The Ilkley literary festival 2025 will run between October 3rd – October 19th offering 17 packed days of discussions, debates, and workshops. Headliners will include: Jung Chang, Michael Palin, Mary Portas, Alan Davies, Jay Rayner, Hugh Bonneville, Nick Clegg, Ruby Tandoh, Simon Armitage, Lady Hale, Rachel Joyce, and Irvine Welsh.

Not only will writers and novelists converge at the festival, but it’s also a known haven for poets, dating back to 1973. Poetry highlights this year include readings from Poet Laureate, Yorkshire’s Simon Armitage, a New Northern Poets showcase, and a reimagining of Tony Harrison’s controversial poem ‘V’ 40 years on, from poets including Andrew McMillan and Malika Booker.

Tickets for the festival go on sale on Tuesday August 26th, 2025. More ticket and programme information can be found on the Ilkley Literary Festival website.

This year’s events take place at the following locations: All Saints’ Church, Church House, Ilkley Grammar School, Ilkley Playhouse, King’s Hall, Ilkley Arts Studio, and The Wheatley Arms.

Have you attended this festival previous? Share your experiences in the comment section below.

In a converted shed behind her Gibbons, Alberta home, McBain spends most of her days writing away. McBain—author of The New Empire—told the City News in Edmonton that she can write “about 1,500 words an hour”. This is an impressive word count for any writer, and ensures she can stay on track with her goal of writing 34 books in 34 weeks. McBain spends 5-8 hours every day writing, a task which is no doubt made easier with the proximity to her home.

But what prompted this ambitious challenge to essentially write 1 book per week for 34 weeks? McBain said the following on the matter.

“I wanted to show that one author could write almost as fast as AI but hopefully much better, and using no AI at all.”

Already a prolific writer, McBain will work through a list of ideas she already had planned for years, which include science fiction, romance and western stories.

For a while now, the publishing industry has been buckling at the rapid number of submissions from authors cashing in on generative AI. Many people who would never have attempted to write before, are now able to use large language models (LLMs) to bring their ideas to life, without having to sit and write the material themselves for hours on end.

Popular science fiction magazine, Clarkesworld, is known for its high-quality story submissions. Unfortunately, the publisher had to halt story submissions in 2023 due to the abundance of pitches for AI-generated stories overwhelming its editorial team.

Readers are also finding the abundance of freshly published AI slop to be overwhelming, as categories are flooded with more opportunistic AI writers every day.

There’s no doubt that most readers would want to purchase books that they know was written by a human, but the problem is that there’s no easy way to identify them. Furthermore, the human-written books are being buried under the constant flood of AI books hitting the market. Discovery algorithms need a way to filter out the human-written books from the AI slop.

Alison McBain is hoping to inspire more writers to continue creating, even as the threat of AI looms. AI will no doubt takeover the publishing industry if all of the natural writers give up the fight.

“Writing should not just be to produce something. It’s to tell your story. Everyone has a voice,” McBain says.

Support Alison McBain’s work by following the links below.

Alison McBain links

–Official website
–The New Empire book
–Alison McBain short stories

Brown Books is a community bookseller and is not-for-profit. The shop is known for selling a mix of second-hand and new books, as well as being a hub for literary events and activities.

While, Luton Point is a prime location for Brown Books, particularly opposite H&M where Brown Books is located, it does mean that they have access to a smaller space than what they previously had.

June 14th, 2025 will mark Brown Books last day of trading in Luton Point. They will return into a fully repaired building sometime in July, as it’s believed the moving period will take a couple of weeks.

The shop’s High Town location has long been considered its heart, offering more room to host readings and book clubs. Its return is a cultural win for the area, which has lost many independent shops in recent years. Recently WH Smith shut down inside Luton Point, leaving the town with one less bookseller.

There is hope that once the bookseller has settled, we will see the return of their literary events, as this is something Luton desperately needs. You can check their event page for updates.

If you find yourself in the Luton area, be sure to pop into Brown Books this July at: Brown Books Community Bookshop, 77 High Town Road, LU2 0BW

Three notable authors were attending the event. Below is a description of each author and their books.

