Truman's Book Club Social - Tues 26th August
2025-08-26 18:30 - 20:00 (Europe/London) | Cargo Wine Bar, Twistings Gallery, Sunny Bank Mill, 83-85 Town Street, Farsley, Leeds, LS28 5UJ
At Truman’s Book Club Social on Tuesday 26th August, hosted at Cargo Wines here in Farsley, we’ll be discussing the book, ‘Chain Gang All-Stars’ by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah.

A ticket to attend Truman’s Book Club Social is £15. This includes the book (that will be available for you to collect in the shop once you’ve made a booking online) and your first drink on the evening (beer, wine or soft drink). If you already have the book, you can select a ticket that will include a £10 Truman’s Gift Voucher instead of a book.

About the Book

FIGHT FOR FREEDOM. FIGHT FOR LOVE. WELCOME TO THE KILLING GROUND.Enter a world where, livestreamed to millions, prisoners fight like gladiators for the ultimate prize: their freedom.

Fan-favourite female stars Loretta Thurwar and Hamara ‘Hurricane Staxxx’ Stacker are teammates and lovers. Thurwar is nearing the end of her time on the circuit, free in just a few matches, a fact she carries as heavily as her lethal hammer. But as protestors clash with the baying crowds and the programme’s corporate owners stack the odds against her – will the price be simply too high?

When & Where?

Truman’s Book Club Social will take place on Wednesday 13th August, 6.30pm (for a 7pm start), at Cargo Wines, Sunny Bank Mills. One of the benefits of us hosting our Book Club in a Wine Bar means that when the book chat is done, if you wish, you’re free to stay on to continue to enjoy the company and the conversation, and maybe another drink or two.

We’d like a relaxed evening of booky chat, so if the thought of sitting round in a big circle feels a little intimidating, this is the Book Club for you. Our aim is to have a more informal feel, with smaller groups sat chatting around tables. We can help you find a seat and make sure everyone feels comfortable.

We’re thinking an hour of chat about the month’s book (and the topics and experiences it leads to). In the future, we’d love to be able to welcome guest authors to join us to discuss their books.

Hope to see you there!

A Magical Storytime with Becky Cameron
2025-09-02 10:30 - 11:30 | Truman Books, 95 Town Street, Farsley, Leeds, LS28 5HX
Join us in the bookshop for a magical storytime with author-illustrator Becky Cameron as she shares her new picture book, The Angel and the Mermaid.

This touching story is a beautiful celebration of the unbreakable bond between siblings and the importance of always coming together, no matter the distance.

About the Book

Avery and Mira are as different as the sky and the sea. Avery is gentle like the whispering breeze and Mira is wild like a crashing wave. Despite their differences, they spend every day together on the beach, their home. When a treasure hunt leads to an argument, the siblings separate, only to realise how much they need each other. Will Mira’s bravery and Avery’s courage bring them back together?

Becky Cameron is the illustrator of much-loved classics such as Enid Blyton and Paddington. When she’s not bringing new books to life, Becky also teaches illustration at Sheffield Hallam University.

The book is perfect for our under 5 storytime audience, with gorgeous illustrations and a heartwarming story that will appeal to the whole family.

The event is FREE to attend but if you’d like to come along please book a ticket for each individual so we know the numbers. Places are limited.

There is an option to buy a ticket that includes a copy of ‘The Angel and the Mermaid’ and this includes free entry. (The book will be available to collect on the day)

Truman's Book Club Social - Wed 10th Sept
2025-09-10 18:30 - 20:00 | Cargo Wines, Twistings Gallery, Sunny Bank Mill, 83-85 Town Street, Farsley, Leeds, LS28 5UJ, United Kingdom
At Truman’s Book Club Social in September, hosted at Cargo Wines here in Farsley, we’ll be discussing the book The Ministry of Time – by Kaliane Bradley.

A ticket to attend Truman’s Book Club Social is £15. This includes the book (that will be available for you to collect in the shop once you’ve made a booking online) and your first drink on the evening (beer, wine or soft drink). If you already have the book, you can select a ticket that will include a £10 Truman’s Gift Voucher instead of a book.

About the Book

The romantic, historical, comedic, literary, genre-defying bestseller

A civil servant is offered a lucrative job in a mysterious new government ministry gathering ‘expats’ from across history to test whether time-travel is feasible.

Her role is to work as a ‘bridge’: living with, supporting and monitoring expat ‘1847’ – Commander Graham Gore, a former Victorian polar explorer. Gore, an adventurer by trade, soon adjusts to this bizarre new world of washing machines, feminism and Spotify; and during a long, sultry summer the pair move from awkwardness to friendship to something more.

But as the true shape of the project that brought them together begins to emerge, Gore and the bridge are forced to confront their past choices and imagined futures. Can love triumph over the histories that have shaped them? And how do you defy that history when it is living in your house?

When & Where?

This Truman’s Book Club Social will take place on Wednesday 10th September, 6.30pm (for a 7pm start), at Cargo Wines, Sunny Bank Mills. One of the benefits of us hosting our Book Club in a Wine Bar means that when the book chat is done, if you wish, you’re free to stay on to continue to enjoy the company and the conversation, and maybe another drink or two.

We’d like a relaxed evening of booky chat, so if the thought of sitting round in a big circle feels a little intimidating, this is the Book Club for you. Our aim is to have a more informal feel, with smaller groups sat chatting around tables. We can help you find a seat and make sure everyone feels comfortable.

We’re thinking an hour of chat about the month’s book (and the topics and experiences it leads to). In the future, we’d love to be able to welcome guest authors to join us to discuss their books.

Hope to see you there!

An Evening with Fun Lovin' Criminal Huey Morgan
2025-09-11 20:00 - 22:00 | Old Woollen, Sunnybank Mills, 83-85 Town Street, Farsley, LS28 5UJ, United Kingdom
We are delighted to be welcoming Fun Lovin’ Criminals’ frontman Huey Morgan to Farsley to celebrate the release of his fascinating autobiography.

Musician, DJ, producer and award-winning BBC broadcaster, Huey will be sharing stories from his memoir, interspersed with songs on his guitar (including a preview of his new single!)

When the Fun Lovin’ Criminals released their smash hit debut album Come Find Yourself in 1996, its fusion of hip-hop, funk, blues and rock quickly saw it become one of the most iconic and influential records of the decade. Now, in a humorous and honest memoir, Huey Morgan describes his remarkable rock star journey.

Huey’s is a story that begins in the early 1990s in New York, freshly returned from his time in the Marines and struggling to return to regular life. As Huey tries to kickstart his musical career, he finds himself falling into the criminal underworld to get by. But as his band begins – against all the odds – to take off, can he extricate himself before his shot at stardom goes begging?

Written in Huey’s indomitable and distinctive style, his book brings the grit and glamour of 90s New York brilliantly to life. And, we can’t wait to welcome you to the Old Woollen to hear from Huey in person.

Doors at 7pm

Truman's Book Club Social - Tues 23rd Sept
2025-09-23 18:30 - 20:00 | Cargo Wines, Twistings Gallery, Sunny Bank Mill, 83-85 Town Street, Farsley, Leeds, LS28 5UJ, United Kingdom
At Truman’s Book Club Social in September, hosted at Cargo Wines here in Farsley, we’ll be discussing the book The Ministry of Time – by Kaliane Bradley.

A ticket to attend Truman’s Book Club Social is £15. This includes the book (that will be available for you to collect in the shop once you’ve made a booking online) and your first drink on the evening (beer, wine or soft drink). If you already have the book, you can select a ticket that will include a £10 Truman’s Gift Voucher instead of a book.

