Sturminster Newton Literary Festival focuses on celebrating three writers associated with the town (Thomas Hardy, William Barnes, and Robert Young), current Dorset and Wessex writers, and aspiring writers of the future. The festival has a range of talks, workshops, guided walks, and collaborative events with local businesses to promote writing from the region.

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Events 2025

First Friday Day Pass

First Friday Day Pass

Friday 06th June 2025
15:59
The Exchange, Sturminster Newton

This day pass, for our opening day of FRIDAY 6 JUNE, gives access to two events.

Cleopatra. Natasha Solomons in Conversation with Jenny Devitt

Cleopatra. Natasha Solomons in Conversation with Jenny Devitt

Friday 06th June 2025
16:00
The Exchange, Sturminster Newton

International bestselling author Natasha Solomons will discuss her latest book, Cleopatra, with Jenny Devitt. Told from the perspectives of both Cleopatra and Caesar’s mistress Servilia, CLEOPATRA is a powerful, unmissable new retelling that draws out the real woman behind the great legend. It is a captivating story of female power and vulnerability, of love and loss, fierce friendship and terrible betrayal: it’s time to meet the real Cleopatra.

Flights to Freedom with Pen Farthing and Mark Blackburn

Flights to Freedom with Pen Farthing and Mark Blackburn

Friday 06th June 2025
19:00
The Exchange, Sturminster Newton

Flights to Freedom—Claret Press authors Pen Farthing and Mark Blackburn discuss their very different but equally turbulent travel tales in their books Operation Ark and Final Approach: My Father and Other Turbulence.

Writing Nature

Writing Nature

Saturday 07th June 2025
10:00 - 12:00
Town Council Offices, Sturminster Newton

Writers have always looked to nature for inspiration. The natural world can form the backdrop to a story, or sometimes even become a character in itself. In this workshop we will look at examples of nature writing in fiction and memoir and examine how depiction of landscape, wildlife and weather can create mood and tone. Author Elizabeth Delo will guide you through a series of exercises to explore your relationship with the natural world, and describe the environment around you.

This is Where We Find Ourselves - A Cultural Event

This is Where We Find Ourselves - A Cultural Event

Saturday 07th June 2025
14:30
The Exchange, Sturminster Newton

Sturlitfest 2025 is hosting a celebration of our town’s vibrant community of families from Bulgaria and Central Europe with an afternoon of stories, music, dance, images and food.

Walking with Elvis in Memphis

Walking with Elvis in Memphis

Sunday 08th June 2025
14:00
The Exchange, Sturminster Newton

One of the most important parts of Lorraine Gibson’s research for Elvis: The King of Fashion was staying in Memphis to soak up the atmosphere and visit the locations in the city where Elvis lived, worked, and first found fame. Following in his blue-suede footsteps, she discovered amazing places, people and stories, some of which are included in her talk (illustrated with a slide-show of photos).

Death in Stur. A Walk Through the Darker Side of the Town's History

Death in Stur. A Walk Through the Darker Side of the Town's History

Monday 09th June 2025
19:00
1855, Sturminster Newton

Join us on a short walk around Sturminster Newton where you’ll hear about the darker side of the town’s history. Discover stories of violent deaths, tragic cases, and even a possible murder. This walk is unsuitable for children under 16.

The Secrets of Flowers. In Conversation with Sally Page. Floral Demonstration by Daisy Delbridge

The Secrets of Flowers. In Conversation with Sally Page. Floral Demonstration by Daisy Delbridge

Tuesday 10th June 2025
14:00
The Exchange, Sturminster Newton

In this special event for Sturminster Newton Literary Festival, Sally Page will talk about the inspiration for her book, The Secrets of Flowers with local florist Emma Whicher from Martha and the Meadow. The talk will be preceded by a floristry demonstration by Esme from Daisy Delbridge. The Secrets of Flowers is a story based on a newly widowed lady and the florist on the Titanic.

