At last! I can hardly believe that we can finally go ahead with the 2021 Deepings Literary Festival – albeit a year late in 2022. As many of you know, I live in a cluster of Deepings in South Lincolnshire that includes Deeping St Nicholas, Deeping St James, Market Deeping, Deeping Gate and Deeping St Nicholas and whilst we may not be the metropolis of London, we certainly know how to host a literary festival! You’ll find previous Linda’s Book Bag posts about the previous festivals here.

There are details on the Deepings Literary Festival website and all tickets can be bought through Stamford Arts Centre here.

There will be book signings at every event so remember to bring some cash!

Thursday 28th April

As we want to be as inclusive as possible, the festival starts with a free event – Read Dating – in the Deepings Library from 10-12 on Thursday 28th April where you can meet a host of local authors, chat with them about their books and find your next great read.

The festival continues at 4.PM on Thursday afternoon with Clara Barley, author of The Moss House. I’m really excited to be interviewing Clara, not least because she used to be my student! There are only a couple of tickets left for this event so be quick if you want to know all about Gentleman Jack’s Anne Lister!

Limited tickets are available here.

Friday 29th April

We start our Friday programme at 10.00 AM with local girl Christina James who will be talking about Murder in the Fens, before answering audience questions. Tickets available here.

2 PM Friday afternoon welcomes with a very rare real life festival appearance from John Marrs whose book The One has been a Netflix sensation. If you like your thrillers dark and twisty don’t miss this event. I’ve been busy thinking up fiendish questions to ask but we’d love your questions too! Tickets available here.

In complete contrast to John we move on to Songs of Praise favourite Pam Rhodes who will be leading us in a sing-along with her presentation in the Priory Chursh at 4.30 PM. I’ll be dashing across from John’s book signings to join in the fun. Tickets available here.

From the Priory Church it’ll be another mad dash for me to head to Molecey Mill for our Deepings Meets Barnsley evening at 7.30 featuring Deepings Literary Festival favourite Milly Johnson with Jack Land Noble. Tickets available here.

Saturday 30th April

We’re thrilled to be able to offer a Deepings Literary Festival BOGOF at to start our Saturday offer as Jane E. James and Lynda Stacey converse with one another about their creepy, crime filled writing. Tickets are available here.

As Jane and Lynda finish their event, at 11.00 AM I’ll be back at Molecey Mill interviewing Kit de Waal whose debut My Name is Leon is currently being made into a BBC series. Tickets are available here.

My next event will be at 2 PM with Deepings Library borrowers favourite William Shaw whose Alex Cupidi series has been shortlisted for numerous events. I love William’s approach to readers and am thrilled to get the chance to ask him questions. Have yours ready too! Tickets are available here.

If controversy rather than crime is your preference then you might like to head to find out all about Jackie Weaver’s authority at 2.30 PM! Tickets are available here.

I am delighted that the next event I’m involved with is to interview Louise Candlish all about her thrillers, one of which, Our House, has recently been a hugely successful television series. We’ll be at Molecey Mill at 5.30 PM. Tickets are available here.

We’re then off to the dark side with horror writer Neil Spring at 8 PM. Neil will be telling us all about the real life events that inspire his writing. Tickets, if you’re brave enough, are available here.

Sunday 1st May

We’re heading from Market Deeping to Mumbai with Vaseem Khan at 11 AM on Sunday 1st May. Not only will Vaseem be answering my questions along with those from the audience, but he’s giving a fascinating insight into the world of his writing in an author talk. Tickets are available here.

Our final event is with television personality Francis Pryor in West Deeping at 2.30PM. As you can see – this event is already sold out so if you’re thinking of coming to any of the others grab your tickets quickly!

You’ll find all the events here. We look forward to seeing you and to putting the Deepings on the literary map. Who needs London when we have Lincolnshire?