Matt Gantry

After a life-altering six tonne HGV truck accident in 2007, Matt Gantry found himself going through a strenuous recovery process. Due to the injuries Matt sustained, normal work-life was no longer an option for him. During the process of learning to speak, walk and write again, Matt unlocked a new desire in life. He wanted to write novels. Today, Matt Gantry is a body-building author, and writer of the heavily-praised book The Gamer.

The Gamer follows a hostage situation taking place in at a beach-front property in Florida. A highly-seasoned gamer is working at a hotel when the situation takes place, and using nothing but what he learned in video games, he uses his bravery to guide him through this high-risk situation, where bullets will actually kill him. There are no reset buttons. The terrorists’ hidden agenda is revealed. Harry takes the fight to the terrorists and attempts to bring down the world’s most wanted man.

The Gamer is available to purchase right now so check it out!

Buy The Gamer by Matt Gantry / Amazon UK / Amazon US

Matt Gantry’s official website

T.M. Faulkner

T.M. Faulkner (first name Toby) hails from the coastal town of Cornwall. He now lives in Bedfordshire, the official county of Luton. After uncovering some old video game design documents from his college years in 2013, Toby decided it was time to bring his story to life. He would then write his debut sci-fi fantasy novel Evolution of the Elements.

There are currently two books in the Evolution of Elements series. The book is all about phenomenal beings called Elements. These creatures have previously been dormant, but the time has come for them to be awakened. Jaykin, a deeply troubled young man, is searching for his father, who has disappeared in baffling circumstances. In the wake of an impending invasion, Jaykin discovers a new power within himself.

Book 3 in the series is due later this year in 2024 so there is plenty time to catch up!

Buy Evolution of Elements / Amazon UK / Amazon US

Buy Revolution of Draygans’s Army / Amazon UK / Amazon US

Phil Oddy

Phil Oddy is a family man hailing from North Hertfordshire. At his Luton Comic Con stall, he had an enticing read titled Echoes. Echoes follows the story of Estrel Beck, a software salesman who discovers that he’s stuck in a timeloop. He learns this after receiving a note written in his own handwriting.

Buy Echoes / Amazon UK / Amazon US

Phil Oddy has a prequel called Welcome to Trinity out right now, and is offering a free book to those who sign up for his newsletter. Details are on his website.

Featured image taken by Hirah Asad

In a time where sick voices often go unheard, seeing Sophie tackle heavy topics through creatively refreshing means is truly inspiring. Heroglobin: Monster Hospital will be a fun action RPG experience, set in a fictional NHS hospital. Sophie has already made two games from her hospital bed, and now she leverages her extensive knowledge of the UK medical system to bring an authentic feel to the game.

Sophie is developing Heroglobin in partnership with Aisosa Ugiagbe, a talented artist and game developer. Aisosa (known as Pydrokid Sosa) is known for his superb manga art style, which he often fuses with the sound of London grime music in his games.

Heroglobin: Monster Hospital provides thrilling gameplay and sheds light on the real-life struggles of patients with conditions like Evan’s Syndrome and Sickle Cell Anaemia. The game does this through its charming narrative and engaging dialogue segments. The developers hope that their game resonates with players and fosters appreciation for the challenges these patients face.

The two talented developers hope that Heroglobin‘s release will allow them to develop more video games set in their stylised version of London. The video game landscape is dominated by Japan and America, so we can only hope that more British studios are inspired to produce quality experiences like Sophie and Aisosa.

At this time, there is no official release date for Heroglobin, but you can add the game to your wishlist on the Steam platform. Adding the game to your wishlist is an expression of interest that helps the development of Heroglobin to continue. Visit the official Heroglobin website for more details on the project.

Carrie dives head first into her new responsibilities and quickly makes friends with her eccentric co-workers. When the events organizer quits, Carrie finds herself working closely with the hotel manager, Lucas. This is where things get juice, as neither Carrie nor Lucas can deny the sparks between them.

