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20 Phonebox Magazine | April 2025Books, words, writers and ideas!MK Lit Fest returns in April, celebrating everything bookish or wordy: a wealth of author events, writing workshops and fabulous children%u2019s sessions. Discover new favourite authors, get books signed %u2013 or develop your writing skills.Lit Fest%u2019s Spring Festival (9-12th April) kicks off with a celebrated journalist and broadcaster who draws on four decades spent on the front lines both of reporting and of war. Edward Stourton comes to Waterstones Midsummer Place on Wednesday 9th April to talk about his memoir with StonyWords%u2019 Rob Giff ord. One of today%u2019s %u2018hot topics%u2019 %u2013 free speech %u2013 will be debated by an Open University-sponsored panel with Aki Schilz, Henry Porter and Sabrina Mahfouz discussing with D%u00f3nall Mac Cathmhaoill its complex relationship with literature and writing. Visiting award-winning ecopoets, Will Burns and Hannah Copley will also be looking at our vital relationship with the environment.Local voices will be represented too: awarding the prizes and launching the fi fth anthology in the festival%u2019s MinK Creative Writing Competition %u2013 and a second event to celebrate eight years of encouraging and developing local talents with Raising Voices: A Chorus of Local Writers. Erstwhile MK resident Anna February brings The Hive, her debut YA Fantasy novel, and Stony Stratford%u2019s Sarah Pinborough will be in conversation with fellow international multi-bestselling crime writer Mark Billingham. There%u2019s also thought for food amidst the food for thought as Sanjana Modha presents her dazzling cookbook %u2013 and ticket holders get a tasting plate, too!Fans of less easily categorised fi ction should book a seat to hear Kaliane Bradley talk to Eley Williams about her time travel romcom spy thriller (yes, really), The Ministry of Time. Meanwhile, those who also like to unravel real life can hear Lubaaba Al-Azami exploring the English in 16th century India and their encounters with the Mughal dynasty through an Asian lens, while Hallie Rubenhold talks to Imogen Roberston about her new book looking at the true crime story of infamous murderer, Dr Crippen.For writers looking to develop their skills, there are three exclusive twohour workshops: Michael Stewart will help you fi nd your writer%u2019s voice, Aki Schilz will help you understand what editing is (and what editors really do), while Zoe Gilbert will guide you through Spinning Tales from Myth and Folklore. The Children%u2019s Lit Fest this spring features interactive events for all ages. Laura Henry-Allain MBE, creator of CBeebies%u2019 JoJo and Gran Gran, brings all the fun of Maya & Marley and the Great Big Tidy Up; Jack Noel brings us a brand new superhero with the dynamic Dadbot, and Onjali Q. Ra%u00faf introduces the heart-warming tale of The Letter with the Golden Stamp.To book tickets for any of the Festival%u2019s events for 2025, including the Online Programme and Bookshop Series events, visit www.mklitfest.org. You can also follow the Festival as @MKLitFest on Facebook, X, Threads, Bluesky or Instagram, or sign up for their email newsletter.Onjali Q. Ra%u00faf, Mark Billingham and Hallie Rubenhold (from left to right) are just some of the authors on hand at MK%u2019s Literary Festival