#bookfestival — Public Fediverse posts

Dundee Book Festival 2026
19–21 June

Tickets are now on sale for the 2026 Dundee Book Festival, a celebration of Scotland’s writers, storytellers, & people

https://dundeebookfestival.com

#Scottish #literature #Dundee #books #bookfestival

Borders Book Festival 2026
11–14 June, Melrose

Tickets are available for the 2026 Borders Book Festival, which celebrates the arts and literature in Scotland and beyond.

https://bordersbookfestival.org/programme-2026/

#Scottish #literature #bookfestival #Borders #Melrose

Spellbound by Murder by Stacie Ramey

Veronica Blackthorne’s grandmother suffers a fall and asks her to come to help her with the bookstore, so Veronica immediately moves herself and her sixteen-year-old daughter to Mystic Hollow, Connecticut.

They arrive just in time to help with the book festival.

A handsome male author invites Veronica to meet him in the bell tower. She goes at the designated time but instead of meeting, she climbs to the top and finds his body on the ground below. Did he jump or was he pushed?

When it is discovered that the author had been poisoned, it is determined that he was murdered.

Granny becomes a suspect.

Veronica, her daughter and quirky townspeople work together to solve the murder.

I was kind of excited about reading this one. I do like a cozy mystery and stories with witches. I thought the cover was appealing.

This book didn’t work for me. I do enjoy cozy mysteries and so, I would have been fine with this premise. What didn’t work was that the author decided to make these characters more like Gilmore Girls fan fiction.

Don’t get me wrong, I loved the Gilmore Girls but there were things on the show I didn’t like, and this book is full of all the things I didn’t like about the show.

I always hated it when Lorelai and Rory started talking fast. They shared their sarcastic remarks about whatever subject and talked as fast as they could. Half the time I couldn’t catch what they were saying. It didn’t work on television, and it really didn’t work in print. Most of the supposedly humorous lines weren’t that humorous. They were snarky and snarky never worked for me. Usually when someone gets snarky with me, I walk away.

I wish the author had forgotten the fan fiction and developed her own characters with their own personalities instead of copying what someone else had done.

The description on Goodreads describes it as a Gilmore Girls meets Charmed. I did enjoy Charmed for a while but didn’t really see so much of that connection in this book. Yes, it is a community of witches, but the magic spells used seemed too far fetched for me to dismiss my disbelief.

The book didn’t work for me. There will be some readers who will love this book and that is great but when reviewing a book, I must be honest with how it made me feel and I didn’t enjoy it. I almost didn’t finish it more than once. I did finish it because I received it with a request to review. If it helps, I have only had a couple of books that I wasn’t able to finish and I did finish this one.

Reading a book is always a personal experience. I belong to a book club that has been around for over 30 years. We just discussed a book this month that I loved, half the group hated it. That group can be tough. They hold nothing back. Luckily most of us did love it and I have added that author to my to read more list.

If you love cozy paranormal mysteries, this may be a good fit for you. Thankfully we all don’t like or dislike the same things, and you may really enjoy this one.  

First published March 10, 2026.

Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for sending this book for review. All opinions are my own.

I include links to purchase for readers who can’t wait to get their hands on a book. As an associate, I earn from qualified purchases.

Books by Stacie Ramey:

Spellbound by Murder

The Sister Pact

The Secrets We Bury

What I am currently reading:

Down Cemetery Road by Mick Herron

Everyone in this Bank is a Thief by Benjamin Stevenson

I will be attending several author events over the next few months. I will share that information as it happens. If you could meet any author, who would you like to meet?

IHappy Reading!

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Paisley Book Festival 2026
15–17 May

The Paisley Book Festival is a platform for celebrating books, reading and writing in Paisley over the course of three days.

Now entering its seventh year, the theme for the 2026 Paisley Book Festival is “Everyday Heroes, Everlasting Icons”.

For the full programme of events, visit the PBF website:

https://paisleybookfestival.com/programme-full/

#Scottish #literature #Paisley #books #bookfestival

Paisley Book Festival 2026
15–17 May

The Paisley Book Festival is a platform for celebrating books, reading and writing in Paisley over the course of three days.

Now entering its seventh year, the theme for the 2026 Paisley Book Festival is “Everyday Heroes, Everlasting Icons”.

For the full programme of events, visit the PBF website:

https://paisleybookfestival.com/programme-full/

#Scottish #literature #Paisley #books #bookfestival

Paisley Book Festival 2026
15–17 May

The Paisley Book Festival is a platform for celebrating books, reading and writing in Paisley over the course of three days.

Now entering its seventh year, the theme for the 2026 Paisley Book Festival is “Everyday Heroes, Everlasting Icons”.

