Author In Me (AIM) literary festival

Liz Nicholls

Activities & Events, All Areas, Round and About

A celebration of “life, experiences, and stories in-between’, The Author In Me Literary Festival is all set for 14th-19th October in London, culminating in a young voices event at Roald Dahl Museum

The festival will feature a dynamic range of events across London celebrating diversity in the world of publishing.

The inaugural event will be at The French Library, the festival will inspire literary lovers of all ages with an exciting line-up that includes author panels, masterclasses, live critiquing sessions, writing workshops, and more. The line-up includes a keynote speech by Lady Kishwar Desai and Q&A with Noel Murphy (commercial director of Granta Publishing) which will be moderated by award-winning TV presenter Anila Dhami who is also a member of the festival’s advisory board.

Debut authors will also launch their latest works, including life coach Bhavya Arora, presenting her bold non-fiction title Where the F**k Do I Go From Here, and Stephen C. Lawley with his book The Catalyst. Both authors will attend, along with several other remarkable writers, to share their unique perspectives and celebrate their contributions to the literary world.

In recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the festival will launch a new book by debut author Priyanka Pandya, a breast cancer survivor and mother of two young girls. Her picture book, When Mummy Had Cancer, stems from her personal experiences and is designed to help families navigate difficult conversations with their children, offering support as they cope with illness and adversity.

Attendees are also invited to join an exciting conversation between film journalist Ashanti Omkar and author Sonia Bahl, as they delve into the growing trend of adapting books into films and series.

Co-founder Ekta Bajaj says: “At the heart of the AIM Literary Festival is a deep passion for storytelling – stories that reflect the lives we live, the experiences we share, and the moments that often go unnoticed.” Fellow co-founder Monica Sood, adds: “I am deeply passionate about creating a platform that amplifies diverse voices and stories from all walks of life. This year, I’m particularly excited to dedicate a day to young voices in collaboration with the Roald Dahl Museum. Alongside established authors, we’ll have young authors showcasing their books, along with fun workshops and reading sessions to inspire young minds to read and write for pleasure. Our goal is to nurture the next generation of storytellers and instil a lifelong love of literature.”

The AIM Young Voices event, 11am-3pm on 19th October at the Roald Dahl Museum in Great Missenden will feature a host of workshops and book reading sessions including The Quill Soup Adventure with Alan Durant, creating graphic stories with Debasmita Dasgupta, Celebrating You: Beyond the Colour of My Skin with Divya Thomas plus the chance to craft your own personalised book, enjoy live music and inspiring talks.

For further information please visit Literary Festival for storytellers of all ages and cultures (aimlitfestival.com)