International Writers' Blog

The author of Reasons to Stay Alive and Notes on a Nervous Planet, as well as many adult and children's novels, shares his thoughts on how we can all improve our mental health.

Posted 2 June 2019 by Matt Haig Read more

Pat Barker teases out the complex subject of finding your voice, trusting your instinct and the pertinence of historical fiction today. 

Posted 1 June 2019 by Pat Barker Read more

Prue Leith has many strings to her bow as a food and fiction writer alongside Judging 'The Great British Bake Off' on Channel 4. Here she discusses how she splits her time between her two genres of writing.

Posted 1 June 2019 by Prue Leith Read more

Writers at Work is a long-term professional development strategy which seeks to nurture and fine-tune the voices of the next generation of Welsh writers. It gives the writers a chance to engage in the festival, learn about the publishing industry and work on their writing through a host of masterclass workshops. Wendy White reflects on her time and everything she gained from the experience. 

Posted 1 June 2019 by Wendy White Read more

Sara Barnard, winner of this year's YA Book Prize for her novel Goodbye, Perfect, shares her experiences planning the book at Hay in 2016 and now attending as an award-winning author.

Posted 1 June 2019 by Sara Barnard Read more

Mae'r awdur Meg Elis yn myfyrio ar ei chyfnod yng Nghwyl y Gelli'r flwyddyn hon. 

Posted 1 June 2019 by Meg Elis Read more

After immersing themselves in all things literary, our Beacons Project students share their creative responses to Hay Festival 2019.

Posted 31 May 2019 by The Beacons Project Read more

Bart van Es, author of the 2018 Costa Award winner The Cut-out Girl, discusses the personal connection he creates with his readers.

Posted 31 May 2019 Read more

Mari Ellis Dunning is one of Hay Festival's 'Writers at Work'. The fully programmed week allows selected writers to engage in the main Festival events, to attend masterclasses and workshops with British and foreign publishers, agents and, crucially, with established international artists.  

Posted 31 May 2019 by Mari Ellis Dunning Read more

John Boyne discusses the merits of a Masters in Creative Writing and his favourite book, among other things.

Posted 31 May 2019 by John Boyne Read more

Jonathan Coe is the author of the longest sentence in English literature (way ahead of James Joyce). His latest novel, Middle England, is an exploration of how Brexit engulfed Britain.  

Posted 31 May 2019 by Jonathan Coe Read more

Georgia Carys Williams is one of Hay Festival's 'Writers at Work'. The fully programmed week allows selected writers to engage in the main Festival events, to attend masterclasses and workshops with British and foreign publishers, agents and, crucially, with established international artists.

Posted 30 May 2019 by Georgia Carys Williams Read more

Children's author and storyteller Atinuke shares her thoughts on Hay and the books which have most impacted upon her writing.

Posted 30 May 2019 by Atinuke Read more

Polymath David Barrie puzzles over the most impressive animal navigator he's come across in our 10 questions about his appearance at Hay festival to discuss his newest book, Incredible Journeys.

Posted 30 May 2019 by David Barrie Read more

The Renaissance historian Dr. Elizabeth Goldring talks about her latest illustrated biography Nicholas Hilliard: Life of an Artist and shares some of her favourite books.

Posted 30 May 2019 by Elizabeth Goldring Read more

Founder of the NGO Making Herstory, Onjali Q Raúf talks about the reaction to her debut children's book, The Boy at the Back of the Class, which looks at the refugee crisis from a child's perspective.

Posted 29 May 2019 by Onjali Q Raúf Read more

Political commentator, author and journalist Fintan O’Toole discusses the illusive binary between current affairs and poetry and the current literary climate in Ireland.  

Posted 29 May 2019 by Fintan O'Toole Read more

Illustrator of The Tales of Beedle the Bard, Chris Riddell, sheds light on his thoughts approaching a project in the Harry Potter universe.

Posted 28 May 2019 by Chris Riddell Read more

Writer, broadcaster and Hay Festival veteran Sandi Toksvig told us why she thinks the festival is a cornerstone of the literary community.

Posted 28 May 2019 by Sandi Toksvig Read more

Writer and podcaster Dolly Alderton took a break from browsing Rightmove for houses in Hay to talk about the importance of daydreaming and her childhood ambitions to be a writer.

Posted 27 May 2019 by Dolly Alderton Read more