Newark Book Festival : Landscape theme for this year's event

Landscapes In Literature is the theme at a three-day book festival that returns to Newark in July.

Newark Book Festival will take place in 11 venues across the town from July 13 to 15.

The Landscapes In Literature theme will celebrate local literary heritage, fictional worlds, and will highlight the importance of location in fiction and non-fiction writing.

The festival will build on the success of the first revamped event last year that drew almost 2,500 people to Newark.

This year’s event will include, for the first time, events at Newark Palace Theatre and Carriages Café at Newark Castle Station.

There will be a themed Market Place full of literary-inspired stalls and performances for the family to enjoy.

Family workshops will return to the festival and the children’s programme will have a Once Upon A Land theme.

Mr Jeremy Blatherwick, of Tallents Solicitors, which is sponsoring the children’s programme, said: “Newark Book Festival was a wonderful event to be a part of last year.

“It proved to be extremely popular and it captured the town’s imagination, bringing thousands of people into Newark.

“It really is a celebration of all things literature and there is something for everyone — young and old.

“We are proud to be helping the festival build on its success to become even bigger and better for 2018.”

'Pulling out all the stops for 2018'

Other companies sponsoring the event include Duncan & Toplis, Karrot Entertainment and Trigger Press.

The festival has been awarded funding through Grants For The Arts from the Arts Council Of England, as well as funding and support from Newark and Sherwood District Council and Newark Town Council, but more help is needed.

Event organiser Sara Bullimore said: “I couldn’t have wished for a better first year — now we are pulling out all the stops for 2018.

“We are partnering with more local authors, businesses and arts groups to make it bigger and better than ever and we want as many residents as possible to get involved.

“We would love more members of the community to support us by becoming Friends Of The Festival or by sponsoring an event.

“It is going to be an amazing festival and I cannot wait to reveal all the wonderful things we have got in store.”

People can sign up as a Friend Of The Festival at the Newark Book Festival website

Friends will have access to advance tickets and an invite to a VIP launch event, among many other benefits.

Businesses and other organisations can sponsor the event by contacting Sara through the website www.newarkbookfest ival.org.uk

Tickets will be on sale in the coming months.