Books on the Barge LitFest event on Lady Daphne at Charlestown Harbour 28th to 30th July 2023
As you know, we love a tallship and seafaring stories so last weekend we joined the crew on board Lady Daphne in Charlestown Harbour for their first ever book festival. It was an exciting yet intimate venue for a fantastic book event!
We were also delighted to be able to sell a few of our Tall Ship and Sea Monster t-shirts to raise funds for charities tackling plastic in our oceans #plasticfreejuly #nationalmarineweek
Festival Highlights
DAME DAPHNE MEETS LADY DAPHNE – Daphne Du Maurier event.
Lady Daphne, an historic wooden sailing vessel, hosted an evening dedicated to her namesake and renowned Cornish author, Daphne du Maurier, as part of her centenary year celebrations.
Lady Daphne
Early in her sailing story, Lady Daphne carried cargo for the 19th century China Clay Industry around Charlestown and Fowey, alongside her sister barges, Lady Jean and Lady Roseberry.
In February 1928, whilst carrying a cargo of China Clay, her Skipper was lost overboard and her crew had to be rescued by the Lizard Lifeguard. Lady Daphne sailed on, unmanned, and beached herself on Tresco in the Isles of Scilly. She resumed cargo duties later in the year.
A Cornish Romance
Modern day Cornish author, Lamorna Ireland Author who writes contemporary romance set in Cornwall, talked about her new book, Along a Cornish Creek. Lamorna also has a wonderful story in the Cornwall Writers anthology Cornwall Secret and Hidden
Dame Daphne
du Maurier expert Lynn Goold gave a fascinating talk about one of the most famous Cornish authors, Daphne du Maurier, and read some of her works.
The public were invited to come onboard and meet authors throughout the weekend
Artist and author Debbie Gower read Tina Barrott’s popular story The Charlestown Robin. Debbie enthralled the children (and adults!) with her own stories Fox and the Box and Marvellous Mouse on the Moon.
Emily Charlotte interviewed Clare Owen about her book Zed and the Cormorants, which won the Holyer An Gof award in the YA category and the Ann Trevenen Jenkin cup in 2022.
Exciting Author Talks from authors publishing with Hermitage Press
Clare Dwyer shared some moving poems from her book Murmurations
Kath Morgan of the The Writing Retreat read from her speculative fiction YA novel The Bycatch Principle
Gareth Rees and Paul Taylor-McCartney chat about a book commissioned by the AONB: a collection of 12 stories for the 12 Cornish Sections of the AONB, showcasing the cultural heritage of the protected landscape. Creating a sense of place to inspire, connect and engage with audiences from Cornwall, and beyond.
Tim Hannigan and Matt Johnson in conversation
Travel writer and historian, Tim Hannigan, and illustrator Matt Johnson shared about the process of creating the gorgeous book cover for The Granite Kingdom – A Cornish Journey and asked the question: ‘Where does Cornwall begin?’
Philip Marsden describes the book as: ‘A magnificent work of travel and historical deconstruction – deeply personal, meticulously researched and hugely enjoyable. Hannigan reaches for Cornwall and shakes it, letting all the fantastic images settle – the gothic novels, the Celtic theories and tourist fantasies – to leave behind something solid and just as strange, just as distinctive, just as extraordinary.’
Matt was Senior Creative Designer for Seasalt for over 18 years and published the illustrated book Red Sails & Pilchards, about Cornwall’s fishing heritage, in 2022.
The Journey and the Story
Travellers Tales: Paula Rooney and Tom Barrie Simmons shared anecdotes of their travels
Books, books and more books!
We had a lovely time onboard with authors at stalls/signed books throughout the weekend….Emily Ould, Cornwall Writers, Lyndon Allen, Lamorna Ireland and Paula Rooney
Thank you so much to all the lovely authors we met and to Lady Daphne for hosting us.
We also want to say an especially huge thank you to everyone who bought our tshirts and helped raise funds to support our nominated charities.
