughts on the drama and his continued work in promoting peace.
Festival Director Professor Greg Lynall, Head of English at the University of Liverpool said: “I’m delighted to be welcoming everyone to campus for the Liverpool Literary Festival once again. It’s my second year as Festival Director and we’ve got an incredibly exciting and eclectic line-up of authors for all to enjoy.