Books Born in Hastings - Jenny Lind/Coastal Currents Events
As part of the Coastal Currents Festival the Jenny Lind Hotel will be hosting a series of readings, signings and meet-the-author events. All events are free and all comers welcome. If you are interested in local literature - or interested in getting into writing or publishing yourself, please drop in and introduce yourself.
Diary of Events
Friday 29th August from 2pm: Local poet Terry Sorby will be signing copies of his new poetry book, Roadie & Co Come along for a drink and a chat, and find out all about our plans for the next three weeks!
Saturday 30th August from 7pm: Grow Your Own Reading Group How to set up and run a reading and discussion group.
Wednesday 3rd Sept 6pm: Alex Willis, author of ‘Step by Step Guitar Making’ with local musicians (followed by live folk music in the pub from 9pm)
Thurs and Fri 4th & 5th Sept from 2pm: Science Fiction and Fantasy book and art exhibition featuring Kate O Hearn, whose book ‘Shadow of the Dragon’ is published by Hodder, artwork by Katy J Jones and books from Earlyworks Press.
Friday 5th Sept from 7pm: The Unspeakable and The Unprintable Writer and press editor Kay Green discusses dealing with sensitive and ‘taboo’ subjects in writing and publishing.
Tuesday 9th Sept 2pm: Discussion: ‘Ways into a Writing Career’ led by Kay Green, whose first book was published by Elastic Press. Kay is now editor of Circaidy Gregory Press and administrator of the Earlyworks Press Writers & Reviewers Club
Thursday 11th Sept 7pm. Workshop: ‘How to Win Writing Competitions’ featuring the winners of the Hastings ‘Writing Competitions’ competition.
Saturday 13th Sept from 2pm Helena Wojtczak owner of the Hastings Press and author of five books of women’s and local history, will be displaying, signing, selling and talking about Hastings Press books.
Saturday 13th Sept 3 pm: Croft Productions Presents ‘DOWN BOTTLE ALLEY‘, a play by Tom O’Brien, based on the book ‘My Wretched Alcoholism, this Damn Puppeteer’ by Brian Charles Harding, Performed by Tim Skelton and James Lawne, directed by John Dunne, followed by a discussion with the authors, Tom and Brian.
Mon and Tues 15th & 16th Sept from 2pm: Meet the author days – a variety of local authors will be signing and talking about their books. Featuring Dr Trevor Hopper, author of Robert Tressell’s Hastings, Steve Peak, author of Fishermen in Hastings, thriller writer Andy Oakes with ‘Dragon’s Eye’ and ‘Citizen One’, published by Pan Macmillan. Hastings Writers Group will be there, with their anthologies ‘Diamonds’ and ‘Strandline’, local historian Keith Leech on 25 years of Jack-in-the-Green, also Jane Richardson, Monica Tracey, Derek Moss and others TBA
Wednesday 17th Sept from 6pm: Informal poetry workshop All welcome. If you have work-in-progress you’d like to discuss, please bring several copies. (There will be live folk music in the pub from 9pm.)
Thursday 18th Sept from 2pm: Victoria Seymour, local social history writer, runs an ongoing discussion and display session with her collection of WWII and other vintage photos of Hastings
The Jenny Lind, High Street, Hastings Old Town
For more details, watch the local events page at