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X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://primadonnafestival.com
X-WR-CALDESC:Events for primadonnafestival.com
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BEGIN:VTIMEZONE
TZID:UTC
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TZOFFSETFROM:+0000
TZOFFSETTO:+0000
TZNAME:UTC
DTSTART:20230101T000000
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20240728T134500
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20240728T144500
DTSTAMP:20260428T140823
CREATED:20240606T100719Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240618T085642Z
UID:5244-1722174300-1722177900@primadonnafestival.com
SUMMARY:Firsts Prize showcase
DESCRIPTION:Under the theme ‘new beginnings’\, Primadonna and the University of Suffolk teamed up for a second year for ‘Firsts’: a writing competition for budding writers in East Anglia\, in school years 7-13. Meet some of our prizewinners and entrants as they take to the stage with judges Ashley Hickson-Lovence from the University’s Faculty of English to celebrate and talk about the inspirations behind their work. Primadonna’s brilliant Chair\, Tracey Bleakey\, will lead the festivities!
URL:https://primadonnafestival.com/event/firsts-prize-showcase/
CATEGORIES:For kids and families,For writers
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20240728T103000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20240728T150000
DTSTAMP:20260428T140823
CREATED:20240606T100757Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240710T085441Z
UID:5246-1722162600-1722178800@primadonnafestival.com
SUMMARY:1-2-1 Advice Surgeries
DESCRIPTION:Get one-to-one advice from the best in the business\, here at Primadonna! Sign up slots are released at 10am on the Chapel noticeboard so head down to secure your opportunity to meet with and get advice from literary agents\, publishers and book industry influencers including Emma Shercliff (Agent and founder of Laxfield Literary Associates here in Suffolk)\, Abi Fellows (Agent at DHH Literary Agency\, last year shortlisted for Literary Agent of the Year at the Nibbies) and Ellie Pilcher (Fiction Marketer and Content Creator).
URL:https://primadonnafestival.com/event/1-2-1-advice-surgeries-2/
CATEGORIES:For writers
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20240728T100000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20240728T110000
DTSTAMP:20260428T140823
CREATED:20240617T172421Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240617T172421Z
UID:5415-1722160800-1722164400@primadonnafestival.com
SUMMARY:Primadonna Story Shapers
DESCRIPTION:Are you 18-25 and want a greater voice in Primadonna? We want to establish a collective of young voices to help steer our brand\, messaging\, reach and programme. Help us to create next year’s festival\, and be a part of the Primadonna story – join us and feed back in this session\, as we begin to look ahead to 2025.
URL:https://primadonnafestival.com/event/primadonna-story-shapers/
LOCATION:Farm Barn (Waterstones Bookshop)
CATEGORIES:For kids and families,For writers
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20240728T100000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20240728T110000
DTSTAMP:20260428T140823
CREATED:20240606T100446Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240718T083103Z
UID:5238-1722160800-1722164400@primadonnafestival.com
SUMMARY:The Art of the Short Story
DESCRIPTION:Join two fantastic short story writers and learn how to captivate your reader in a glimpse – plus\, get the chance to take part in your own flash fiction challenge! \nIrenosen Okojie is a Nigerian British author whose work pushes the boundaries of form\, language and ideas. Her short story collections\, Speak Gigantular and Nudibranch\, and novel\, Butterfly Fish\, have won and been nominated for multiple awards. Naomi Booth’s Animals at Night was shortlisted for the Edge Hill Short Story Prize and explores stories that illuminate the strange nocturnal meetings between humans and other animals. Her first novel\, Sealed\, is a work of eco-horror and her second novel\, Exit Management\, was a Guardian Fiction Book of the year in 2020. Chaired by Primadonna Tracey Bleakley.
URL:https://primadonnafestival.com/event/the-art-of-the-short-story/
CATEGORIES:For writers
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20240728T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20240728T100000
DTSTAMP:20260428T140823
CREATED:20240606T100416Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240606T100416Z
UID:5236-1722153600-1722160800@primadonnafestival.com
SUMMARY:Time to Write
DESCRIPTION:Enjoy the peace: the space is all yours for some quiet writing time.