For the full programme of events, visit the PBF website:

https://paisleybookfestival.com/programme-full/

#Scottish #literature #Paisley #books #bookfestival

Paisley Book Festival 2026
15–17 May

The Paisley Book Festival is a platform for celebrating books, reading and writing in Paisley over the course of three days.

Now entering its seventh year, the theme for the 2026 Paisley Book Festival is “Everyday Heroes, Everlasting Icons”.

For the full programme of events, visit the PBF website:

https://paisleybookfestival.com/programme-full/

#Scottish #literature #Paisley #books #bookfestival

Paisley Book Festival 2026
15–17 May

The Paisley Book Festival is a platform for celebrating books, reading and writing in Paisley over the course of three days.

Now entering its seventh year, the theme for the 2026 Paisley Book Festival is “Everyday Heroes, Everlasting Icons”.

For the full programme of events, visit the PBF website:

https://paisleybookfestival.com/programme-full/

#Scottish #literature #Paisley #books #bookfestival

Midwest friends, check out this great deal on tickets to the #BookedEauClaire Festival in September. Half off tickets available for a limited time. Details here--> #Wisconsin @Booked_EauClaire @bookedeauclaire.bsky.social
#EauClaire #BookFestival #ChelseaJean #LGBTQIA #AuthorEvent #Deals #Savings

https://bargain-sleuth.com/2026/02/28/booked-eau-claire-september-18-19-2026-get-your-1-2-off-tickets-now/

A cozy bookstore in Scotland lets you sleep upstairs while you 'live out a dream' selling books

https://web.brid.gy/r/https://www.upworthy.com/live-in-bookshop-in-scotland

Kirkcudbright Book Festival 2026
5–8 March

Kirkcudbright Book Festival celebrates local & national voices, local history, Scottish culture, children’s authors, crime fiction, nature and the environment & much more – full programme online now

https://www.kbtbookfestival.org/full-programme

#Scottish #literature #kidlit #crimefiction #naturewriting #ScottishCulture #bookfestival #Kirkcudbright

Vijayawada Book Festival: Book festival in Vijayawada from today
https://vaartha.com/andhra-pradesh/book-festival-in-vijayawada-from-today/619316/
#VijayawadaBookFestival #BookFestival #Vijayawada #AndhraPradesh #Books #Reading #Literature #BookLovers #BookFair #APNews #VijayawadaNews #CulturalEvents #BookExhibition #Readers #Authors #BookLaunch #BookFest2026 #AndhraUpdates #Knowledge #Education #BookCommunity

Delighted for my chums who laboured mightily to bring the #Edinburgh Women's Fiction Festival to life, and who have now seen their #Bruntsfield based festival included in The List's annual Hot 100 in Scots culture! https://list.co.uk/news/the-list-hot-100-2025-100-26-47697

#Edimbourg #books #livres #bookstodon #EdinburghWomensFictionFestival #BookFestival #WomensWriting #TheList #Hot100

Delighted for my chums who laboured mightily to bring the #Edinburgh Women's Fiction Festival to life, and who have now seen their #Bruntsfield based festival included in The List's annual Hot 100 in Scots culture! https://list.co.uk/news/the-list-hot-100-2025-100-26-47697

#Edimbourg #books #livres #bookstodon #EdinburghWomensFictionFestival #BookFestival #WomensWriting #TheList #Hot100

Delighted for my chums who laboured mightily to bring the #Edinburgh Women's Fiction Festival to life, and who have now seen their #Bruntsfield based festival included in The List's annual Hot 100 in Scots culture! https://list.co.uk/news/the-list-hot-100-2025-100-26-47697

#Edimbourg #books #livres #bookstodon #EdinburghWomensFictionFestival #BookFestival #WomensWriting #TheList #Hot100

Delighted for my chums who laboured mightily to bring the #Edinburgh Women's Fiction Festival to life, and who have now seen their #Bruntsfield based festival included in The List's annual Hot 100 in Scots culture! https://list.co.uk/news/the-list-hot-100-2025-100-26-47697

#Edimbourg #books #livres #bookstodon #EdinburghWomensFictionFestival #BookFestival #WomensWriting #TheList #Hot100

Delighted for my chums who laboured mightily to bring the #Edinburgh Women's Fiction Festival to life, and who have now seen their #Bruntsfield based festival included in The List's annual Hot 100 in Scots culture! https://list.co.uk/news/the-list-hot-100-2025-100-26-47697

#Edimbourg #books #livres #bookstodon #EdinburghWomensFictionFestival #BookFestival #WomensWriting #TheList #Hot100

Island Prize selectee and Holland House author Andile Cele will be at the Festival on Thursday, in an event packed with authors, books, discussion panels on all things literary - are you there?