Carrie only plans to be working in London for the summer, and Lucas has serious commitments that he cannot ignore. Where could all of this tension possibly lead them?

Be sure to pick up A Spring Fling at Hotel Mayfair now!

Buy on Amazon UK / Buy on Amazon US

About the Author

Encapsulating a fervor for romantic narratives, Elizabeth Holland has found her home in the realm of authorship. She is forever in pursuit of crafting novel worlds that both tantalize and inspire. Her tales of love and longing serve not merely as enchanting reads but also as a form of therapy.

A champion for mental health awareness, Holland unflinchingly opens up about her personal experiences, with the hope of forging connections with others traversing similar landscapes.

When she is not crafting stories of passion and sentiment, Holland can be found meandering outdoors with the faithful company of her canine companion. The chilly, wet drizzle is a peculiar delight of hers, a crucible within which her plots are molded and shaped. Her walks are more than mere strolls; they are generative moments where the seeds of her next narrative take root in the fertile grounds of her mind.

Elizabeth Holland can be found on her official website and her mental health blog.

The cover is certainly a feast for the eyes. I for one, love the dark purple background that compliments the elegant gold illustrative work. This series has already been recognized for its stunning book covers, and they didn’t disappoint with the third book.

Along with the cover reveal, is the announcement of some US exclusive editions, which will show up at specific retailers. Let’s hope those of us living outside the US will have our own exclusive options too.

See below for the list of currently announced US exclusive editions for House of Flame and Shadow!

In case the image isn’t showing up for you, here is this information compiled.

Update: I have added links to where you can order some of the exclusive editions. There is now a Waterstones link for UK customers.

HOUSE OF FLAME AND SHADOW EXCLUSIVE EDITIONS
Barnes & Noble = Bryce and Hunt
Books-A-Million = Ember and Randall
Indie Bookstores = Bryce and Danika
Target = Ruhn and Lidia
Walmart = Bryce, Nesta, and Azriel
Waterstones!
Books Are Magic
Indigo
*Digitally printed author signature editions available in limited quantities.

Have these announcements re-fueled your hype level for Crescent City 3? Let us know your thoughts below!

Links

Sarah J. Maas Biography
House of Flame and Shadow initial announcement
Bloomsbury
Sarah J. Maas website

Thank you to Charlotte Bonner for the Exclusive Edition updates.

UPDATE – July 19th, 2023: House of Flame and Shadow COVER REVEALED

Here is the official book cover for Crescent City – House of Flame and Shadow

The original article continued…

This is a temporary cover. The full cover artwork will be released at a later time.

Mild House of Sky and Breath spoilers are ahead

Crescent City: House of Flame and Shadow will continue the story of Bryce Quinlan, the half-human and half-fae series protagonist. At the end of House of Sky and Breath, Bryce found herself in a new realm. The very realm that characters from Maas’ other series A Court of Thorns and Roses is set in. This had many fans excited at a Maas connected universe finally coming to fruition.

Bloomsbury released a brief synopsis to accompany this announcement.

“Hunt is trapped in a dungeon, stripped of freedom and without a clue as to Bryce’s fate. With House of Flame and Shadow, the Crescent City series reaches new heights as Bryce and Hunt’s world is brought to the brink of collapse – with its fate resting on their shoulders.”

• House of Flame and Shadow synopsis

No more spoilers

In addition to the announcement of the book, it was also revealed that Sarah J. Maas has signed an extended deal at Bloomsbury. It is a further four-book deal that will help to boost Sarah J. Maas’ global brand over the next few years.

On top of this, there is also a TV adaptation of A Court of Thorns and Roses in the works that will debut on Hulu sometime in the future. The release date for this series is currently unknown.

Combined, Sarah J. Maas has sold over 26 million copies of her Throne of Glass, Court of Thorns and Roses, and Crescent City books. Learn more about Sarah J. Maas in our author biography.

