I have just spent most of the weekend at the thinking woman’s equivalent of Glasto for writers and I am feeling inspired.
Last year I performed at Primadonna as Anne Boleyn’s angry ghost but I didn’t get much time to look around fully. If you aren’t aware, Primadonna is a festival held in the lovely little town of Stowmarket in Suffolk. People from all over come for a weekend to participate, attend workshops, hear speakers and meet with agents, publishers and authors (and a whole lot more!) to gain advice and get inspired.
Primadonna was set up to support and give prominence to women, Black, Asian, LTGBQIA+, disabled, and working class writers and that is reflected in the line up. But literally everyone is welcome and it is indeed not only the ‘book festival for people who didn’t think book festivals were for them’, but a place which can change your life. You can make lots of contacts in the industry and it is not unheard of to leave with a book deal.
I thoroughly enjoyed meeting so many people and hope to keep in contact with several. Here are some of the highlights of my thoroughly enjoyable weekend:
I arrived in the green room at 8am and made some progress on my third book. What a wonderful chance to have the space to write! There I had a chance to meet the wonderfully friendly Lisa Milton, one of the founders of the festival and executive publisher from HQ, (an imprint of Harper Collins which champions diversity) and Cassie Rocks and Omara Elling from the FLIP (female leadership in Publishing.
Later I attended the ‘How to Get published’ talk with the FLIP and Lisa Milton with author Andi Osho. This was very informative and entertaining. Just before the end I had to rush off, past the sheep and other animals to meet with agent Amanda Harris. Everyone gives such good tips and advice.
Lunchtime tales with the talented Justine de Mierre provided some excellent story telling and then it was on to lunch from Sam (vegan and GF – so tasty!) and a trip to Ginfinity for a little tipple before the open mic also hosted by Justine, (in the photograph) who many will know from her super-inclusive ‘tales and tunes’ held in Suffolk regularly. I was lucky enough to be chosen for Rhyme and Shine alongside other poets and the headline acts on the following day!
There’s so much to do and see – you can learn woodturning, or go shopping in the marketplace, ride on a steam engine or feed some animals as well as attending talks or swapping ideas. My next stop, though, was a panel about writing with chronic illness and disability. It’s inspiring to see how challenges can be overcome. This festival champions inclusivity and the authors’ stories about their journeys and achievements was interesting and uplifting.
I did a lot more writing and a lot more chat – meeting up with my old friend, the brilliant Georgy Jamieson, well known from Radio Suffolk, to talk about what she plans to do after moving on. I know Georgy from way back as kids when we used to compete in drama competitions – nice to know we are now firmly on the same team! I’ve had the pleasure to be interviewed in the studio by Georgy several times and I totally admire her skill at making the interviewee feel at ease. Radio Suffolk will shine a little less brightly without her popular arts programme, but I’m pretty sure Georgy has quite a lot more to offer the county!
My final stop of Saturday before I had to head off was ‘Recovery’s got Talent,’ an open mic of performance by people in all sorts of recovery from addiction to trauma or domestic abuse. Their work was of the highest standard and one poem especially took a great deal of courage to perform. Absolutely awesome job from all and inspiring to see. I’d never heard of this version of the X factor, but it takes place on October 14th in Bury St Edmunds. Free admission and any proceeds go back into helping people in recovery. You can get in touch via Turning Point, or contact info@rgt-bse.co.uk for information.
Sunday highlights continued. First up was the green room again, where I was able to chat with Catherine Mayer (one of the founders) about her journalistic background. Oh my goodness, I am so interested to hear more about her experiences! I was also made so welcome by Catherine Riley, also a founder.
At 11 am I performed my poem, ‘I Have Lived Parties.’ It’s a new poem, (the ink is still wet!) and I was heartened to get a great reception. It tracks some very 70’s references to my childhood, and I had little giggle when I told the audience I just realised it somewhat gives away my age. ‘But what is age,’ I said, ‘when your voice demands to be heard?’ For that I got a cheer and applause. Thank you audience! I thoroughly enjoyed it, and the performances from everyone, plus I got to meet the poet (and lecturer), James Mcdermott and poet Dean Atta, who were so talented and lovely to speak to.
Last but not least, I was able to talk to a woman whose poem impressed me as her experience resonated. I hope to be able to follow up that conversation so that I can do my bit with words to inspire women to find their courage and strength.
I got lots done, and I had a super time. I had to leave around 1.30, but I’ll definitely catch up with people I met earlier and I’ll be there next year, as a performer and participant.
Thank you founders for organising this unique event and for creating ‘the world as it should be for one weekend’.
Virginia Betts 