The sun is out, excitement is mounting, and nerves increasing, as, after nine months of work, the Felixstowe Book Festival committee prepares to launch our 2025 festival, with the support of our fabulous team of volunteers. Publicist Stephanie Mackentyre, sponsor manager Kerry Addison and festival director Meg Reid tell blog editor Louise Millar about the last few finishing touches they’re making
Steph: ‘This week I’ve just written a piece about the history of the Felixstowe Book Festival for the Felixstowe Historical Society. I’ve also been arranging special press passes for those attending to take pictures and film on the first day of the festival. We have one lucky winner from the competition we ran a couple of months back in Suffolk Norfolk Life magazine.
‘Yesterday I visited Harvest House, which is the main hub of the celebration of ‘books by the sea’, to take a video to show this year’s new visitors what they have to look forward to. The video has been posted onto Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and LinkedIn – just search for Felixstowe Book Festival to take a look for yourself.
‘Finally, today, I will be on air with Suffolk Sound radio. From 12 noon through to 2pm, it’s a Felixstowe Book Festival special programme featuring authors Kate Weinburg, and her book There’s Nothing Wrong With Her, and Steve Favell, who will be asking Are You a Creative NUT? Ian Collins will be chatting about the special friendship he had with Ronald Blythe (Akenfield) and Festival Director Meg Reid will be giving us the low down on which events still have availability and how you can get hold of the last few tickets.’
Kerry Addison, who successfully launched our LinkedIn page this year, has also been continuing her sterling work for the festival right up to the last minute, placing festival banners around Felixstowe, liaising with our sponsors and posting the festival programme on Linkendin.
The final word for this year’s blog goes to our wonderful festival director Meg Reid.
‘I would like to send a huge thanks to the authors braving train delays and the Orwell Bridge repairs to reach us this weekend.
‘I’m looking forward to seeing our audience “regulars ” again and wishing a warm welcome to people making their first visit to the festival.
‘We are lucky to have the most wonderful team of volunteers who make everything run so smoothly every year.
‘Thanks also to Harvest House for all their help and for sharing their incredible building for the weekend, and to Felixstowe Library for their support during the year.’