URL:https://primadonnafestival.com/event/time-to-write-2/
CATEGORIES:For writers
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20240727T160000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20240727T170000
DTSTAMP:20260428T140823
CREATED:20240606T094714Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240606T094714Z
UID:5184-1722096000-1722099600@primadonnafestival.com
SUMMARY:Poetry Open Mic with Justine de Mierre
DESCRIPTION:Come along to our open-to-all session where Justine de Mierre (aka ‘Lady J’) will host a very special hour for all-comers. Justine has been hosting super-friendly open mics across Suffolk for a decade and will be bringing that community vibe to Primadonna. Try out your ideas or work on new material in this inclusive space for poets of all kinds – Justine will even read your work for you if you’d prefer. You can also put yourself forward to be considered to perform on the main stage as part of Sunday’s Rhyme and Shine event.
URL:https://primadonnafestival.com/event/poetry-open-mic-with-justine-de-mierre/
CATEGORIES:For writers
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20240727T143000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20240727T153000
DTSTAMP:20260428T140823
CREATED:20240606T094403Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240703T135120Z
UID:5174-1722090600-1722094200@primadonnafestival.com
SUMMARY:The Art of Essay Writing
DESCRIPTION:There are now countless prizes for essay writing and numerous authors who demonstrate their diligence in being able to create a well rounded essay. From the iconic The Good Immigrant anthology of twenty-one essays edited by Nikesh Shukla to No One Talks About This Stuff: Twenty-Two Stories of Almost Parenthood\, edited by Kat Brown\, who joins us on Sunday\, there is a real art to the craft. \nStructure your thoughts and learn how to craft compelling essays with award winning authors and essayists including Sinéad Gleeson\, whose essay collection Constellations: Reflections from Life won Non-Fiction Book of the Year at the Irish Book Awards and the Dalkey Literary Award for Emerging Writers; and author and Primadonna\, Sabeena Akhtar\, who edited Cut from the Same Cloth\, Muslim Women on Life in Britain\, a groundbreaking collection of essays written by British hijabis. The panel will be chaired by award winning writer and academic\, Naomi Booth.
URL:https://primadonnafestival.com/event/the-art-of-essay-writing/
CATEGORIES:For writers
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20240727T130000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20240727T140000
DTSTAMP:20260428T140823
CREATED:20240606T094318Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240618T093802Z
UID:5172-1722085200-1722088800@primadonnafestival.com
SUMMARY:Home Grown Talent
DESCRIPTION:“You can struggle with a manuscript for years\, and eventually it’s finished because you’ve found the answers you were looking for. Then your novel goes out into the world and it becomes a mystery again”. Award-winning local author Katie Ward discusses the journey to writing her second novel\, Pathways\, and supporting emerging writers here in Suffolk. Pathways is a novel about Cara\, a dedicated neuroscientist with a research post at Cambridge; and Heather\, her almost-stepdaughter\, who goes to Las Vegas without a plan and doesn’t commit to anything; a book exploring neuroscience\, philosophy\, connections\, and unexpectedly\, love. A creative writing teacher at the University of Suffolk\, Katie also leads the Wolsey Writers: providing local peer support\, inspiration and tips to writers writing in all genres with all levels of experience. Chaired by Emma Shercliff who founded Laxfield Literary Associates in Suffolk in 2020 and was shortlisted for Literary Agent of the Year at the British Book Awards 2024.
URL:https://primadonnafestival.com/event/home-grown-talent/
CATEGORIES:Books & big ideas,For writers
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20240727T113000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20240727T123000
DTSTAMP:20260428T140823
CREATED:20240606T094241Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240618T094439Z
UID:5170-1722079800-1722083400@primadonnafestival.com
SUMMARY:Building Your Writing Community
DESCRIPTION:Do you ever feel lost with your writing projects and wish you had a group of kindred writing spirits to chat to? Have you just moved to a new area and are wondering about how to find a local writing group? The panel brings together speakers from the UK’s writing community for a supportive conversation about how to build connections with writing groups and writers both online and in real life. Aki Schilz is the Director of The Literary Consultancy\, the UK’s longest-running consultancy for writers and the the current Vice Chair of English PEN; writer\, novelist\, public intellectual\, and a champion for decolonisation and inclusion across all aspects of society\, Sunny Singh; and Katie Ward who is an award-winning author and a creative writing lecturer at University of Suffolk whose new novel\, Pathways\, has just been published.