Podcasting: What You Should Know / Buy on Amazon US / Buy on Amazon UK

The podcast industry exploded into a profitable industry around 2012, and I’m sure millions of people were sucked deeper into the world of podcasting during 2020’s pandemic. Personally, I’ve been listening to podcasts since 2004 when I owned my first iPod.

Andrew Alliance himself was one of the early birds in this industry, and he’s been podcasting consistently since 2009. I’ve personally run into him at media events, and from our brief encounters, I can see that he’s focused and business savvy. His industry experience and longevity are what make him the perfect author to be covering the subject of podcasting.

What’s valuable about Podcasting: What You Should Know is that the secrets and techniques shared are ones you won’t find easily elsewhere. There are many YouTube tutorials and articles out there that teach you the basics of starting a podcast. But this book offers high-level information that content creators won’t share for free, because it creates competition.

The book covers some of the following things:

• Monetization strategies
• Building and managing a team
• Understanding audio formats
• Episode structure and ad placement
• Understanding podcast contracts
• Taxes
• Recording and editing techniques

Podcasting is a constantly evolving industry, but the knowledge in this book will keep you prepped for whatever comes next. Whether you’re just starting out, or you have some experience working on podcasts already, this book has something that will help you reach the next level in your podcast journey.

About Andrew Alliance

Andrew Alliance, also known as Uriyya, is a podcaster, host, and YouTuber. He covers video games and technology but also shares tips and tricks on how to start your own podcast and make it successful.
Follow Andrew Alliance on Twitter
Andrew Alliance YouTube

The Trellence by A.T. Nartey / Buy on Amazon UK / Buy on Amazon US

The Trellence Synopsis

It is generally known amongst the Trellencers that girls are not admitted into warrior school. Their roles are relegated to house duties and nurturing. Only one girl, Ula Delmor, has quite literally fought her way in. To be a Quillin is all the girls her age want, but Ula is sure no eligible bachelor in her village will pick her.

But when she falls from the top of the mutant trees to Crawlers level, one of the most dangerous places on earth, a countdown begins to save her people from an ambush of fearsome Quarden warriors. To survive she joins forces with a sworn enemy. In a race against time, they must face slavers, zombies, faeries, and vicious mermaids on their journey up the five perilous levels.
On this dangerous adventure unfamiliar feelings emerge but can she tame her heart, defy the odds, and free her people?

The Trellence will please fans of Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi and The Cruel Prince by Holly Black.

In such a fast-moving society, creativity and writing discipline isn’t as appreciated as it once was. But I’m always fascinated by how authors come up with the concepts behind their works. That’s why I had to ask author, A.T. Nartey about how she came up with such a layered story concept. Here is her response.

I don’t remember how the idea of The Trellence occurred to me. I just remember reading the second Harry Potter book in my late teens and suddenly I had the idea of mutant trees.

Ula, the protagonist occurred to me fully formed. All I knew was that it would be a fantasy romance, even though I didn’t know about genres and reader expectations. 

I started writing it immediately. I had no idea what I was doing. I’m revealing my age now, but at that time the only way to back up your work was with a floppy disc. I distinctly remember it: a red floppy disc with silver hardware. Well, long story short, I was dedicated and wrote half the book but one day I went to use the floppy disc – it was corrupted, and I lost everything.

In hindsight, I’m happy that happened. My writing has improved tenfold since then and I finally know how to piece together a story. At the time, however, I was heartbroken and abandoned writing it.

It wasn’t until fifteen years later after that first draft did I have the confidence to go back and attempt the book once more. The story flowed out of me. I wrote it in six months and overcame the sticky middle which always trips me up. Thankfully, my efforts led to this moment. I’m just so happy to have the book coming out soon. I hope readers love it as much as I do.

I share in the joy of A.T. Nartey finally getting her story out to the world. It’s such a liberating feeling when a story you’ve carried at the back of your mind for so many years, finally makes its way out into the wilds.

The Trellence is out now. You can order both the ebook and print versions from Amazon.

The Trellence by A.T. Nartey / Buy on Amazon UK / Buy on Amazon US

The official website of A.T. Nartey.