The 2021 Festival
We are very much hoping that the Mere Literary Festival will be able to take place later this year. We have a number of authors who have agreed to come to us in October; including Claire Fuller who will be speaking about her, latest book Unsettled Ground,published in March and has been shortlisted for this year’s Womens Prize for Fiction. Stephen Fabes will also be joining us following the publication of his travel book ‘Signs of Life’, his tale of taking a break from medicine and spending six years travelling the world on a bicycle. Louise Hare’s book This Lovely City is the 2021 Book Club choice and Louise will coming to join us. Lucy Jago will be talking about her first novel A Net for Small Fishes, and Robin Hanbury Tenison is coming to talk about his latest book Taming the Four Horsemen. There are many other authors coming to speak along with a Writers’ Workshop, a talk on Getting More from your Reading, Polictics and a Pint, a foraging walk with the author Dave Hamilton.
To keep uptodate with our plans please joing up to our mailing list – there is a link at the bottom of this page.
Ticket sales will be from Saturday 28th August for ‘Friends’ of the Literary Festival, general ticket sales will be available from Saturday 4th September
Become a Festival Friend
The annual cost is £15.00 per adult or £25.00 per couple living at the same address.
Join the FriendsBecoming a Friend of the Festival will provide much needed support to the organisers which will help to attract writers and promote the festival. Benefits include:
- Advance delivery to your door of the festival programme.
- Advance priority booking of tickets, up to one week ahead and a maximum of 2 tickets per person. Unlimited events.
- Priority seating where applicable.
- Invitation to attend the annual Friend’s Party.
- Occasionally Literary Events are held throughout the year which are open only to ‘Friends’ and their guests, unlimited numbers.
- The opportunity to become involved with the Mere Literary Festival.
Raising funds for the Link Scheme
The 2019 Festival has donated in excess of £4,000 to the M&DLS with reserves to reinvest in the 2020 Mere Literary Festival.
The Mere Literary Festival is the fundraising arm of the Mere & District Link Scheme (Registered Charity No. 1062328) which is a local voluntary group based in Mere.
This scheme provides transport at times of need for hospital appointments, which are not covered by the local ambulance or Medicar services, as well as helping people with shopping and other visits to enhance an individual’s quality of life.
Read MoreOur sponsors
Visit Hillbrush
Visit Hillbrush is a unique visitor centre where you can come to browse and purchase products in our homeware shop, enjoy the locally sourced food in our spacious and airy restaurant, grab a coffee from our master baristas and even learn about the history of brush-making and Hillbrush everywhere you turn in our exciting, first-of-its-kind brush-making museum. We are the perfect venue for families looking for activities in Wiltshire, or travellers looking for a comfortable, friendly stop. visit.hillbrush.com
Compton Smith Interiors
Suppliers of well-known specialist Paints, Wallpapers and Fabrics. (Farrow & Ball, Little Greene, Colefax & Fowler, Zoffany, Kate Forman and many more brands) Full interior design service. Making up of Curtains and Blinds, Loose Covers and Re-upholstery. Interior Decorating Consultancy. www.comptonsmith.co.uk
Authors & Books for 2021
Participating authors in 2021 include Fanny Charles, Hamish de Bretton-Gordon, Lucy Jago, Tom Bromley, Liv Matthews, Karen Hamilton, Keith Stuart, Andrew Lownie, Claire Fuller, Stephen Moss, Stephen Fabes and Robin Hanbury Tenison.
Join our mailing list
Helping at Mere Literary Festival
Thank you to all our volunteers that help to keep our festival running smoothly. If you’re interested in volunteering for the 2020 festival, follow the link below for more information about what help we need and how you can get involved.
Read MoreThank you
The Mere Literary Festival wishes to thank the Mere Lecture Hall Grant Committee, IT Ambulance, Stable Design Taunton, Charlie Allfrey, Eamon Ross, Lesley Traves, Steve Hawkins.