URL:https://primadonnafestival.com/event/building-your-writing-community/
CATEGORIES:For writers
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20240727T103000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20240727T150000
DTSTAMP:20260428T140823
CREATED:20240606T094634Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240710T085802Z
UID:5182-1722076200-1722092400@primadonnafestival.com
SUMMARY:1-2-1 Advice Surgeries
DESCRIPTION:Get one-to-one advice from the best in the business\, here at Primadonna! Sign up slots are released at 10am on the Chapel noticeboard so head down to secure your opportunity to meet with and get advice from literary agents\, publishers and book industry influencers including Emma Shercliff (Agent\, founder of Laxfield Literary Associates here in Suffolk and this year shortlisted for Literary Agent of the Year at the 2024 British Book Awards)\, Abi Fellows (Agent at DHH Literary Agency\, last year shortlisted for Literary Agent of the Year at the 2023 British Book Awards) and Ellie Pilcher (Fiction Marketer and Content Creator).
URL:https://primadonnafestival.com/event/1-2-1-advice-surgeries/
CATEGORIES:For writers
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20240727T100000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20240727T110000
DTSTAMP:20260428T140823
CREATED:20240606T094155Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240618T094106Z
UID:5168-1722074400-1722078000@primadonnafestival.com
SUMMARY:Rays of Hope: Writing the Climate Emergency
DESCRIPTION:Get ready to turn those climate blues into rays of hope with our morning session: Rays of Hope: Writing the Climate Emergency. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the dire news about our planet\, but fear not! We’re here to show you how to find solace in the beauty of nature writing and channel your eco-anxiety into positive action. \nWe chat with the fabulous Sara Hudston from Hazel Press\, longstanding Guardian Country Diairst\, where every book is a beacon of sustainability printed right here in the UK using cutting-edge\, eco-friendly processes and materials. Discover what the future of green printing looks like and get ready to be inspired by the power of environmentally-conscious publishing. She’ll be joined by poet Ella Duffy who is also editor of Seeds & Roots\, a botanical poetry anthology published by Hazel Press. So grab your reusable coffee cup\, kick back\, and let’s kickstart this day with a burst of positivity and purpose. Chaired by broadcaster\, writer and radio doc maker Georgy Jamieson.
URL:https://primadonnafestival.com/event/rays-of-hope-writing-the-climate-emergency/
CATEGORIES:Books & big ideas,For mind, body and soul,For writers
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20240727T100000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20240727T110000
DTSTAMP:20260428T140823
CREATED:20240606T093414Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240710T083434Z
UID:5150-1722074400-1722078000@primadonnafestival.com
SUMMARY:How to Get Published (BSL signed event)
DESCRIPTION:BSL SIGNED EVENT \nJoin a panel of experts as they demystify the publishing process. Find out about the journey a book takes\, from idea to execution\, and where you can turn to for support and advice. Chair and founding Primadonna Lisa Milton\, Executive Publisher at HQ Stories\, is joined by Aki Schilz\, judge for various literary prizes and Director of The Literary Consultancy\, the UK’s longest-running consultancy for writers\, plus Niki Igbaroola\, Campaigns Manager at Jacaranda Books. They also speak to the author of multiple books and winner of the Pen Ackerley Prize and the V.S.Pritchett Memorial Prize\, Alice Jolly.
URL:https://primadonnafestival.com/event/how-to-get-published/
CATEGORIES:For writers
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20240727T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20240727T100000
DTSTAMP:20260428T140823
CREATED:20240606T094039Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240606T100021Z
UID:5164-1722067200-1722074400@primadonnafestival.com
SUMMARY:Time to Write
DESCRIPTION:Enjoy the peace: the space is all yours for some quiet writing time.
