2026 SPEAKERS
A number of our authors will be giving a talk with the opportunity to ask questions too.
These will be held in the Oak Room at the Graham Adams Centre.
There will also be an evening talk during the week before at The Community Hub at Galanos House.
See below for details.
Speakers for main Festival October11th at Graham Adams Centre:
Jacci Gooding Click here to book on Eventbrite (free)
A lover of ghost and creepy horror stories since an early age, Jacci will discuss what makes a good horror story, what the hooks are and why the genre is so popular.
If you've ever glimpsed something out of the corner of your eye, or felt your skin prickle with fear, then this talk is for you!
Her short story compilation A Collection of Unsettling Short Stories; Leave the Light On reflects the world around us through a darker, and at times, foreboding, lens. She will share with you a creepy story from her fully revised and updated book, hopefully demonstrating that when writing horror, less is definitely more.
With an extra story just for the chill of it, her unique collection of stories is a delicious assortment of the macabre and the creepy, the gruesome and the ghostly. Jacci’s compilation contains the winning entry of Writing Magazine's horror competition 2012, plus a story shortlisted for the Dark Fantasy Anthology 2018.
And for light relief, at the moment Jacci is in the process of editing her second full novel for which she will soon be seeking representation.
Karen Storey - Never Too Late to Reach for a Dream Click here to book on Eventbrite (free)
Think you're too old to embark on a dream? Karen Storey returned to her childhood wish of becoming a writer at the age of fifty-eight. Her debut novel was published after the age of sixty. This novel, 'The Approval of Sheep,' was a finalist in this year's prestigious Joan Hessayon Award for its romcom elements and has been recently picked up by a screenwriter for film adaptation. Karen will talk about her life, her influences, and why she feels it's never too late to start a new career.
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Anna Byk Click here to book on Eventbrite (free)
Anna will be discussing her writing journey, the publishing process including self-publishing, as well her debut novel - 'It's Never Really Over'. The novel is a contemporary story centred on five interconnected women and partially set in Warwickshire, with references to Stratford, Shakespeare and other regional landmarks. Written in monologue style, each woman begins their story by describing to the reader their present moment setting, before going back in time to relay their life story and ending by summarising their present circumstances. The women range from mid-thirties to seventies in age and each describe what has happened and what could have been – the lost lovers, fortunes, failures, and missed opportunities. Their stories show how fate pushes you to where you need to be, whether you like it or not, and how, when it comes to certain aspects of their lives, it’s never really over.
Amy Clennell Click here to book on Eventbrite (free)
Poet and fiction author Amy Clennell will begin her talk discussing her first book of poetry, Renaissance. Although partially-sighted and unable to see enough to read, Amy wants others with visual impairments to be able to access her writing. Consequently, all her poems from Renaissance are available on her YouTube channel and Amy will explain how this came about with the help of local ‘celebrity’, Iain Lauchlan (actor/writer,director/producer/presenter and Dame!) Amy will then give three short poetry readings, the last of which will link to her new novella, The Enchantment Project. She will share with you how and why she came to write the novella, including an amusing anecdote about a project in Southam.
Finally, in the absence of a current PA, Amy’s mum will read the first chapter from Amy’s The Enchantment Project.
Andy Mullaney Click here to book on Eventbrite (free)
A bowel cancer diagnosis in 2024 transformed Andy’s perspective and strengthened his commitment to helping others face adversity with courage and hope. His second book, Didn’t Anyone Ever Tell You? Never Trust a Fart! Surviving and Beating Bowel Cancer, to be published in 2026, tells his story openly, with humour too, encouraging early diagnosis, resilience and positivity in the face of life’s toughest challenges.
Andy’s talk will tell of his bowel cancer experience from diagnosis through to now. He’ll showcase the chapters in his book and also talk in depth about the mental battle we face, including for those who love and support us.
There are so many missed opportunities for diagnosis and Andy believes knowledge is power. His only symptom was fatigue and 60% who present with that as the only sign are stage 4. We need to change that.
Southam Community Hub (at Galanos House)
‘A Year on the Fosse’ at 2.30pm on Sept 23rd at Galanos House
Rick Thompson Click here to book on Eventbrite (free)
Rick will present an illustrated journey month by month along the 230 miles of the Fosse Way that spears through the heart of England from Lincolnshire to Devon. It was paved by the Romans shortly after their mass invasion of England in AD 43 to secure southern England from incursions by the Celtic Britons and Welsh. Where the Romans built forts at key crossing points, towns and great cities grew up over the centuries, and there were countless battles along its length that changed English history.
The quarries that provided limestone for the Fosse Way were developed later to provide the materials for urban Britain, and many of the flooded pits are now nature reserves. The book describes the wildlife to be found on these reserves as the seasons change, with reflections on the biodiversity crisis and the local impacts of climate change, and the successful efforts of thousands of volunteers bringing back species that became extinct because of human activity. There are stories of enterprise, folklore and some curious human tales along the way.
Rick is a former BBC journalist and a lifelong birdwatcher living in Warwick.
Please email us if you wish to attend so we can ensure we have enough seats and refreshments southambookfest@gmail.com