Book this: Who’s on

At the end of this month (June 26-27) Inspired the fifth Wealden Literary Festival takes place. With a wealth of esteemed writers and poets including Carol Ann Duffy, Michael Morpurgo and Anita Sethi speaking it promises to be a highlight in any literary lover’s calendar. by nature Eileen Leahy discovers more of its history and who will be attending…

This area is no stranger its income is a mix of ticket sales, to cultural festivals – sponsorship and charitable in fact we’re positively funding. With some of the grants brimming with them that had previously supported our in normal non- Covid work being diverted to other, more times. Food & drink, music, immediately pressing causes, we puppetry and dance events have looked to our community for help. long been a staple of the summer “We have been overwhelmed by calendar here in this corner of the response and are looking Kent with one of the newest being forward to welcoming people back the Wealden Literary Festival. to Boldshaves this month so that Established by husband and wife we can share everything that has Andrew and Laura Willan in 2016, been made possible by the support the festival takes place at of our community.” Boldshaves Garden in This year, as well as the worldWoodchurch. And according to its famous guest speakers, the natureorganisers provides a way for inspired event will include a ballet people to escape the pace of production of Tom’s Midnight modern life and embrace the Garden, a fabulous feast on the simplicity and creativity of the Saturday evening and camping natural world. under the stars in the ancient Well, given what we have all woodland at Boldshaves. been through over the past 15 The family-friendly festival which months due to the global health describes itself as a ‘celebration of crisis this ethereal ethos sounds nature, creativity and outdoors’ will like just the soothing tonic. also have a number of rising stars Taking place over the weekend and local talent on the bill - of June 26-27 the nature-inspired including writer Rebecca Schiller Wealden Literary Festival will (pictured above right). welcome the likes of Dame Carol Here the author and co-founder Ann Duffy, who was Poet Laureate of childbirth charity Birthrights, from 2009 to 2019, Warhorse tells SO magazine all about her new author Michael Morpurgo, book Earthed which was inspired playwright and poet Joseph Coelho by her move from Ramsgate to the and acclaimed journalist Anita countryside – not far from Sethi. Boldshaves - and her dream of Festival founder, Andrew Willan, taking on a smallholding. However says: “After the challenges of the instead of finding herself living the last year we were determined to put rural dream, Rebecca experienced on a hopeful and inspiring festival, a breakdown before being and I am very proud of the diagnosed with ADHD. Earthed, programme we have put together. recounts this period of time and People have embraced nature how the smallholding became during the pandemic and the Rebecca’s hope and anchor…. festival encourages and celebrates that.” When did you start writing When last year’s event was Rebecca? cancelled due to the impact of I’ve been writing since I was a child coronavirus, well-wishers began but started working as a freelance donating to the festival’s journalist 10 years ago and wrote crowdfunding campaign. More my first book in 2016. than £4000 has been received so far with a further £1500 raised from an What was the catalyst for you auction of unique books, art and doing so? experiences donated by supporters. I have always found it relaxing to Festival founders: Laura and Andrew Willan Andrew explains: “Wealden Festival Foundation is a charity and let my imagination take over and write stories, but I started writing

Photograph © Penelope Fewster

professionally through my work campaigning around women’s rights and health. Writing seemed like the perfect way to challenge inequality and to ensure often ignored voices were heard. Since then I’ve rediscovered my love for writing in lots of different genres.

You also occasionally write for various publications too. Do you like the diversity of doing both?

Absolutely! I have always struggled by being constrained to a particular career path - which makes sense given the diagnosis I discuss in Earthed. It suits me to have a chance to learn about new subjects and interview the range of people that journalism offers.

Tell us briefly about Earthed …

It is my personal story of moving to the countryside to start a smallholding - then discovering all kinds of complications instead of the simple life I was hoping for. The idea formed over a couple of years and the original plan to write quite a simple book, set over 12 months, evaporated and turned into something else during that time.

It has become a story about the natural world, about a quest to find and bring back to life some of the hidden historical women who lived and worked my land. It is also about connection - especially during a global crisis like the pandemic.

Was it a difficult book to write?