About the Book

The romantic, historical, comedic, literary, genre-defying bestseller

A civil servant is offered a lucrative job in a mysterious new government ministry gathering ‘expats’ from across history to test whether time-travel is feasible.

Her role is to work as a ‘bridge’: living with, supporting and monitoring expat ‘1847’ – Commander Graham Gore, a former Victorian polar explorer. Gore, an adventurer by trade, soon adjusts to this bizarre new world of washing machines, feminism and Spotify; and during a long, sultry summer the pair move from awkwardness to friendship to something more.

But as the true shape of the project that brought them together begins to emerge, Gore and the bridge are forced to confront their past choices and imagined futures. Can love triumph over the histories that have shaped them? And how do you defy that history when it is living in your house?

When & Where?

This Truman’s Book Club Social will take place on Tuesday 23rd September, 6.30pm (for a 7pm start), at Cargo Wines, Sunny Bank Mills. One of the benefits of us hosting our Book Club in a Wine Bar means that when the book chat is done, if you wish, you’re free to stay on to continue to enjoy the company and the conversation, and maybe another drink or two.

We’d like a relaxed evening of booky chat, so if the thought of sitting round in a big circle feels a little intimidating, this is the Book Club for you. Our aim is to have a more informal feel, with smaller groups sat chatting around tables. We can help you find a seat and make sure everyone feels comfortable.

We’re thinking an hour of chat about the month’s book (and the topics and experiences it leads to). In the future, we’d love to be able to welcome guest authors to join us to discuss their books.

Hope to see you there!

An Afternoon in Conversation with Clare Balding
2025-09-24 13:00 - 15:00 | Old Woollen, Sunnybank Mills, 83-85 Town Street, Farsley, LS28 5UJ, United Kingdom
From growing up in a racing yard to commentating in the King’s Coronation procession and fronting the Olympics and Wimbledon, Clare Balding’s life has been extraordinary. Now, she has written her debut novel based on a character who relocates from London to a struggling farm in Monmouthshire. Discover more about Pastures New as well the secrets from behind the scenes of her 30 years in broadcasting…

Clare will be in conversation with Phil Williams, a national broadcaster with thirty years experience on the air. He can currently be heard on BBC Radio 2. He launched a brand new evening show on Times Radio and spent eighteen years on air at BBC Five Live. He’s shared many a studio with Clare, both at five live and also at Wimbledon.

About ‘Pastures New’

Sometimes home is where you least expect it…

Alex has perfected the art of dodging responsibility during her almost 40 years — until an unexpected letter turns her life upside down.

She’s inherited a crumbling sheep farm in deepest, wettest Wales. This was not her life plan. Not at all. Now, her closest companion is a grumpy Welsh terrier, she’s speed-reading An Idiot’s Guide to Farming, and her arrival has set the village gossip mill spinning. With the farm near collapse and its community now relying on her, Alex sets out to uncover the truth behind her mysterious inheritance. Then she can finally get back to the carefree life she thought she wanted.

But as secrets surface, Alex finds her heart pulling her in a direction she never saw coming. Will she pack her bags – or has she landed exactly where she’s meant to be?

About Clare Balding

Clare grew up in the countryside surrounded by horses and dogs. Her autobiography, ‘My Animals and Other Family’, won the National Book Award for Autobiography of the Year. Clare has also written a bestselling series of children’s books set around a girl and her horse.

A keen rider, Clare competed as an amateur flat jockey during her teenage years, winning Champion Lady Rider in 1990. After an English Literature degree at Cambridge she became a journalist. Alongside her award winning sports broadcasting and coverage of major Royal events, Clare hosts her much loved Ramblings series on Radio 4, taking her across the British Isles exploring its landscape and its storytelling.

A passionate campaigner for equality and women’s sport, Clare was awarded a CBE for her services to Sport and Charity in 2022, which she was honoured to receive at Buckingham Palace.

An Afternoon with Sunday Times Bestselling Author M.W Craven
2025-09-28 13:00 - 15:00 | Old Wollen, Sunny Bank Mills 83-85 Town Street Farsley, Leeds, LS28 5UJ, United Kingdom
Join us for an afternoon with M.W Craven as he launches the latest and hotly anticipated instalment in his Washington Poe and Tilly Bradshaw series. Mike will be discussing his new book ‘The Final Vow’ which features characteristic dark humour and nail-biting suspense amongst a twist laden investigation. There’ll also be a Q & A session and book signing.

About the Book

A shooting at Gretna Green. A bride, taken out on her wedding day, seconds after she slipped on her new ring. It was brutal and bloody, but she was not the first victim – nor the last. Now, the body tally stands at 17 and the nation is in a state of panic. People are terrified, not knowing where the sniper will strike next. All they know with certainty is that he will.

So, Washington Poe is called back from the wilderness to be reunited with Tilly Bradshaw, for they are the only team capable of taking on this killer. But how do you stop an unstoppable assassin, who never misses his mark and never makes a mistake?

About M.W Craven

M.W. Craven was born in Carlisle but grew up in Newcastle. He joined the army at sixteen, leaving ten years later to complete a social work degree. Seventeen years after taking up a probation officer role in Cumbria, at the rank of assistant chief officer, he became a full-time author.

He is an instant Sunday Times bestseller and, for his Cumbria-set Washington Poe series, a recipient of the 2019 Crime Writers’ Association Gold Dagger, the 2022 Ian Fleming Steel Dagger and the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year 2023. The series has now been translated into twenty-nine languages!

Doors open at 12pm.

Truman's Book Club Social - Wed 8th Oct
2025-10-08 18:30 - 20:00 | Cargo Wines, Twistings Gallery, Sunny Bank Mill, 83-85 Town Street, Farsley, Leeds, LS28 5UJ, United Kingdom
The Safekeep – Book Club Read

At Truman’s Book Club Social in October, hosted at Cargo Wines here in Farsley, we’ll be discussing the book The Safekeep – by Yael van der Wouden.

A ticket to attend Truman’s Book Club Social is £15. This includes the book (that will be available for you to collect in the shop once you’ve made a booking online) and your first drink on the evening (beer, wine or soft drink). If you already have the book, you can select a ticket that will include a £10 Truman’s Gift Voucher instead of a book.

About the Book

An exhilarating tale of twisted desire, histories and homes, and the unexpected shape of revenge.

It is fifteen years after the Second World War, and Isabel has built herself a solitary life of discipline and strict routine in her late mother’s country home, with not a fork or a word out of place. But all is upended when her brother Louis delivers his graceless new girlfriend, Eva, at Isabel’s doorstep – as a guest, there to stay for the season…In the sweltering heat of summer, Isabel’s desperate need for control reaches boiling point. What happens between the two women leads to a revelation which threatens to unravel all she has ever known.

When & Where?

This Truman’s Book Club Social will take place on Wednesday 8th October, 6.30pm (for a 7pm start), at Cargo Wines, Sunny Bank Mills. One of the benefits of us hosting our Book Club in a Wine Bar means that when the book chat is done, if you wish, you’re free to stay on to continue to enjoy the company and the conversation, and maybe another drink or two.

We’d like a relaxed evening of booky chat, so if the thought of sitting round in a big circle feels a little intimidating, this is the Book Club for you. Our aim is to have a more informal feel, with smaller groups sat chatting around tables. We can help you find a seat and make sure everyone feels comfortable.

We’re thinking an hour of chat about the month’s book (and the topics and experiences it leads to). In the future, we’d love to be able to welcome guest authors to join us to discuss their books.

Hope to see you there!

An Evening with Otto English: Notorious - History's Villains & Why They Matter
2025-10-13 18:30 - 21:00 | Truman Books, 95 Town Street, Farsley, Leeds, LS28 5HX
This event is now taking place at Truman Books, not The Old Woollen as previously advertised. The event will take place at 6.30pm.

