Portsmouth Bookfest 2021: ‘It's lovely when reading becomes a community thing’

Whether it was to tackle those unread tomes stacked up by the bed, to finally try and crack James Joyce’s Ulysses, or even reread an old favourite, thousands have rediscovered the joy of curling up with a good book.

Jointly organised by Portsmouth City Library Service and The Hayling Island Bookshop, Portsmouth Bookfest has become an annual fixture on the local book-lover’s calendar. Now in its 10th year, it is perfectly placed to capitalise on this renewed love of the printed (and digital) page.

However, with lockdown still preventing us from getting together, this year's Bookfest has moved online, with most events taking place via Zoom.

More than 30 events from talks to interviews, workshops and readings will be taking place from February 15 to March 7.

Colin Telford, co-owner of the Hayling Island Bookshop says: ‘Reading has never been more important than now for people's mental health.

‘It's a very relaxing activity and it does make people feel better – they can explore different worlds, different places, different characters – escape from the awful situation we're in.

‘Therefore bookshops and book festivals are as important as ever, if not more so.

‘It's important that the festival continues during this current situation – we encourage everybody to take part, and if they'd like to support us, and buy books, they can buy from us and we do free delivery in the local area to people's doorsteps, and postal deliveries to those further afield.’

One of Bookfest’s most popular strands over the years has been the workshops helping people develop their own writing – from first ideas through to publication. And as well as reading more over the past year, some have decided now’s the time to try and write that novel they've been kicking around for goodness knows how long.

Novelist and teacher Will Sutton, creator of the Victorian detective Inspector Lawless, is hosting two of his popular courses on novel writing.

‘Last year was face-to-face, and it was sold out,’ says Will, ‘the range of ages was about 20 to 70 which was really nice.

‘I've got returners from last year, I did this Write Your Novel course last year, and I said, you guys need something to push you a bit further, so I'm doing another course that does that, it's for people who maybe don't have a full draft, but they've got a shape, a structure, characters, and need to take it that extra mile towards the finish line – editing and submitting, the dotting and crossing – the difference between a rough draft and the finished product.’

As to running the course online, Will is a fan, even if it does present its own difficulties.

‘I like it, I've been doing some things online for quite a while, so I'd been on Zoom before lockdown started, and it's fine for the actual teaching.

‘But I do miss the bits around it where you get to know the person a bit more, you come in a few minutes early and chat or whatever, I'm not sure how to do that on Zoom. I think I'll encourage people to arrive early and have a chat and stay late.

‘My group from last year, we've still got a WhatsApp which we've been chatting on all year, and that's been really lovely.

‘In a way, you can't really teach people how to write, but you can teach them how to reach out for what they need at the right time.’

And he’s glad Bookfest is here in 2021.

‘A lot of people have talked about turning to books in lockdown.

‘Reading is obviously a solitary thing, but it's lovely when it becomes a community thing as well. I love the fact that Bookfest is run by the library service, and by people who love books.

‘They're not flamboyant organisers, and they don't do huge publicity campaigns, they just want people who are book-lovers to come along.

‘It's just a way to connect with people who are like-minded – particularly as bookish people can tend to be a little reclusive!’

Will is also interviewing best-selling crime author Mark Billingham on February 27 for Bookfest.

‘I've met him at crime-writing events, and he's a very entertaining man. It's just trying to find a way to unleash his wit online – that's going to be the challenge!’

Lindy Elliott, Portsmouth library and archive services manager says that now people are more comfortable with doing things online, it could play to Bookfest’s advantage this year.

‘With this cold, horrible weather we aren't even asking people to come out – they can be sat at home in their onesies or whatever makes them happy, any time from February 15, to March 7, and enjoy a blooming good event!

‘Some of them are free, and some are incredibly well-priced, because we aren't paying for venues, and we aren't paying for travel costs.’

With so much to choose from Lindy picks a few highlights.

‘There's good coverage around creative writing and encouraging people who want to get into that themselves.

‘The MysteryFest event on March 6 – it's a Portsmouth institution now, and it's very popular. We do like our crime and mystery here in Portsmouth.

