One of the things I love most about the writing world is the sense of community that exists when authors and readers come together around a shared love of stories. That spirit was very much alive at the Literary Escape Festival in Dundee on 7th March, and it was a genuine pleasure for The Book Whisperers to be there as sponsors of the event.
Around 450 people attended the festival, and from the moment the doors opened there was a wonderful buzz in the room. Readers wandered between stalls discovering new books, authors chatted with people who had picked up their stories, and there was a real sense that something special was happening - the kind of event where creativity and connection meet in the most natural way.
What makes the Literary Escape Festival so refreshing is its focus on independent authors and grassroots creativity. This isn’t about big publishing houses or celebrity book tours. It’s about writers who have chosen to believe in themselves and invest in their own stories. Authors who have taken the brave step of bringing their books into the world and are eager to connect directly with the readers who might love them.
For writers, opportunities like this are incredibly valuable. Online platforms are wonderful, but there is something irreplaceable about meeting readers face to face. Watching someone pick up your book, hearing their reaction to the story, signing a copy and having a conversation about the ideas that inspired it - these moments remind us why we write in the first place.
Literary Escape Co was created as a community-led space celebrating independent authors, and that ethos shines through in everything they do. From their festivals to their online bookshop and bookish merchandise, their focus is firmly on supporting indie voices and creating spaces where readers, writers, and makers can come together around a shared love of books.
The festival itself is designed to feel welcoming, creative, and a little bit magical. Alongside the authors were stalls from small businesses and creators offering all sorts of bookish treasures - the kind of discoveries that make events like this such a delight for readers. Whether it’s a new favourite novel, a beautiful bookmark, or a candle inspired by a beloved story, there is something special about wandering through a room full of people who simply love books.
The Literary Escape Festival first launched in Edinburgh in November 2025, and after the success of that inaugural event it is now beginning to tour the UK, bringing its joyful celebration of storytelling to new cities. The Dundee festival was one of the first stops on that journey, and the feedback from both readers and writers has been overwhelmingly positive.
For The Book Whisperers, supporting events like this is very much aligned with who we are and what we stand for. As a not-for-profit organisation, our aim has always been to give back to the writing community wherever we can. Any profit we generate is reinvested into supporting writers and authors - whether that’s through community initiatives, events, education, or opportunities that help writers move forward with confidence.
Sponsoring the Literary Escape Festival felt like a natural extension of that mission. When grassroots authors are given spaces to connect with readers, share their work, and celebrate their creativity, the entire writing community benefits.
And perhaps that is what made the Dundee event feel so special. It wasn’t simply a book festival. It was a gathering of people who believe in stories - people who are willing to take risks, follow creative instincts, and support one another along the way.
The Literary Escape Festival will continue touring the UK throughout 2026, with the next major event planned for Bath on 21st March, and then in Stirling on Saturday 28th March – to which The Book Whisperers will again be sponsoring and attending – so do come and see us there. If the energy and warmth of Dundee are anything to go by, there are many more magical literary moments ahead.
Because when readers, writers, and storytellers come together in the same room, something wonderful always happens. New stories are discovered, new connections are formed, and somewhere in the crowd there is always someone meeting the author of their next favourite book.
Mary Turner Thomson is an international best-selling author, writing coach and publishing consultant. She specialises in helping people tell their stories, and is passionate about not victim shaming – including not victim shaming ourselves. She’s also the author of two true crime memoirs and a novel about resilience.