History loves a villain.

Fascinating and fearless, Otto English’s new book Notorious re-examines some of history’s biggest villains. It will change the way you see the world forever.

In his fascinating follow-up to Fake History and Fake Heroes, Otto looks at how certain people and groups have been villainised throughout history, and why we continue to demonise them. Explore this concept with Otto. A Q & A session will follow the talk, with the evening rounded off nicely with the opportunity to get your book signed by Otto.

Across the entire span of human civilisation, certain people and groups have been identified as being responsible for the ills of the world, and have remained hated for it. In his continuing desire to separate out the facts from the fiction of history, Otto English looks at how these legacies were constructed and who told us that they were evil.

From how Bloody Mary became the figurehead of uppity women and how Judas’s betrayal became a template for religious tensions for centuries, to what the Peasants Revolt and the Illuminati shows us about power struggles throughout the ages, English exposes the agendas behind the ‘truths’ we’ve been told to believe. And in looking at how xenophobia was weaponised during the ‘Spanish’ Flu, he reveals how our past sometimes bleeds into the present day.

Otto English is the pen name of journalist Andrew Scott. From 2010, Scott began writing and tweeting about politics and history, gaining attention for his itinerant blog, he moved into journalism and has since written for Politico, the Independent, New Statesman, Daily Mail and many other publications. He has always been fascinated by the writing of history and the creation of political narratives, and has spoken about them on BBC News and BBC Radio 4.

Truman’s Book Club Social – Thurs 16th Oct
2025-10-16 18:30 - 21:00 | Cargo Wine Bar, Twistings Gallery, Sunny Bank Mill, 83-85 Town Street, Farsley, Leeds, LS28 5UJ
At Truman’s Book Club Social in October, hosted at Cargo Wines here in Farsley, we’ll be discussing the book The Safekeep – by Yael van der Wouden

The Safekeep – Book Club Read

A ticket to attend Truman’s Book Club Social is £15. This includes the book (that will be available for you to collect in the shop once you’ve made a booking online) and your first drink on the evening (beer, wine or soft drink). If you already have the book, you can select a ticket that will include a £10 Truman’s Gift Voucher instead of a book.

About the Book

An exhilarating tale of twisted desire, histories and homes, and the unexpected shape of revenge.

It is fifteen years after the Second World War, and Isabel has built herself a solitary life of discipline and strict routine in her late mother’s country home, with not a fork or a word out of place. But all is upended when her brother Louis delivers his graceless new girlfriend, Eva, at Isabel’s doorstep – as a guest, there to stay for the season…In the sweltering heat of summer, Isabel’s desperate need for control reaches boiling point. What happens between the two women leads to a revelation which threatens to unravel all she has ever known.

When & Where?

This Truman’s Book Club Social will take place on Thursday 16th October, 6.30pm (for a 7pm start), at Cargo Wines, Sunny Bank Mills. One of the benefits of us hosting our Book Club in a Wine Bar means that when the book chat is done, if you wish, you’re free to stay on to continue to enjoy the company and the conversation, and maybe another drink or two.

We’d like a relaxed evening of booky chat, so if the thought of sitting round in a big circle feels a little intimidating, this is the Book Club for you. Our aim is to have a more informal feel, with smaller groups sat chatting around tables. We can help you find a seat and make sure everyone feels comfortable.

We’re thinking an hour of chat about the month’s book (and the topics and experiences it leads to). In the future, we’d love to be able to welcome guest authors to join us to discuss their books.

Hope to see you there!

All Aboard for an Evening of Guided Journaling with Charlotte Russell
2025-10-21 18:30 - 20:00 | Truman Books, 95 Town Street, Farsley, Leeds, LS28 5HX
Join Charlotte Russell (CW MA) for an evening of guided journaling as part of Farsley Literature Festival.

This brand-new journaling journey will help writers and non-writers alike, journal their way to a place of happy well-being, contentment, clarity and ease of mind.

Remember when you were a child and the whole world was filled with possibility? When any dream was possible and imagination ruled? The Ship is a fantastic journaling journey, designed to explore themes of change, adventure, excitement, and learning to say “yes!” and lean into childlike wonder.

Board The Ship (metaphorically!) and leave this workshop feeling ready to take on the world, having confronted what has been holding you back and working through your inhibitions.

This Writing for Wellness Workshop is perfect for those looking to move on from anything that’s been holding them back, to find adventure down a new path, or those who want to know more about their own inner thoughts.

What is guided journaling?

Guided journaling is a new approach to journaling, led by creative writer, Charlotte. During a Writing for Wellness Workshop, you are invited to listen to a story read aloud before pausing intermittently to write down how certain points and prompts in the story have made you feel. Tying this together provides a narrative of your thoughts and feelings, and helps give structure to them. You can then look back in the day and weeks to come, at how far you have come on your journey of personal growth.

An Evening Celebrating the Past: the Weird & the Wonderful with Sally Coulthard
2025-10-22 18:30 - 21:00 | Truman Books, 95 Town Street, Farsley, Leeds, LS28 5HX
If you were to choose 100 weird and wonderful objects to represent our history, what would they be? Join the acclaimed author of A Brief History of the Countryside in 100 Objects and the forthcoming A Brief History of the Coast in 100 Objects, in an engaging and humorous journey through 12,000 years of British life, told through some its strangest artefacts.

Bestselling author and columnist Sally Coulthard has spent the last two decades writing about her favourite things – the natural world, the history of interesting things, and practical stuff. After studying Archaeology and Anthropology at Oxford, and a brief stint working in factual television production, Sally moved back to her beloved Yorkshire, married a gardener and set up a smallholding; it’s from there, that Sally writes from a shed in the old orchard.

Sally’s written over twenty-five non-fiction books as well as writing columns for Country Living magazine and A New Good Life.

About the Book

From ancient artefacts to modern-day memorabilia, this startling book weaves a rich tapestry from the fragments of our rural past. The things we have left behind provide a connection that no document can match; physical artefacts are touchstones that breathe life into its history. From farming tools to children’s toys, domestic objects and strange curios, the everyday items of the past reveal fascinating insights into an often-forgotten way of life. Birth, death, celebration, work, crime, play, medicine, beliefs, diet and our relationship with nature can all be read from these remnants of our past.

A Brief History of the Countryside will be available to buy on the evening and Sally will be doing a signing.

An Evening with Campaigner and Author Janet Alder
2025-10-23 18:30 - 21:00 | Truman Books, 95 Town Street, Farsley, Leeds, LS28 5HX
Publishing during Black History Month, we invite you to join Janet Alder for an inspiring talk and enlightening discussion about her powerful book, Defiance – Racial Injustice, Police Brutality: A Sister’s Fight for the Truth.

The police killing of Christopher Alder in Hull in 1998 was one of the most notorious deaths in custody in the UK, involving the destruction of evidence, a whitewash of an investigation and illegal surveillance.

This event is a must for those passionate about human rights, social justice and equality.

Janet Alder has relentlessly fought for justice, and against police brutality since the death of her brother. During this intimate talk, she will share details of her personal journey, discuss the themes of her book and answer audience questions.

In the book, Janet fearlessly holds the UK’s state institutions to account. Her probing expose details what went on, based on exhaustive documentary evidence, as well as telling the story of her fight to uncover the truth. It’s a damning account of injustice in the UK police system; a story – among many others – of justice denied.

Janet has written for the New Statesman, and her fight has been reported on by the BBC, the Socialist Worker and the Guardian.