URL:https://primadonnafestival.com/event/time-to-write/
CATEGORIES:For writers
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20240726T183000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20240726T193000
DTSTAMP:20260428T140823
CREATED:20240605T133818Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240710T083338Z
UID:5119-1722018600-1722022200@primadonnafestival.com
SUMMARY:Between the Sheets (BSL signed event)
DESCRIPTION:BSL SIGNED EVENT \nFrom Mills and Boons to Bridgerton\, join us as we celebrate the power of pleasure in storytelling. If you aspire to create stories where female characters not only experience pleasure but also hold agency over their desires\, join us as we dive into the world of sex-positive fiction and explore the allure of reading and writing good sex. \nAmita Murray’s Unladylike series of Regency novels take us on a wild ride with the Marleigh sisters\, daughters of an English earl and his Indian mistress. \nCosmopolitan calls her novels ‘scintillating and scandalous’ and Amita loves writing about the importance of diverse stories in fiction and sex positivity for women in magazines like Diva\, The Big Issue\, Red\, The New Scientist and others. Chaired by book publicist and Primadonna co-founder\, Shona Abhyankar.
URL:https://primadonnafestival.com/event/between-the-sheets/
CATEGORIES:Books & big ideas,For writers
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20240726T171500
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20240726T181500
DTSTAMP:20260428T140823
CREATED:20240605T133732Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240618T100342Z
UID:5118-1722014100-1722017700@primadonnafestival.com
SUMMARY:Writing for Change
DESCRIPTION:Get ready for a lively discussion on writing for change! Join us as we explore the fascinating intersection of art\, politics\, and power. Can art and politics ever truly be separated? Should they be? From wielding art as a tool for propaganda to using it as a means of resistance\, we’ll uncover how art has been both a weapon and a force for change throughout history. Hear from a diverse panel of authors and activists as they share their insights on how their work intersects with politics and why this conversation is now\, more relevant than ever. \nWriter\, literary programmer and Primadonna Sabeena Akhtar is joined by: author and journalist\, Monisha Rajesh; writer\, novelist\, public intellectual\, and a champion for decolonisation and inclusion across all aspects of society\, Sunny Singh; and Bradford-based author Sairish Hussain\, whose second novel\, Hidden Fires\, is out now. Chaired by Bee Rowlatt\, author of a number of award-winning books and coming to Primadonna this year with One Woman Crime Wave. Bee led the campaign for the Mary Wollstonecraft memorial – the most trolled artwork in living memory – and came out fighting across national and international media.
URL:https://primadonnafestival.com/event/writing-for-change/
CATEGORIES:Books & big ideas,For writers
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20240726T160000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20240726T170000
DTSTAMP:20260428T140823
CREATED:20240605T133552Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240710T083158Z
UID:5116-1722009600-1722013200@primadonnafestival.com
SUMMARY:Who Has the Right to Write? (BSL signed event)
DESCRIPTION:BSL SIGNED EVENT \nThe richest and most interesting fiction contains a broad range of nuanced characters living in your literary universe\, but how do we write other experiences well? How do Sensitivity Readers come into the process and how can we ensure our characters are well researched and don’t fall into stereotypes? \nJoin us in this session and shed the fear of writing outside of your own lived experience! Chaired by P Burton-Morgan\, a writer and director based who founded Metta Theatre in 2005\, for which they have written/directed over 40 productions\, this discussion brings in thoughts from Amita Murray\, a novelist based in London whose Unladylike series of Regency novels are described by Publishers Weekly as “complex\, well-shaded protagonists shine as they work through past trauma and champion progressive causes”; and author and activist Winnie M Li whose latest novel\, Complicit\, was a New York Times Editor’s Choice and shortlisted for the Royal Society of Literature’s Encore Award.
URL:https://primadonnafestival.com/event/who-has-the-right-to-write/
CATEGORIES:For writers
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