Illustration of a goat reading a blue book titled 'Ticehurst Literary Festival', surrounded by various colorful flowers, butterflies, and a bee.

25-27 April 2025

Full programme of talks and workshops for adults and children

Friday 25 April

From 2pm

Portrait of a bearded man with short hair wearing a white shirt and dark vest, alongside a book cover titled "Humanise" by Thomas Heatherwick.

Thomas Heatherwick

The visionary designer of cultural landmarks calls for an end to the 'blandemic' of boring buildings that are bad for society and harmful for the planet. Heatherwick Studio has become one of the most diverse and inventive creative institutions in the world. Thomas Heatherwick's campaign for joy and humanity in our cities led to his book Humanise.

A person with curly hair wearing a coral-colored blazer, sitting near a textured wall. A book cover titled 'Passiontide' by Monique Roffey is featured, showing two illustrated characters against a mountainous background.

Monique Roffey

The Costa-winning author of The Mermaid of Black Conch speaks about her new book, Passiontide. It’s an ‘unruly glory’ of a novel about four women who spark a revolution on a Caribbean island. Monique Roffey has published seven novels and a memoir.

Monique Roffey will be interviewed by the books and arts journalist Suzi Feay, a former literary editor of The Independent on Sunday.

A person wearing glasses stands in an urban setting, and there is an inset image of the book cover "Wild East" by Ashley Hickson-Lovence.

Ashley Hickson-Lovence

The award-winning author of three novels takes us to the Wild East where 14-year-old Ronny’s world is opening to rap and poetry. ‘When life’s off track, put pen to paper and find your way back.’ Ashley Hickson-Lovence’s previous novel, The392, is set entirely on a bus; Your Show is the trail-blazing story of referee Uriah Rennie. 

Saturday 26 April

From 11am

Portrait of a man with a beard wearing a patterned shirt, accompanied by a book titled 'Determination' by Tawseef Khan.

Refugees

What is literature’s role in the refugee-crisis? How can writing help people fleeing war and persecution? Among our panel are Tom Gaisford, author of Sanctuary, and Tawseef Khan who wrote Determination and Muslim, Actually. Our chair is Lucy Popescu, editor of A Country To Call Home and A Country of Refuge.

Grid of four sections: top left features a black and white portrait of a woman, top right shows the book cover 'The Other Tenant' by Lesley Kara, bottom left displays the book cover 'You Can't Hurt Me' by Emma Cook, and bottom right has a color portrait of a woman in front of bookshelves.

Thrillers

Thriller writers reveal the tricks of their genre. Lesley Kara, whose Sunday Times bestseller The Rumour is being adapted for TV, introduces her new tale of menace, The Other Tenant. The author from Tunbridge Wells is in conversation with Emma Cook, whose debut novel You Can't Hurt Me follows a ghost writer obsessed with the mystery of a woman born unable to feel pain. Emma Cook has also published two non-fiction titles, Ask Your Father and 5:2 Your Life. She is Assistant Editor at Observer Magazine.

The journalist and book reviewer Sue Gaisford will chair our thrillers event.

A man smiling in front of a tree and an e-book cover of 'Thirst' with bright colors and the author's name, Giles Foden.

Giles Foden

The award-winning author of The Last King of Scotland tells all about his new novel, Thirst. Namibia, 2039; an environmental scientist goes in search of a hidden-water source that risks falling into the wrong hands. Giles Foden is a former editor of The Times Literary Supplement. He is the author of six novels and one work of non-fiction. The Last King of Scotland was made into an Oscar-winning feature film.

Giles Foden will be interviewed by the journalist and writer Rosalind Upton.

Sunday 27 April

From 11am

A smiling person wearing glasses and a book titled 'The Lives of Lee Miller' by Antony Penrose.

Antony Penrose

The photographer, filmmaker, and author Antony Penrose, son of the celebrated wartime photographer Lee Miller and Sir Roland Penrose, talks about his mother and writing her biography, The Lives of Lee Miller. Antony Penrose is director of the Lee Miller Archive and Penrose Collection at his parents' former home, Farley Farm House, in East Sussex. His writing inspired the recent feature film Lee, starring Kate Winslet.

Antony Penrose will be interviewed by Victoria Brooks, publicist for the film, Lee.

A woman with short hair smiling, wearing a blue dress and a necklace, with a book titled 'The Burial Plot' by Elizabeth Macneal next to her.

Elizabeth Macneal 

The author of The Doll Factory and Circus of Wonders, both Sunday Times bestsellers, speaks about her new novel, The Burial Plot, a story of murder and manipulation, set in 1830s Richmond. Elizabeth Macneal will be in conversation with Rebecca Stott, who featured at our inaugural festival with her historical novel, Dark Earth.

Elizabeth Macneal shares the main stage with the historical novelist Rebecca Stott, whose books include Dark Earth and In The Days of Rain which won the Costa Biography Award.

Black and white portrait of a man looking into the camera.

Alex Preston

We're delighted to welcome back Alex Preston, to smuggle us some secrets about his forthcoming novel, Rye. The sequel to Winchelsea features the grandson of smuggler Goody Brown and was recently previewed on BBC Radio 4. Alex Preston is the author of three historical novels and a work of non-fiction.

Alex Preston will be interviewed by Alison Smith, historian and owner of Barnett's Books.

Workshops

A man with a beard, wearing black round glasses and a light-colored vest over a black shirt, stands outdoors in an urban environment.

Poetry Workshop

Saturday 27th April

Put your poetic pen to paper with Dr Ashley Hickson-Lovence, poet, novelist, literary critic and and lecturer of Creative Writing on UEA’s prestigious MA. Ashley has published three novels and a poetry collection, Why I am Not a Bus Driver.