‘This book has it all. And we need to read it all, feel it all. Then take it all to others. I‘ve known Janet from early days. Her story of struggle against almighty odds, reflects the story of our times both inside and outside the justice system. She is far from alone and currently, for example, stands alongside the victims of Hillsborough, Bloody Sunday, Infected Blood, the Post Office Scandal, Covid, and now of course Grenfell. The tide is strong.’ – Michael Mansfield KC

‘Defiance is one of those books that it’s impossible to put down. It is indeed an extraordinary account and a total indictment of the policing and criminal injustice system in this country. It should be compulsory reading for every police officer and police staff member across Britain and everywhere.’ – Professor Gus John, veteran anti-racist educationalist whose campaigning helped lead to the 1968 Race Relations Act

Janet’s book Defiance will be available to buy and Janet will be doing a signing at the end of the evening.

An Evening celebrating Northern Gothic with Andrew Michael Hurley and Michael Stewart
2025-10-27 18:30 - 21:00 | Truman Books, 95 Town Street, Farsley, Leeds, LS28 5HX
** Please note that there has been a venue and time change to this event since it was first launched. It is now taking place at Truman Books in Farsley, with doors opening at 6.30pm for a 6.45pm start. **

In Halloween week, two writers at the pinnacle of their craft explore myth, place and meaning and our darkest imaginings.

Two writers get together to discuss all things folk horror, macabre and menace! We can’t wait for this meeting of minds as these two authors chat and tell us more about their new books and the work that goes into researching and writing them.

This event sees the return of the multi-award winning ‘Master of Menace’ Andrew Michael Hurley to tell us about ‘Saltwash’, a sinister seaside tale of regret, remorse and grief. Set in a decaying hotel and with a cast of uncanny characters, this is Hurley at his dark, folkloric best.

Alongside Andrew, is Michael Stewart whose new novel Black Wood Women is set against the turbulent backdrop of 17th-century Yorkshire. This spellbinding story explores themes of persecution and survival, through the story of Caragh, a young Irishwoman fleeing persecution. Blending historical realism with an evocative feminist narrative, the story examines themes of belonging, identity, and resilience.

Andrew Michael Hurley – Saltwash

The dilapidated seaside town of Saltwash isn’t a place that Tom Shift would have chosen to come to at all, let alone on such a bleak November afternoon. But his new friend, Oliver Keele, has insisted on meeting for dinner at the Castle Hotel, where the owners, the Paleys, try their best to cling on to the glory days.Both terminally ill, Tom and Oliver have been bound by the saddest of circumstances, though they have found some solace in writing to one another via a pen-pal scheme set up by their respective cancer clinics. So far, their friendship has been conducted solely through letters, with Oliver proving himself to be a treasury of literary quips and quotes. Yet, for all his flamboyance and verbosity, he is guarded, and Tom suspects that he is lonely and nomadic. And Oliver sees Tom for what he is too: a man haunted by guilt and desperate to try and atone in some way before it’s too late.

Regret is what brings others to the Castle. Much to Tom’s surprise, dozens more guests appear, dressed in their finest to take part in a prize draw that offers one person the chance of deliverance from their remorse. But does everyone deserve the opportunity?

Black Wood Women – Michael Stewart

Yorkshire, 1649. Since they fled Ireland, Caragh and her family have hidden their true identities to enable them to start a new life in England. But when Caragh finds her parents brutally murdered by a Protestant determined to rid the area of Catholics, she must flee again. Travelling east, she comes to a forest, where she meets a coven of women who wear their hair loose and refuse to follow men’s rules. Having found acceptance at last, Caragh is unaware that a different kind of persecution stalks the black wood women, and their days in the forest are numbered.

Set against the turbulent backdrop of 17th-century Yorkshire, this spellbinding novel explores themes of persecution and survival, through the story of Caragh, a young Irishwoman fleeing persecution. Blending historical realism with an evocative feminist narrative, the story examines themes of belonging, identity, and resilience.

Michael Stewart is an award-winning author whose diverse body of work spans novels, short stories, TV, radio, and stage.

Children's Day @ Farsley Lit Fest
2025-10-28 11:00 - 15:00 | Old Woollen, Sunnybank Mills, 83-85 Town Street, Farsley, LS28 5UJ, United Kingdom
We’re excited to invite you to come along to our Children’s Day during half-term, as part of Farsley Lit Fest. On Tuesday 28th October, 11am – 3pm, at The Old Woollen, we will have THREE exciting one-hour long Children’s Author Workshops and you’re welcome to join one, two or all three of them.

We have included an age recommendation for each event below but they are ALL suitable for ALL the family. Each event is just £2 per child. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Adults are FREE but do require a ticket. Any under 2s coming with older children are also free. They do not require a ticket. Our aim has been to price the events so that they are accessible to everyone, so do contact us directly if you have any questions.

There will be a selection of the authors’ books available to buy (and get signed on the day).

We can’t wait to welcome you.

THE EVENTS

* 11am – A Fabulously Fun Look at Collecting Things with BETHAN WOOLLVIN

* 12.30pm – ‘The Floofs’ – Design a Graphic Novel with PENELOPE O’NEILL

* 2pm – ‘Shoot for the Stars’ – Build Your Confidence with Paralympic Gold Medallist DANIELLE BROWN

A Fabulously Fun Look at Collecting Things with BETHAN WOOLLVIN @ 11amFun for all the Family / Perfect for 3-7 Year Olds

What do you collect? Everyone collects something! Join award-winning author / illustrator Bethan Woollvin for an exciting workshop based on her fabulous picture book These are my Rocks. There’ll be a fun, interactive talk about strange collections and oddities from around the world before Bethan reads from her book and gives everyone a behind the scenes glimpse at the creative process involved in putting a book together. Bethan will also lead an exciting craft activity, where you will get the opportunity to bring a collection of your very own to life.

‘The Floofs’ – Design a Graphic Novel with Penelope O’Neill @ 12.30pmFun for all the Family / Perfect for 6-9 Year Olds

Penelope O’Neill, author-illustrator of The Floofs has put together a workshop that will see you learn how to create your own graphic novel. From designing comic book heroes and villains to mapping out a comic book strip, this is your chance to show off your creative skills and learn new ones. Plus, there’ll be an exciting draw-a-long of a Floof character from Penelope’s popular novels and the opportunity to ask her questions about her journey to becoming a published author.

‘Shoot for the Stars’ – Build Your Confidence with Paralympic Champion Danielle Brown @ 2pmFun for all the Family / Perfect for 8-12 Year Olds

Danielle Brown MBE invites you to a fun, interactive event all about confidence and believing in yourself. Inspired by her book Shoot for the Stars, you’ll explore what makes you feel strong and capable through a series of creative and confidence-boosting activities. Together we’ll:

* Write a short story about your favourite sporting role model and the qualities that make them inspiring * * Take part in fun activities that help you recognise your own strengths* Learn simple techniques to boost confidence when facing challenges

Danielle will also share her journey as an athlete, show her gold medals and talk about what it takes to perform at the highest level. With plenty of opportunities to get creative, join in and ask questions, this session is packed with inspiration to help you dream big and find the confidence to take on new challenges.

An Evening with #1 Bestselling Author Adele Parks
2025-10-28 20:00 - 22:00 | Old Woollen, Sunnybank Mills, 83-85 Town Street, Farsley, LS28 5UJ, United Kingdom
Are you in for a treat! Celebrating an amazing 25 books in 25 years with the release of Our Beautiful Mess, come and join us at Old Woollen in conversation with bestselling British author Adele Parks.

This year brings a ‘Silver Anniversary’ for this popular author, known for her razor-sharp insights into human relationships and suspenseful storytelling. Adele will be with us as part of Farsley Lit Fest 2025.

Number One bestseller Adele is set to introduce her new, explosive and deeply emotional family drama which explores the lengths a parent will go to protect a child; for there’s nothing stronger than a woman whose family is under threat.

