One of the biggest challenges for authors is finding ways to share their books more widely in the community and connect with readers on a personal level. Online sales may keep the wheels turning, but nothing compares to the spark of a real conversation - the moment when a reader meets the author behind the words. That personal connection makes the book stay with them far longer, often turning them into champions who recommend it to friends, family, and anyone who’ll listen. It’s one of the most powerful forms of book promotion there is - and it lasts long after the event itself is over.
That’s why The Book Whisperers are proud to be a sponsor of the brand-new Literary Escape Festival, the brainchild of Laura Ruddock, launching this November in Edinburgh before travelling across Scotland and the wider UK. Our mission has always been to help our author members discover fresh ways to share their work, build their profile, and celebrate the joy of storytelling in good company - and this festival offers exactly that. Designed with independent authors in mind, it breaks down the barriers of high entry fees and line-ups dominated by big names. With tickets for visitors at just £2, the event is accessible to readers, and stalls are open not only to publishers and bookshops but also to individual authors, indie presses, and bookish businesses. It’s a rare opportunity to showcase your work, connect with readers face-to-face, and even take to the stage with talks or panels!
The beauty of this festival is its flexibility. With 15 venues across the UK - from Edinburgh and Stirling to Oxford, Cardiff and London - you don’t need to sign up for the whole tour. Authors and readers alike can choose a single event close to home, or make a trip of it and attend several stops along the route. Each city brings its own character, its own community, and its own opportunities to connect.
It’s also about visibility. Festivals like this don’t just sell books on the day - they create ripples for weeks, months and even years beyond. A reader who hears your story or feels inspired by your words at the stall, or on stage, is far more likely to remember you, follow your journey, and share your book with others. Those moments of connection can spark mailing list sign-ups, speaking invitations, or collaborations with fellow authors. Most importantly, they give you the chance to step into new communities and expand networks far beyond the confines of the familiar.
If you’re thinking of booking a stall, bring along your books, of course, but also small, eye-catching extras - bookmarks, postcards, or prints that help make your presence memorable. And don’t forget your two-minute pitch, an email sign-up sheet, and, of course, your smile.
Edinburgh is first up: Saturday 8 November 2025, Greyfriars Charteris Centre, Pleasance, EH8 9RR. Doors open at 10am. From there, the festival journeys on to Dundee, Bath, Liverpool, Birmingham, Cardiff, Glasgow and beyond.
So polish your pitch, pack your books, and join us on the road. The Literary Escape Festival is more than just another date in the diary - it could be the journey your words have been waiting for.
Find out more at: www.literaryescapeco.co.uk