The Shakespeare Ladies Club: The Forgotten Women Who Rescued the Bawdy Bard

The Shakespeare Ladies Club: The Forgotten Women Who Rescued the Bawdy Bard

Tuesday 10th June 2025
18:30
The Exchange, Sturminster Newton

Chancing upon this obscure all-female literary club in academic works led the authors to investigate further. Founded in 1736 by the young, free-thinking Susanna Ashley-Cooper the 4th Countess of Shaftesbury, the members met to read and discuss Shakespeare’s plays. Appalled that The Bard’s “earthy” plays had been “cleaned-up”, the SLC campaigned to re-stage the original texts – and to install a long overdue statue to him in Poet’s Corner, Westminster Abbey.

Crime Wednesday Day Pass

Crime Wednesday Day Pass

Wednesday 11th June 2025
14:59
The Exchange, Sturminster Newton

This day pass, for our opening day of WEDNESDAY 11 JUNE, gives access to two crime related events.

Tess Burnett in Conversation with Jo Durrant

Tess Burnett in Conversation with Jo Durrant

Wednesday 11th June 2025
15:00
The Exchange, Sturminster Newton

Winner of the 2022 Dorchester Literary Festival Prize for local writers, Tess Burnett’s debut novel, The Hanging of Hettie Gale, is inspired by a love of Dartmoor. In this discussion with Jo Durrant, Tess will talk about her writing journey, finding her confidence to write, and starting her writing journey at an older age. She will also talk about how nature, myths and legends inspire her stories and that it’s never too late to follow your dream.

How to Find a Dorset Location to Dump a Body

How to Find a Dorset Location to Dump a Body

Wednesday 11th June 2025
18:30
The Exchange, Sturminster Newton

Award winning crime writer Rachel McLean sets many of her novels in Dorset. In this talk she will outline how she researches locations in Dorset and sets the scene for a crime to take place in her books. Rachel will also highlight her latest book, The Lyme Regis Women’s Swimming Club.

Tess’ Marlott - A walk in the countryside that inspired Tess of the D’Urbervilles

Tess’ Marlott - A walk in the countryside that inspired Tess of the D’Urbervilles

Thursday 12th June 2025
10:30
The Crown, Marnhull

Enjoy a meandering walk in and at the southern edges of Marnhull that is Marlott in Thomas Hardy’s Tess of the D’Urbervilles. Marlott was where Tess grew up; the home that she left four times, and to which she returned on three.

Nature Walk for Children

Nature Walk for Children

Thursday 12th June 2025
16:00
St Mary’s Church, Sturminster Newton

Join us for a walk through Sturminster Newton to admire some of our magnificent trees, followed by a river walk, and on to our conservation site at Butt’s Pond where we will have a talk about conservation and the Great Crested Newts. To finish, we will join together in a nature writing exercise.

From Sea to Summit. Jessica Hepburn in Conversation with Sue Ashby

From Sea to Summit. Jessica Hepburn in Conversation with Sue Ashby

Thursday 12th June 2025
19:00
The Exchange, Sturminster Newton

From sea to summit, Jessica Hepburn tells tales from her new book Save Me From the Waves, which charts her journey of survival, endurance and personal growth. An unlikely athlete, Hepburn hates exercise, only discovering its assets when she finds herself heartbroken and in her forties. Now, she is the first and only woman to have completed the ‘Sea, Street, Summit’ challenge (swim the English channel, run the London Marathon and climb Mount Everest) in the world.

Lucky Friday 13th Day Pass

Lucky Friday 13th Day Pass

Friday 13th June 2025
12:59
The Exchange, Sturminster Newton

A day pass to three events on FRIDAY 13 JUNE.

