Join us for a 360° view of a book’s journey from the manuscript phase to the hands of readers.

Bringing together voices from the publishing world, we’ll talk through the process of finding an agent, submitting to publishers and the editing process – what to expect, what might be challenging and the role of an author throughout the process.

Find out how to avoid the slush pile, the pros and cons of indie publishing versus larger publishing houses and how the whole cycle works, from submission to bookshelf.

“Some brains, through no fault of their own, pack a bag, turn the lights off and run away to the seaside the moment they are meant to be doing homework, paying bills or not putting the cat in the fridge. These are ADHD brains and I have one.”

You’ll know her from Live at the Apollo and Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow. Much-loved comedian, Shaparak Khorsandi, shares her rollercoaster ride of a life shaped by undiagnosed Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in her latest publication, Scatter Brain.

Khorsandi talks all things, from shoplifting and her attraction to toxic men, and you’ll discover what it’s really like to live a life out of control.

Whether you suspect you may have ADHD, or you’re just here for the ride, Khorsandi will share her heart-breaking and hilarious journey of self-discovery. Who knows where it may lead to?!

Join us for a captivating discussion as author, Jason Wright, teams up with Stephen Pritchard from the Blake Society to explore the transformative power of William Blake’s work in modern mental health and addiction recovery.

Delve into Blake’s Illustrations of the Book of Job and discover how these poignant themes resonate with contemporary psychoanalysis and psychotherapy techniques. Wright masterfully connects Blake’s vision of despair, redemption and hope to the journeys individuals face when overcoming trauma today.

This engaging event will offer fresh perspectives on using historic literary insights to foster healing and growth in modern therapy. Don’t miss this unique blend of art, literature and psychological recovery.

In the hands of artists and poets, books have taken a radically different form since the advent of the artist’s book in Paris in the early 20th century.

In this fascinating conversation, art historian, Dr Venetia Porter, curator of the Artists making books: poetry to politics exhibition, and academic and writer, Dr Atef Alshaer, discuss the exhibition’s accompanying publication, a stunning collection of outstanding and fascinating artists’ books.

Join us for an enthralling discussion as they delve into the range of artists work, from Beirut to Tunis and beyond. Highlighting the relationship between artists and writers and the influences that inform their work, from family to politics and everything in between.

Join us as host, Muhammad Jalal, meets Ahmed Paul Keeler to recount his fascinating life journey, from an idyllic childhood in Windsor to navigating trauma in English boarding schools, embracing modern art and theatre, and ultimately to finding solace in Islam.

As a teen, Keeler organised plays and later established the groundbreaking Signals Gallery, promoting kinetic art. His crowning achievement was the World of Islam Festival in 1976, followed by various projects promoting Islamic civilisation and cultural dialogue. At 70, he penned Rethinking Islam and the West, questioning society’s obsession with progress andadvocating for balance, explored further in his companion volume, A Life’s Journey.

Enjoy discovering the ideas and experiences that informed Ahmed Paul Keeler’s book Rethinking islam & the West.

Join us for a panel discussion on the rich heritage and contemporary resonance of Islamic art and architecture.

The panel includes Dr Silke Ackermann, Director of the History of Science Museum at the University of Oxford, and Dr Abdulrahman Azzam and Muhannad Shono, two of the curators of the forthcoming Islamic Arts Biennale in Jeddah, which is the first exhibition of its kind and offers a forum for the display and discussion of Islamic arts and cultures from around the world.

Ackermann and Azzam bring their expertise and perspectives on the multifaceted ways in which Islamic philosophies and civilizations have had a profound impact on art and science globally.

As a prominent Saudi artist working in Riyadh today, Shono addresses the lasting significance of Islamic cultural heritage for contemporary art.

Together, the panellists offer insight into the beauty and breadth of the arts of Islamic cultures, and the profound influence they have had on our shared present.

Join us for a thought-provoking discussion as we celebrate the enduring feminist legacy of Anne Brontë, a pioneering voice in Victorian literature, with Brontë scholar, Rose Gant, and Anne Brontë biographer, Samantha Ellis.

Anne, often overshadowed by her sisters, Charlotte and Emily, challenged societal norms and championed women’s rights through her groundbreaking novels and poetry.

From her portrayal of strong, independent female characters to her unflinching exploration of themes, such as domestic abuse, addiction, and female agency, Anne’s writings continue to resonate with modern audiences and inspire generations of feminists.

Join us for a thought-provoking panel event, showcasing the UK’s foremost cosy crime authors, including Katy Watson, JM Hall and Antony Johnston. These popular authors share a passionate love for their genre, and together will embark on a quest to decipher whether crime can ever truly be cosy.

Dive into the realm of cosy mystery books, your perfect haven for lighthearted escapism. With the genre growing in popularity once again, the question lingers…can crime genuinely exude cosiness?

Explore the charm, wit, and intrigue of cosy crime fiction as we unravel the mystery. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to delve into the heart of this captivating literary discussion.

Join this fascinating conversation, we explore the historical, cultural and religious significance of one of the world’s oldest and most contested cities, which is holy to the three major Abrahamic faiths.

Jerusalem’s rich tapestry of history includes periods of conquest, conflict and coexistence, each leaving its mark on the city’s identity. From the ancient walls of the Old City to the revered sites like the Western Wall, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the Dome of the Rock, Jerusalem serves as a focal point for millions of believers worldwide. In the modern context, what does the ancient city of Jerusalem stand for today?

Join Professor Saeed Khan as he explores Orientalism as Said defined and described it and how it persists as a central component, explicitly or otherwise, in so many contemporary conversations.

In 1978, Edward Said published Orientalism, which served as a critique of Western scholarship. Said argued persuasively that Western scholars viewed the rest of the world, and particularly the Middle East and Muslim world, as the perennial ‘Other’ and, more troublingly, the ‘Lesser’.

Said’s work revolutionised several fields of study and has influenced academics, policy-makers and politicians ever since. Nearly five decades on, Said’s work has proven to be both profound and even prophetic, as current perceptions about Muslims and the Middle East, including Islamophobia, the recent refugee crisis and regional conflicts, all affirm and prove the continuing presence and dominance of Orientalism.