Perfect for fans of psychological thrillers, this event offers you an exclusive opportunity to hear Adele speak about her super impressive writing journey, discuss inspirations behind her characters and hear about her important work as an advocate for literacy. Don’t miss your chance to meet one of the bestselling authors in the UK. Have your questions ready and get your ticket complete with book – ready for you to get signed.

Our Beautiful Mess released later this year, is a must-read, gripping and emotional domestic thriller from the Sunday Times bestselling author of Just Between Us and Both of You.

About the Book

Connie can’t wait to have all her daughters back home for Christmas. It’s not just the excitement of the girls being together under one roof; uni student Fran is bringing a new boyfriend to stay. The empty nest will once again be full of friends, family and young love.

Yet from the moment she sees Zac, Connie feels a deep unease. Zac reminds her of the worst mistake she has ever made: a man whose charm and good looks nearly destroyed her marriage. Then, Fran announces she’s pregnant.

Reeling from Fran’s news and terrified that her past might threaten her family’s future, Connie desperately tries to navigate a path forward. But there’s a much greater menace looming, because she’s not the only one who has something to hide. Someone in the house has another devastating secret. A deception which will put everyone Connie loves in shocking danger, and one of them will pay the ultimate price.

About the Author

Adele Parks MBE was born in North Yorkshire. She is the author of 24 bestselling novels including the Sunday Times bestsellers Just Between Us and One Last Secret. Over five million copies of her work have been sold in English and her books have been translated into 31 languages.

Adele’s Sunday Times Number One bestsellers Lies Lies Lies and Just My Luck were shortlisted for the British Book Awards. She has also won two Nielsen Bestseller Awards, the RNA Outstanding Achievement Award, the Capital Crime Fingerprint Award and a Quick Read Learners’ Favourite Award.

Adele has written for many national newspapers and magazines, and was an Executive Producer on Paramount’s feature film adaptation of her novel, The Image of You.

She is an ambassador of the National Literacy Trust and the Reading Agency: two charities that promote literacy in the UK.

In 2022 she was awarded an MBE for services to literature.

A Life-Affirming Evening with Clare Chambers
2025-10-30 20:00 - 22:00 | Old Woollen, Sunnybank Mills, 83-85 Town Street, Farsley, LS28 5UJ, United Kingdom
Clare Chambers, award-winning author of Small Pleasures is back with a new novel. The Guardian has stated that Shy Creatures confirms Clare Chambers as one of our most talented writers’ and we’re proud to announce that Clare will be joining us for Farsley Lit Fest.

Shy Creatures is a life-affirming novel about all the different ways we can be confined, how ordinary lives are built of delicate layers of experience, the joy of freedom and the transformative power of kindness.

Clare Chambers’ first job after university was working for Diana Athill at André Deutsch. Her first novel Uncertain Terms was published in 1992 and she is the author of eight other novels. Small Pleasures, her first work of fiction in ten years, became a word-of-mouth hit on publication, was selected for BBC 2 Between the Covers book club and for BBC Radio 4 Book at Bedtime, and was selected as a Book of the Year by The Times, the Evening Standard, Daily Telegraph, Spectator, Metro, Red and Good Housekeeping!

About the BookCroydon, 1964. Helen Hansford is in her thirties and an art therapist in a psychiatric hospital where she has been having a long love affair with Gil: a charismatic, married doctor.One spring afternoon they receive a call about a disturbance from a derelict house not far from Helen’s home. A thirty-seven-year-old man called William Tapping, with a beard down to his waist, has been discovered along with his elderly aunt. It is clear he has been shut up in the house for decades, but when it emerges that William is a talented artist, Helen is determined to discover his story.

Praise for ‘Shy Creatures’

‘Absolutely beautiful – tender, moving, so clever about human beings and human frailty, and about love. It is also laugh out loud funny in places. As with Small Pleasures, the little telling details are brilliantly done. Clare Chambers is a genius.’ – India Knight‘A tender, absorbing novel . . . And it’s just as good – if not better – than her last.’ – Independent‘Reading a Clare Chambers novel can feel like entering a modest bungalow and finding yourself in a cathedral. The low ceilings and cramped passages of her novels, which record the placid lives of mid-century English suburbanites, open into high, mysterious spaces where stories of love and turbulent emotions play out – sometimes in unpredictable ways . . . This is writing of the highest quality. Wise, beautifully measured and as compelling as you want fiction to be.’ – Johanna Thomas-Corr ― Sunday Times

A selection of Clare’s books will be available to buy and Clare will be doing a signing after the talk.

A Riotous Afternoon of History with Terry Deary
2025-11-01 12:30 - 14:30 | Old Woollen, Sunnybank Mills, 83-85 Town Street, Farsley, LS28 5UJ, United Kingdom
We’re excited to announce that Terry Deary will be joining us for Farsley Lit Fest to tell us all about his riotous new history book for adults, Revolting. It’s definitely an event for those with an inquisitive mind.

Following three decades of the multimillion-copy bestselling Horrible Histories children’s series, Terry’s early fans are all grown-up and delighting once again in his playful, cheeky trademark humour as he writes for an older audience.

Following the success of A History of Britain in Ten Enemies, Terry’s back with this follow up that offers up an insight into the riotous rebellions and revolutions that shaped our history. From the peasants to the slaves, the martyrs to the mutineers, Revolting celebrates the resilience and determination of those who dared to challenge the status quo.

Terry will be signing books following the talk.

Terry Deary is the author of 342 published books including the acclaimed Horrible Histories series, selling over 38 million books in 45 languages. The series has been adapted for theatre, museum exhibitions and a major CBBC television series, which has gone on to win several Children’s BAFTA awards and a British Comedy Award for best sketch show – the first children’s show ever to win.About the BookIt is a truth universally acknowledged that the rich and powerful always look after their own and the working people are always revolting. But every now and again, a new group actually manages to seize power, and it changes history.Few enjoy the success of Ivaylo, the Bulgarian swineherd who managed to fight off the Mongols, slay the Tsar and marry his widow in the space of a year. But then, some rebels have more modest aims: Spartacus mainly wanted to go home to see his mum. Either way, we have much to learn from the tactics of revolutionaries gone by, like the two suffragists who posted themselves by Royal Mail to see the prime minister. (A first-class idea, though Downing Street declined the parcel.)

There will also be a selection of Terry’s other books available to buy and he will be doing a signing after the talk.

Crime Day
2025-11-02 11:00 - 16:30 | Old Woollen, Sunnybank Mills, 83-85 Town Street, Farsley, LS28 5UJ, United Kingdom
Crime Writing Fans! This is your pass to duck under the crime scene tape. As part of the 2025 Farsley Literature Festival we are very excited to bring you CRIME DAY at The Old Woollen. We have THREE exciting crime events in one sitting, and even more authors. Are you ready?

Taking place on Sunday 2nd November, what better way to spend an autumn day than celebrating crime-writing. We have a packed schedule of entertaining, hugely interesting and interactive events.

Attend just one, come to two, or join us for all three!

A selection of the authors’ books will be available to buy and get signed at their events.

* 11am: Whodunnits: From Page to Stage, Screen and Beyond with RC Bridgestock, JM Hall & Natalie Anderson

* 1pm: ‘Locked Room Crime’ with Tom Hindle, L.D Smithson & Rachel North

* 3pm: A Thrilling, Interactive Crime-Busting Afternoon with Antony Johnston

11am: Whodunnits: From Page to Stage, Screen and Beyond with RC Bridgestock, JM Hall & Natalie Anderson

True crime experience meets narrative craft – the anatomy of the perfect whodunnit revealed. Join RC Bridgestock, JM Hall, and actress Natalie Anderson as they explore crime storytelling across novels, stage, radio, and screen.

