Newcastle Libraries and the Lit & Phil are collaborating once more as they put together the 11th Books on Tyne Festival.
From chilling ghost stories to local footballing legends, youth sleuths to the challenges of the online world, and much more besides, there’s plenty to choose from.
The festival kicks off with bang, with best-selling children’s writer Robin Stevens sharing her tips and tricks on how to write the perfect murder mystery. This is followed by award-winning author Rachel Hewitt discussing her new book ‘In Her Nature’, which examines how women have had to fight to have access to the great outdoors and their achievements to be recognised.
Tyne Bridge Publishing will be launching its latest title at the festival. ‘Speaking as we Find’ is an oral history of women’s experience of working in Tyneside industries from the 1930s to the 1980s. This often-overlooked part of local history gives a fascinating insight into how the new industries in post-war Britain relied on the skills and efforts of women. Author Caroline Barker Bennett interviewed the women in the early 1980s and she will be describing some of the struggles and challenges they faced. This promises to be a very interesting snapshot of a world that is fast disappearing, as the shape of British industry and employment changes.
The Sporting book this year is ‘Two Brothers – The Life and Times of Bobby and Jackie Charlton’. Author and Guardian football journalist Jonathan Wilson will be in conversation and will examine the interesting dynamic of this family that characterised the modern game of football for decades.
The Newcastle Books on Tyne festival always reserves a slot for the best in music writing and this year it will welcome journalist, broadcaster and musician, John Robb. Bassist and singer for the mid-1980s post-punk band The Membranes, John is also the author of various fascinating books on music including works on The Stone Roses and Punk Rock. At this year’s festival, he will discuss his latest project ‘The Art of Darkness – The History of Goth’. This is the first comprehensive history of goth music and culture. Across more than 500 pages, the author explores the origins and legacy of this enduring scene, which has its roots in the post-punk era.
The final day of the festival will focus on the terrible situation in Ukraine with journalist Luke Harding, whose book, ‘Invasion’, follows his first-hand accounts of being on the front line as the conflict began.
For further information, head to booksontyne.co.uk.