Yes, partly because I was mainly writing in lockdown with two primary school children unexpectedly at home. The process was made more challenging because many of the events had just happened or unfolded as I wrote. This meant that I had to explore some very raw and painful topics and be flexible and prepared to be away from original ideas as circumstances change.

Were there any positives to writing it?

Yes, as I share in the book itself, it was also hugely enriching: researching my land’s wildlife, plants, and trees and learning about its history were very grounding during a difficult time.

Why did you think it was so important to get it out there?

I wanted to challenge the idea that following a dream - like moving to the countryside - will fix your problems. It felt important to offer a more realistic version of the well-known story that nature can help with mental health.

What key messages have you concentrated on?

In Earthed I’ve tried to show the many challenges and difficulties I faced in my dream life and out in nature, while also finding a way to share the complicated truth that there are many grounding and beautiful things to be found in that deeper connection with the outdoor world.

What was your ultimate goal in writing it?

To write a book that was honest and used the challenges that living in my neuro divergent mind can present to the best effect. To explore what it is to be alive right now in a way that readers will connect with and understand and then hopefully feel less alone. I wanted present something that celebrated the inherent duality of life: where almost nothing is ever 100% right or wrong, good or bad - but instead a tangled mixture of the two.

Can you tell us about your personal connection with the location for the Wealden Literary Festival?

Earthed is set in the Weald and uses the people and location to spider outwards to other places and times. Those who have read the September chapter of Earthed will have met one of the real-life historical characters, Mary Turner, as she takes a walk down the very road that the festival site sits on. I’m lucky to live, and work on the plot I wrote about that’s less than a mile from Boldshaves, where the festival takes place.

What are you looking forward to most about being part of this year's event?

I’m thrilled to be spending time with other authors and talking to those who read and love the many genres that nature writing can span. After lockdown it will also just be thrilling to spend time with other adults in the beautiful Boldshaves gardens and to have the chance to visit stalls, drink the local sparkling wine and remember how nice it is to exist in the wider world again.

Who else will you be looking forward to speaking at the Wealden Literary Festival and why?

I’m excited to hear Horatio Claire speak about his book Heavy Light. I’ve always loved his writing and his exploration of serious mental illness and recovery has many parallels with my own interests. I’m keen to hear Anita Sethi talk about her landmark book I Belong Here. Wrestling with some of the difficult truths about colonialism and racial justice is an important part of my own writing and I have a lot to learn from listening to Anita. I’m also keen to hear fellow Elliott and Thompson writer Rob Cowan and illustrator Nick Hayes talk about The Heeding - their collection of poetry and illustrations set in lockdown times

earthed by Rebecca Schiller is out now (£14.99, elliott & Thompson). Signed copies will be available at the Wealden literary festival.

WHO’S ON THE BILL AT THE WEALDEN LITERARY FESTIVAL:

The line-up for the family-friendly festival features some of the finest contemporary writers of landscape and place including:

Anita Sethi (I Belong Here) Nick Hayes (The Book of Trespass) Rebecca Schiller (Earthed) Horatio Clare (Heavy Light) Katherine May (Wintering) All the above will talk openly about mental health and the healing power of nature Michael Morpurgo (War Horse) John Hunter (The Fields that Heal) Both writers will explore the nourishment that can be found for children and families in nature.

Carol Ann Duffy (The World’s Wife) Gillian Clarke (Letter From A Far Country) Will explore the relationship between poetry and place

Adam Nicolson (The Sea is not made of Water) Lara Maiklam (Mudlarking) Both will reveal the secrets of our rivers and shorelines.

And for younger readers: A dedicated programme features acclaimed children’s authors and illustrators such as Joseph Coelho (The Girl who became a Tree) and Lauren St John (The White Giraffe)

Festival-goers of all ages can explore their creativity workshops including block printing, writing, willow weaving and foraging.

BROUGHT TO BOOK Wealden Literary Festival welcomes clockwise from top: Michael Morpurgo, Katherine May, Horatio Clare & Carol Ann Duffy

Photo © Jemimah Kuhfeld

Tickets for Wealden Literary Festival are on sale now. Visit www.wealdenliteraryfestival.co.uk for the full line up and booking information.