Drawing on 26 real-life murder investigations and hostage negotiations, RC Bridgestock bring gritty authenticity to their fiction.This husband-and-wife team have nearly 50 years of working police experience between them. The pair are also storyline consultants on police dramas Happy Valley and Scott and Bailey.

J.M Hall, author of A Brush with Death, successful playwright (and Deputy Head of a primary school) adds his mastery of stage and radio. His plays have been produced in theatres across the UK as well as for radio, the most recent of which being Trust starring Julie Hesmondhalgh on BBC Radio 4.

Natalie Anderson brings insight as an actress (Coronation Street, Wicked), producer, presenter, singer and creator of The Capsule, a women and wellbeing platform. She also worked on the Netflix adaptation of Harlan Coben’s Fool Me Once, giving a unique perspective on crime, performance, and audience connection.

Together, this extraordinary panel will reveal how crime leaps from case files to page, stage, radio, and screen – exposing the craft, cunning and storytelling secrets behind the perfect whodunnit.

1pm: ‘Locked Room Crime’ with Tom Hindle, L.D Smithson and Rachel North

A luxury airship. A remote sea fort in a reality TV show. A private island. We’ll be in conversation with these bestselling authors about their latest novels and their locations; delving into the unfailingly entertaining subgenre of ‘locked room crime’.

Originally hailing from Leeds, Sunday Times Bestseller Tom Hindle’s newest novel ‘Death in the Arctic’ – like his previous books (including The Murder Game and A Fatal Crossing) was inspired by masters of the crime genre including Agatha Christie and Anthony Horowitz.

L. D. Smithson was born in Staffordshire and now lives in Ilkley with her husband and their three children. She is an occupational psychologist as well as a crime writer with six psychological crime thrillers under her belt.

Rachel North was born in Scarborough but now lives in Leeds. She has an MA in Creative Writing. Under the name Caroline Bond, she is the author of six novels, including two Radio 2 Book Club picks.

3pm: A Thrilling Interactive Crime-Busting Afternoon with Antony Johnston

This unique interactive experience invites you to play detective, examining clues, questioning suspects and piecing together evidence to crack the case. Guided by Antony himself, you’ll be immersed in a gripping whodunnit where your decisions shape the investigation. Come alone or gather your wannabe policing pals.

This thrilling event is inspired by Antony’s latest book ‘Can You Solve the Murder?’ Perfect for mystery lovers and puzzle solvers alike, this is your chance to put your sleuthing skills to the test. Will you be the one to solve the murder?

Book Lovers Quiz Night
2025-11-02 19:00 - 22:00 | Old Woollen, Sunnybank Mills, 83-85 Town Street, Farsley, LS28 5UJ, United Kingdom
Old Woollen and Farsley Lit Fest regular Gary Wigglesworth (The Book Lovers’ Quiz Book) returns to host our annual quiz.

This is a literary quiz book with a difference. Rather than basic sets of questions, The Book Lover’s Quiz Book mirrors the format of Gary’s live quizzes, at the Betsey Trotwood in London and elsewhere. So, there are lots of multiple-choice questions, some amusing answers, clever red herrings, little-known facts about authors and some of the much-loved Say What You See picture round.

The aim of all Gary’s quizzes, and this book, is that people should have fun and be able to guess (if they don’t know) as much as possible.Teams can be any size but each team member must have purchased an individual ticket.

Doors open at 6pm.

“Gary Wigglesworth is the quizmaster to end all quizmasters.” – David Quantick, author of Night Train & writer for The Thick of It and Veep

“Consistently fun and often very funny” – Alan Connor – author of The Joy of Quiz.

“Packed with well-thought-through questions that will have you variously scratching your head, slapping your forehead or punching the air” – Charlie Higson

”I’m blessed to be able to attend Gary’s quizzes in real life. But if you live on a farm or military base, this book is for you! But seriously folks, these are lovingly crafted, extremely fun quizzes that will jazz up your evenings big-time” – Rob Delaney

An Evening of Heartfelt Poetry in a Hectic World with Robin Ince
2025-11-03 20:00 - 22:00 | Cargo Wines, Twistings Gallery, Sunny Bank Mill, 83-85 Town Street, Farsley, Leeds, LS28 5UJ, United Kingdom
** Please note the venue has changed since this event was launched. It will now take place at Cargo Wines in Farsley **

Author Robin Ince invites you to his new show that mixes poetry and happy stories about the things that have made life delightful, from Doctor Who and horror movies, to the camaraderie of protest marches and his love of dishevelled cemeteries.

It offers an insight into his new book Ice Cream for a Broken Tooth – a series of poems written about love, death and Bela Lugosi (and graves, trees and Judi Dench).

This is Robin’s debut collection of poems and includes a selection that are connected to the neurodivergent themes of his recent book Normally Weird and Weirdly Normal.

At the Morecambe Poetry Festival 2023, Robin was officially handed his Poetic Licence (it is real, he’ll show it to you if you ask, and often if you don’t).

Robin Ince is many things. A multi award-winning comedian, author, broadcaster, bibliomaniac and a populariser of scientific ideas. He is perhaps best known as the co-host and co-creator of the Sony Gold Award winning BBC Radio 4 series The Infinite Monkey Cage with Professor Brian Cox.

‘Ice Cream for a Broken Tooth is a bold, intimate collection, in part memoir and in part rallying cry, here is an exploration of our world past and present. Robin Ince has a beautiful and observant eye for tiny details, for pockets of recollection, for fleeting moments, for tears and dark comedy, these poems contain bright snapshots of where we are, our nature and humanity, our sensitivities, our rage and our happiness.’ – Salena Godden

‘Raw, funny, sometimes painfully immediate, and heartfelt. He writes with an honesty that’s either admirable or foolish.’ – Reece Shearsmith

There will also be a selection of Robin’s other books available to buy and Robin will do a signing at the end of the evening.

Doors at 7pm

An Evening with Sir Tony Robinson
2025-11-04 20:00 - 22:00 | Old Woollen, Sunnybank Mills, 83-85 Town Street, Farsley, LS28 5UJ, United Kingdom
Sir Tony Robinson, actor, presenter, historical expert and star of Blackadder and Time Team, is set to make his adult fiction debut – so we couldn’t not bring him to Farsley Lit Fest 2025.

With stories from his remarkable career and his passion for history, we can’t wait for Tony to introduce us to The House of Wolf; an earthy, entertaining and gloriously witty tale of the Anglo-Saxons, Alfred the Great, and the making of England.

We’re keen to hear behind-the-scenes stories from his well-known TV shows, as well as how he found writing his first novel at 78! With the chance ask your questions and a post-show signing, this is set to be a night of brilliant storytelling, laughs and history with a twist.

About the Book

Rome Father Asser is waiting to die. His idealism has landed him in a papal prison on false charges of heresy, but then salvation arrives in an unexpected form.

Cardinal Balotelli also dreams of a better Europe, free from the ravages of the Norlanders. He has an important job for Asser, one that will take him home to Wessex. Wessex King Aethelwolf’s power is fading, but none of his feckless children are fit to rule. His eldest sons would rather fight each other than the blood-thirsty Norlander invaders. His daughter, Swift, is clever and cunning, but sometimes blinded by her ambition. Finally there’s Alfred, his once-promising younger son, whom nobody has seen in years.

Then Wolf meets a young priest with a proposition from Rome that could change everything. Lindisfarne Rhiannon is a slave who wants to see her Saxon captors punished for their crimes. So when she meets Guthrum, a Norlander hell-bent on wiping Wessex from the map, she sets out on a journey of destruction. So begins an epic struggle between greed and idealism, ambition and betrayal, freedom and tyranny. Because change always meets with resistance and, on the path to power, nobody can be trusted.

