Making Hay

James Hanning and Horatio Clare in conversation at the Hay Festival 2026

Summer has arrived and with it a flurry of new books, with our authors dashing off to literary festivals.  We celebrated the launch of Trine Hahnemann’s stunning MIDNIGHT SUN with canapes, champagne and an open sandwich demo from Trine at the Ole & Steen store in Haymarket.  Ben Robinson’s new book COASTLINE was launched and he’ll be talking about his exploration of Britain’s coastal heritage at Scarborough’s Books By the Beach festival at the end of this week.  Emma Burstall’s newest novel in the Villa Ariadne series has also been published and glowing reviews for VILLA OF SECRETS are already flooding in.  Helen McGinn has been racing around the country, spreading the word about her new book THE SUPERMARKET WINE GUIDE which has been getting coverage far and wide.  Our authors were hotting things up at the Hay Festival where James Hanning was in conversation with Horatio Clare, discussing Richard Booth, the subject of his biography THE BOOKSELLER OF HAY.  Julie and Yeshi from Taste Tibet were doing a roaring trade in momos and Kathy Slack (fresh from cooking at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show) was interviewing food writer and podcaster, Claire Thompson. 

Last weekend, Adam Hart talked about OPERATION PIMENTO in a packed chapel at the Nevill Holt Festival.  This week Dr Saliha Mahmood Ahmed will be in Cambridge for a sold-out ‘in-conversation with’ academic, doctor, and broadcaster Professor Chris van Tulleken, hosted by Professor Giles Yeo and Rachel Trethewey is heading to Ilminster Festival to talk about the Mitfords.