Between the Pages

The festival itself boasted a truly star-studded line-up, bringing together some of the most celebrated voices in contemporary literature. Over the course of the day, I had the chance to meet seven incredible authors:

Each encounter was inspiring in its own way, but a particular highlight for me was receiving a copy of Richard Osman’s forthcoming Thursday Murder Club novel, The Impossible Fortune, ahead of its official release — a real treat for any book lover.

One of the standout moments of the festival was attending Samantha Shannon’s talk, Fantasy and Dystopia within Fiction. It was a fascinating and thought-provoking discussion, and I’ll be sharing my full notes in a separate post for those who want to dive deeper into her insights.

Despite the unpredictable British weather doing its best to dampen spirits — with a few outdoor activities sadly cancelled — the day was nothing short of magical. To be surrounded by such talented, kind, and passionate authors in a setting as iconic as Chatsworth felt like stepping into a dream. I left feeling uplifted, inspired, and eager to keep turning pages.

I truly hope Chatsworth will host this wonderful festival again in the future, perhaps even expanding it to include book and craft stalls or children’s activities to make the event even more immersive and family-friendly. It would be fantastic to see it grow year after year. I, for one, would be thrilled to attend again and experience the magic all over again.