About the Author

Sir Tony Robinson is one of Britain’s foremost faces of popular history through presenting 20 seasons of Channel 4’s archaeology series Time Team and as the creator of the worldwide icon Baldrick in Blackadder.

In a varied and international career, he has won two RTS awards, a BAFTA and the International Prix Jeunesse. He started out at the age of 13 in Oliver! and has gone on to enjoy a long acting career in theatre, TV drama and sitcom, and an acclaimed presenting career of documentary and factual television.

He is the author of over 30 children’s books and several adult non-fiction books, including an autobiography, No Cunning Plan.

An ambassador for the Alzheimer’s Society since 2008, Sir Tony received a knighthood in the Queen’s Birthday Honours 2013.

An Evening of Zombies & Black Humour with Leigh Radford
2025-11-05 18:30 - 21:00 | Truman Books, 95 Town Street, Farsley, Leeds, LS28 5HX
Join Leigh Radford as she delves into One Yellow Eye, her darkly funny, debut novel; a zombie thriller set in London. The book is full of heartbreak, revulsion and black humour.

Leigh will tell us more about her transition from broadcast media to writing a horror novel, described by the Times as, ‘Snort-inducingly funny . . . One for those with strong stomachs and big hearts.’

About the Book

A scientist desperately searches for a cure to a zombie virus while also hiding a monumental secret.

Kesta’s husband Tim was the last person to be bitten in a zombie pandemic. The country is now in a period of respite, the government seemingly having rounded up and disposed of all the infected. But Kesta has a secret . . .

Tim may have been bitten, but he’s not quite dead yet. In fact, he’s tied to a bed in her spare room. And she’s made him a promise: find a cure, bring him back.

A scientist by day, Kesta juggles intensive work under the microscope alongside Tim’s care, slipping him stolen drugs to keep him docile, knowing she is hiding the only zombie left. But Kesta is running out of drugs – and time. Can she save her husband before he is discovered? Or worse . . . will they trigger another outbreak?

Reviews

‘An acidic, funny, queasy debut.’ – Emma Van Straaten, bestselling author of This Immaculate Body

‘Gripping, grisly and wonderfully written.’ – Daily Mail

‘Radford shapes the subgenre into something new and fresh . . . The reanimated corpses are just icing on the rotting cake.’ – New York Times

About the Author

Leigh Radford trained as a broadcast journalist. She produced and presented arts and entertainment content and documentaries for UK commercial radio, BBC Radio, Time Out, The Times and The Sun. A former book publicist, she is a 2023 graduate of Faber Academy. She is currently developing content for film and television through her production company, Kenosha Kickers.

A Delectable Evening with Food Writer Diana Henry
2025-11-07 18:30 - 21:00 | The Mill Kitchen & Bakery, 83-85 Town Street, Farsley, Leeds, LS28 5UJ
Foodies! This one is for you. Join us for an evening with Diana Henry to celebrate the release of Around the Table. Diana’s new book is a sumptuous selection, a vivid and nourishing collection of essays on the joys of good food. It is an utter delight for the senses. Diana will be chatting to us in the relaxed setting of Farsley’s popular The Mill Kitchen and Bakery, with a glass of fizz, wine, beer or soft drink included in the ticket price.

For Diana Henry’s many fans, her evocative writing about places, people and food brings just as much pleasure as her delicious recipes. Around the Table features handpicked pieces from over two decades of her beloved cookbooks, of which the Sunday Times-bestselling author has sold more than one million copies worldwide.

‘No one writes about food so beautifully…’ – London Evening Standard

From the bustling Turkish groceries of the Edgware Road to the kitchen table of a cottage in rural France, a trattoria tucked away in the suburbs of Rome to the chilly Vermont countryside famed for its maple syrup, Diana Henry has followed her tastebuds around the world.

In this collection, Diana’s writing brings ingredients to life on the page. Tuck into salty and sweet, buttery and inky purple and black olives. Blood-red threads of saffron that turn whole platters of food into gold, bleeding yolk-yellow streaks over creamy chicken and milky white yogurt. Mouth-puckeringly citrusy, easy to peel and almost seedless Valencia oranges. The simple pleasure of a warming slice of toast.

Diana writes regular columns in the Sunday Telegraph and Waitrose Weekend, her work has appeared in BBC Good Food, House & Garden and Delicious, and her broadcast appearances include BBC Radio 4.

Diana has won numerous awards for her journalism and books, including Cookery Journalist of the Year and Cookbook of the Year from the Guild of Food Writers; Cookery Writer of the Year and Cookery Book of the Year at the Fortnum & Mason Food and Drink Awards and Food Book of the Year at the André Simon Food & Drink Book Awards.

Around the Table will be available to buy on the evening with the opportunity to have it signed by Diana.

An Evening Escaping the 9 to 5 with Suzan Holder
2025-11-11 18:30 - 21:00 | Truman Books, 95 Town Street, Farsley, Leeds, LS28 5HX
Yeeha! Calling all rom-com fans. Don’t miss this evening of laughter, stories, music, fizz and fun. As part of Farsley Lit Fest 2025, we are delighted to announce a super entertaining event with Suzan Holder.

Suzan will not only be telling us more about her new, funny and heartwarming book that reveals the exploits of Becky, a Dolly Parton tribute act, she’ll also be performing a musical number for us. Cowboy boots and hats not essential – but certainly welcomed!

Join us for a glass of fizz as we celebrate What Would Dolly Do? – a glittering romcom with a musical twist, full of inspiring Dolly Parton-isms and a love story that will leave your heart singing.

What Would Dolly Do? is not just a love song to a musical icon, but a wake-up call for anyone who thinks they’ve missed their chance that it’s never too late to find your voice and follow your heart.

Suzan is a lifelong Dolly Parton fan and travelled to Nashville as part of research for her book, perfect for readers of Sarah Morgan, Rebecca Raisin, Carole Matthews, and Milly Johnson.

Suzan trained as a journalist and worked on regional and national newspapers before moving into TV production, where she worked on a variety of ITV news and lifestyle programmes including as Series Producer of ITV’s daytime show Loose Women.

Married to musician, actor and presenter Noddy Holder, Suzan’s love of music runs through her writing. What Would Dolly Do? is her third novel, following Rock ‘N’ Rose and her debut Shake It Up, Beverley which was adapted from her original, award-winning play Shake It Up, Baby that has been performed across the UK.

About the Book

Dolly Parton tribute singer Becky Mooney has such terrible stage fright she can only perform when dressed up as country music’s biggest and blondest star. But after splitting with her boyfriend and Kenny Rogers singing partner, she pours herself a cup of ambition and decides to chase her dreams alone.

As Becky searches for a way forward, a surprise encounter with a handsome country music star propels her along a path to romance, revenge and the rockabilly road to Nashville. But can she find the route to who she really is and learn to shine like a diamond in a rhinestone world?

What Would Dolly Do? will be available to buy on the evening with the opportunity to have it signed by Suzan.

Truman’s Book Club Social – Wed 12th Nov
2025-11-12 18:30 - 20:00 | Cargo Wines, Twistings Gallery, Sunny Bank Mill, 83-85 Town Street, Farsley, Leeds, LS28 5UJ, United Kingdom
At Truman’s Book Club Social in November, hosted at Cargo Wines here in Farsley, we’ll be discussing the book ‘You Are Here’ – by David Nicholls.

A ticket to attend Truman’s Book Club Social is £15. This includes the book (that will be available for you to collect in the shop once you’ve made a booking online) and your first drink on the evening (beer, wine or soft drink). If you already have the book, you can select a ticket that will include a £10 Truman’s Gift Voucher instead of a book.