Thomas Hardy and the Death of Emma: What His Writings Reveal

Thomas Hardy and the Death of Emma: What His Writings Reveal

Friday 13th June 2025
13:00
The Exchange, Sturminster Newton

Andrew Norman’s book is about how the great Dorset man-of-letters described, in his poems and novels, his love for Emma; but also his estrangement from her as their marriage gradually deteriorated over the years; and finally his intense grief at her death. Why did he feel such grief, given the circumstances, and how did he cope with bereavement? Finally, he reveals a liaison which Hardy had with one of his female servants, which took place at Sturminster Newton and had unforeseen consequences!

A Casterbridge Tale. Michael Langridge in Conversation with Tracy Hayes

A Casterbridge Tale. Michael Langridge in Conversation with Tracy Hayes

Friday 13th June 2025
16:00
The Exchange, Sturminster Newton

Michael Langridge, in conversation with Dr Tracy Hayes, talks about his latest novel, ‘A Casterbridge Tale’. Set in Thomas Hardy’s Wessex, it is a crime novel featuring Detective Inspector Hawkins, a principal character from his highly acclaimed first novel ‘A Second Mrs Clare’. In ‘A Casterbridge Tale’. Hawkins must negotiate his way between his duty and his conscience, jeopardising his career and his life as he tracks down the instigators of a brutal and outrageous crime.

The Glassmaker - Women in Glassmaking

The Glassmaker - Women in Glassmaking

Friday 13th June 2025
19:00
The Exchange, Sturminster Newton

In this special event, internationally acclaimed author Tracy Chevalier will be in conversation with Sarah Sexton and Jenny Devitt. The Glassmaker follows the fortunes and failures of a glassmaking family over the course of 500 years, entwining personal history with the history of Venice. Tracy will discuss the inspiration behind the novel, her research into glassmaking, and her writing process. Sarah Sexton will also discuss Sturminster Newton’s pioneering stained glass artist and suffragist, Mary Lowndes.

Close Editing Workshop with Don Nordberg

Close Editing Workshop with Don Nordberg

Saturday 14th June 2025
10:00
Town Council Offices, Sturminster Newton

Want to sharpen your writing? Understand better what editing is and does?
The “Close Editing” workshop will give you guidance and let you practice
• How to detect the flab in your paragraphs, sentences and word selection
• How to read closely, too, to see reveal the processes that other writers use and learn technique from reading

Saturday Day Pass

Saturday Day Pass

Saturday 14th June 2025
12:59
The Exchange, Sturminster Newton

A day pass to three events on Saturday 14 JUNE.

The Science Lover's Guide to Dorset

The Science Lover's Guide to Dorset

Saturday 14th June 2025
13:00
The Exchange, Sturminster Newton

The Science Lover’s Guide to London features several scientists with a Dorset and Westcountry background. In this talk, Rachael will outline famous scientists from Dorset who made a difference to society with their inventions. There are several Dorset connections to the science world, from developing safer obstetric forceps to pioneering citizen science and describing a new disease. Rachael will outline where you can see places associated with the scientists in the talk, both in London and locally.

Champagne in a Broken Teacup

Champagne in a Broken Teacup

Saturday 14th June 2025
16:00
The Exchange, Sturminster Newton

Greg Duncan has recently published “Champagne in a Broken Teacup” a historical novel inspired by the activities of his French aunt who was a forger and fighter in the French Resistance during WW2. In his talk he will be explaining how he researched the historical setting for this novel and how he wove critical historical elements into the story to provide a living background for the plot.

Damien Lewis on Great Escapes 4 – stories of extraordinary escapes by the SAS in WW2

Damien Lewis on Great Escapes 4 – stories of extraordinary escapes by the SAS in WW2

Saturday 14th June 2025
19:00
The Exchange, Sturminster Newton

Sunday Times bestselling author & WW2 SAS expert, Damien Lewis, will discuss SAS Great Escapes 4, focusing on his process and collaboration with key people,  including the relatives of those in the SAS who escaped. He’ll share the compelling stories, along with diaries and documents that were crucial in bringing these historical events to light.

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