‘I would flag up Lemn Sissay on February 26.’

Lemn will give a reading from his critically acclaimed memoir My Name Is Why, which chronicles his childhood in care and his early interest in expressing himself as a poet, with an interview and Q&A afterwards.

‘We're very proud and happy to have him on the programme. He's got a lot of stories to tell, and he's had to deal with a lot of prejudice, but he's also an incredibly good speaker and amazing poet – I'm going to be there for that one.

‘And because it's a Zoom event we can have up to 300 people in the virtual room so come one, come all.

On March 4, Portsmouth-based and world-renowned professor Jim Al-Khalili delivers a talk.

‘Last time he talked about his fiction,’ says Lindy, ‘this time he's doing The World According to Physics, and he is the best man for the job. It's something we haven't covered as well as we particularly should in Bookfest, but science is incredibly important.’

Lindy says there was never any doubt that Bookfest would take place this year.

‘There was never a point where we weren't going to do it. As we finish one event – and we got through by the skin of our teeth last year – we finished in early March, just before lockdown came.

‘Since then, the dialogue's been taking place. We know we'd all have to get a lot better at Zoom. For many of us it was a bit of an uphill struggle to begin with, but we saw this as an opportunity.

‘Running a Bookfest in February and March, one year we were beaten by the Beast From The East, and it can be a challenge to persuade people out of their homes at this time of year.

‘We humbly hope that the people of Portsmouth will come to this, but over and above that, we're offering it out as widely as we can and perhaps people who might not come out to an event will take a chance and taste something this year and perhaps be intrigued.

‘We're seeing this as much as an opportunity as just a way of dealing with a difficult situation.

‘It's given us the chance to lay things out differently and we hope encourage new people to come along and try something different.’

THE FIRST PART OF THE SCHEDULE

There are more than 30 events taking place as part of Bookfest.

Events are taking place via Zoom, and are free, unless specified.* February 15, 7pm: Pepping up performance prose- a T’articulation workshop, booking required.* February 16, 2.30pm: Looking at ways to use Art to inspire creative writing: with Eileen Phyall. Booking required.* February 16, 7pm, £3: Start, Write, Submit – Short Story writing.* February 17, 7pm: Helping you finish your book and knowing what to do with it!* February 18, 7.30pm-8.30pm, £3: Stories From Lore: Ghost Ships & Sea Serpents.* February 19, 10.30am on Portsmouth Libraries’ Facebook page: Drag Queen Story Hour UK with Aida H Dee, The Storytelling Drag Queen.* February, 19, 7pm: More Dave & Mick’s Pompey Pop Pix.* February 20, 11am-12.30pm Adults free, children ‘pay as you feel’ donation. Gustav the pigeon’s secret codes and rhymes.* February 20, 27, March 6, 13, 10am-11.30am, £40 (£20 concs) whole course: Write Your Novel with William Sutton* February 20, 27, March 6, 13, 20 & 27, midday-1.30pm, £60 (£30 concs) whole course: Take Your Novel Further with William Sutton.* February 21, 20-minute sessions – places strictly limited: “Charity Write” @ Bookfest 2021 with Lynne Stretch, This one-to-one session will need to be pre-booked between midday and 4 pm.For the full programme up to March 7, and booking details, go to portsmouthbookfest.co.uk/2021-programme.

Competition invites young writers to get inspired by Portsmouth

Portsmouth Museum and Art Gallery is inviting young writers to create a story, play or poem inspired by its latest exhibition, Portsmouth Revisited II.

The 500 Pompey Words competition is open to 11 to 16 year-olds who live in Portsmouth. Winners will receive gift vouchers worth up to £75.There are more than 70 paintings, prints and photographs to choose from and they all include people, places and buildings in Portsmouth. So whether you like the beach, the shops, Victoria Park, the Spinnaker Tower, the harbour or watching Pompey play at Fratton Park you’re sure to find something to inspire you.Entry is free and the closing date is Thursday, February 18.

To find out more follow this link: portsmouthmuseum.co.uk.