About the Book

Sometimes you need to get lost to find your way…

Marnie is stuck.Stuck working alone in her London flat, stuck battling the long afternoons and a life that often feels like it’s passing her by.

Michael is coming undone.Reeling from his wife’s departure, increasingly reclusive, taking himself on long, solitary walks across the moors and fells.

When a persistent mutual friend and some very English weather conspire to bring them together, Marnie and Michael suddenly find themselves alone on the most epic of walks and on the precipice of a new friendship.

But can they survive the journey?

When & Where?

This Truman’s Book Club Social will take place on Wednesday 12th November, 6.30pm (for a 7pm start), at Cargo Wines, Sunny Bank Mills. One of the benefits of us hosting our Book Club in a Wine Bar means that when the book chat is done, if you wish, you’re free to stay on to continue to enjoy the company and the conversation, and maybe another drink or two.

We’d like a relaxed evening of booky chat, so if the thought of sitting round in a big circle feels a little intimidating, this is the Book Club for you. Our aim is to have a more informal feel, with smaller groups sat chatting around tables. We can help you find a seat and make sure everyone feels comfortable.

We’re thinking an hour of chat about the month’s book (and the topics and experiences it leads to). In the future, we’d love to be able to welcome guest authors to join us to discuss their books.

Hope to see you there!

An Exciting Celebration of Jack Reacher’s 30th Adventure with Bestselling Author Andrew Child
2025-11-14 13:00 - 15:00 | Old Woollen, Sunnybank Mills, 83-85 Town Street, Farsley, LS28 5UJ, United Kingdom
This is your opportunity to meet bestselling author Andrew Child and to gain a personal insight into ‘the coolest continuing series character’ * who returns in 2025 with his 30th adventure!

We all need a Jack Reacher – a righteous avenger for our troubled times. Everyone loves him – from Haruki Murakami to Ken Folett, Kate Atkinson to Peter James, Reacher’s fans span genres.

And now, to celebrate Exit Strategy – the brand new, pulse-pounding read, it’s global bestselling author Andrew Child, will be visiting us here in Leeds, all the way from his home in Wyoming!

The 30th Jack Reacher thriller, and the sixth in the universally acclaimed collaboration between brothers Lee and Andrew Child, will take the beloved hero on his most unexpected adventure yet. Make sure you join them.

‘There’s only one Jack Reacher. Accept no substitutes.’ – Mick Herron

‘It’s no wonder Jack Reacher is everyone’s favourite rebel hero.’ – Karin Slaughter

Reacher #29, In Too Deep, was a Sunday Times Number One bestseller in HB, and spent 13 weeks in the top 10 in Hardback, selling over 420,000 copies worldwide across all formats.

About the Book – Exit Strategy – Published 4th November 2025

Jack Reacher will make three stops today. Not all of them were planned for. First – a Baltimore coffee shop. A seat in the corner, facing the door. Black coffee, two refils, no messing about. A minor interruption from two of the customers, but nothing he can’t deal with swiftly. As he leaves, a young guy brushes against him in the doorway. Instinctively Reacher checks the pocket holding his cash and passport. There’s no problem. Nothing is missing.

Second – a store to buy a coat. Nothing fancy. Something he can ditch when he heads to warmer climes. Large enough to fit a man the size of a bank vault. As he pulls out his cash, he finds something new in his pocket. A handwritten note. A desperate plea for help.

Third – wherever this bend in the road takes him. Impressed by the guy’s technique and intrigued by the message, Reacher makes it his mission to find out more…..

*Stephen King

Truman's Book Club Social - Tues 25th Nov
2025-11-25 18:30 - 20:00 | Cargo Wines, Twistings Gallery, Sunny Bank Mill, 83-85 Town Street, Farsley, Leeds, LS28 5UJ, United Kingdom
At Truman’s Book Club Social in November, hosted at Cargo Wines here in Farsley, we’ll be discussing the book ‘You Are Here’ – by David Nicholls.

A ticket to attend Truman’s Book Club Social is £15. This includes the book (that will be available for you to collect in the shop once you’ve made a booking online) and your first drink on the evening (beer, wine or soft drink). If you already have the book, you can select a ticket that will include a £10 Truman’s Gift Voucher instead of a book.

About the Book

Sometimes you need to get lost to find your way…

Marnie is stuck.Stuck working alone in her London flat, stuck battling the long afternoons and a life that often feels like it’s passing her by.

Michael is coming undone.Reeling from his wife’s departure, increasingly reclusive, taking himself on long, solitary walks across the moors and fells.

When a persistent mutual friend and some very English weather conspire to bring them together, Marnie and Michael suddenly find themselves alone on the most epic of walks and on the precipice of a new friendship.

But can they survive the journey?

When & Where?

This Truman’s Book Club Social will take place on Tuesday 25th November, 6.30pm (for a 7pm start), at Cargo Wines, Sunny Bank Mills. One of the benefits of us hosting our Book Club in a Wine Bar means that when the book chat is done, if you wish, you’re free to stay on to continue to enjoy the company and the conversation, and maybe another drink or two.

We’d like a relaxed evening of booky chat, so if the thought of sitting round in a big circle feels a little intimidating, this is the Book Club for you. Our aim is to have a more informal feel, with smaller groups sat chatting around tables. We can help you find a seat and make sure everyone feels comfortable.

We’re thinking an hour of chat about the month’s book (and the topics and experiences it leads to). In the future, we’d love to be able to welcome guest authors to join us to discuss their books.

Hope to see you there!

A Killer Evening for Christmas with Sarah Dunnakey
2025-12-02 18:30 - 21:00 | Truman Books, 95 Town Street, Farsley, Leeds, LS28 5HX
Armchair detectives! Join author & TV quiz question setter Sarah Dunnakey for the perfect pre-Christmas treat.

This December, head to the bookshop to find out more about The 12 Murders of Christmas – the ultimate killer puzzle book where Richard Osman meets Murdle.

Sarah will give us an insight into how she put together this exciting book that features twelve festive tales – with a twist. At the end of each story, readers receive a clue – with the aim of solving a mystery in time for Christmas. We invite you to find out more about these twelve puzzling whodunnits that will test even the most seasoned of sleuths and serve as fascinating reading for the whole family.

When she’s not writing fiction, Sarah writes and verifies questions for a variety of TV quiz shows including Mastermind, University Challenge and Pointless – so plenty to chat about there too!

Sarah has not only been shortlisted, but has won several short story competitions, and has been published in anthologies and broadcast on Radio 4.

Truman’s Book Club Social Christmas Party
2025-12-16 19:00 - 22:00 | Old Woollen, Sunnybank Mills, 83-85 Town Street, Farsley, LS28 5UJ, United Kingdom
This isn’t just another festive night out – it’s the ultimate bookish Christmas party!

Join us at The Old Woollen to celebrate the season with guest authors, goody bags, giveaways, games, dancing and a book-themed Secret Santa. It’s a night to celebrate the time we’ve spent reading, discussing books and building friendships since Book Club began.

We’ll be inviting all our guest authors up on stage to introduce themselves and their books, plus you’ll get to meet and mingle in a fantastic party atmosphere, as well as visit our giant book table with the opportunity to buy their books. It’s the ideal opportunity to start or add to your 2026 reading list and maybe buy a Christmas present or two.

Whether you’ve been to our Book Club just once, twice or are a regular attendee, do come along. Equally, if you haven’t quite made it to one of our evenings, this could be the perfect introduction.

Your Christmas Party To-Do List

* Book yourself a ticket

* Organise your outfit. Come dressed as your favourite character or embrace the bookish theme – prizes to be won. It’s optional, so feel free to come as yourself!

* Wrap a book to gift for our Secret Santa

SEE YOU THERE!