Check them out:

https://www.instagram.com/ms_andilecele/

booktownrichmond.co.za

#booktown #bookfest #bookfestival #litfest #literaryfestival #bookstodon #books

Island Prize selectee and Holland House author Andile Cele will be at the Festival on Thursday, in an event packed with authors, books, discussion panels on all things literary - are you there?

Check them out:

https://www.instagram.com/ms_andilecele/

booktownrichmond.co.za

#booktown #bookfest #bookfestival #litfest #literaryfestival #bookstodon #books

Island Prize selectee and Holland House author Andile Cele will be at the Festival on Thursday, in an event packed with authors, books, discussion panels on all things literary - are you there?

Check them out:

https://www.instagram.com/ms_andilecele/

booktownrichmond.co.za

#booktown #bookfest #bookfestival #litfest #literaryfestival #bookstodon #books

Island Prize selectee and Holland House author Andile Cele will be at the Festival on Thursday, in an event packed with authors, books, discussion panels on all things literary - are you there?

Check them out:

https://www.instagram.com/ms_andilecele/

booktownrichmond.co.za

#booktown #bookfest #bookfestival #litfest #literaryfestival #bookstodon #books

It's been real...

If you missed out earlier this year, you can still catch Andile Cele at the iLembe Book Festival tomorrow AND next week at the BookBedonnerd Literary Festival, Richmond!

https://ilembebookfestival.co.za/programme/
https://booktownrichmond.co.za/2025-programme/

#booklover #bookstodon #bookfestival #literaryfestival #books

Check them out:

https://www.hhousebooks.com/books/crooked-seeds/

@ilembebookfestival

ilembebookfestival.co.za

#authorslife #bookstodon #bookfestival #literaryfestival #books

Check them out:

https://www.instagram.com/p/DP_D4uoCPU_/

https://ilembebookfestival.co.za/

#authorslife #bookstodon #bookfestival #literaryfestival

A reminder that Sunday is the main Festival Day of the Brooklyn Book Festival (10:00 am to 6:00 pm). If you can't attend (perhaps even if you can) there were virtual programs last weekend, which are now available as online videos.

#NYCevents #BookFestival #BBF #BRooklynBookFestival #Brooklyn #BOOKlyn

https://BrooklynBookFestival.org/

A reminder that Sunday is the main Festival Day of the Brooklyn Book Festival (10:00 am to 6:00 pm). If you can't attend (perhaps even if you can) there were virtual programs last weekend, which are now available as online videos.

#NYCevents #BookFestival #BBF #BRooklynBookFestival #Brooklyn #BOOKlyn

https://BrooklynBookFestival.org/

A reminder that Sunday is the main Festival Day of the Brooklyn Book Festival (10:00 am to 6:00 pm). If you can't attend (perhaps even if you can) there were virtual programs last weekend, which are now available as online videos.

#NYCevents #BookFestival #BBF #BRooklynBookFestival #Brooklyn #BOOKlyn

https://BrooklynBookFestival.org/

A reminder that Sunday is the main Festival Day of the Brooklyn Book Festival (10:00 am to 6:00 pm). If you can't attend (perhaps even if you can) there were virtual programs last weekend, which are now available as online videos.

#NYCevents #BookFestival #BBF #BRooklynBookFestival #Brooklyn #BOOKlyn

https://BrooklynBookFestival.org/

A reminder that Sunday is the main Festival Day of the Brooklyn Book Festival (10:00 am to 6:00 pm). If you can't attend (perhaps even if you can) there were virtual programs last weekend, which are now available as online videos.

#NYCevents #BookFestival #BBF #BRooklynBookFestival #Brooklyn #BOOKlyn

https://BrooklynBookFestival.org/

It's the last day of the Open Book Fest ! Andile Cele, author of Braids & Migraines (Island Prize selection 2023) is there - Are You?
Here's our third mini-preview from upcoming HHB Podchat with Andile, as she talks about writing Braids & Migraines - enjoy!

#bookfestival #africanliterature #books #bookchat #openbook #openbookfestival #writerslife #bookstodon

Celebrating HH author Andile Cele on her 2nd day at the Open Book Fest (are you there?!)with our 2nd clip where she talks about .... can you guess?

#bookfestival #africanliterature #books #bookchat #openbook #openbookfestival #bookstodon

Maryland authors converge on Catonsville

CATONSVILLE, Md. — On Saturday in Catonsville, writers and readers will gather for a celebration of local literature…
#NewsBeep #News #US #USA #UnitedStates #UnitedStatesOfAmerica #Books #bookfestival #catonsville #Entertainment #MaryTilghman #Marylandauthors #readlocal #SarahWyeth #SimplyMadeHere #simplywrittenherefestival #wmar
https://www.newsbeep.com/us/135593/

Maryland authors converge on Catonsville

CATONSVILLE, Md. — On Saturday in Catonsville, writers and readers will gather for a celebration of local literature…
#NewsBeep #News #US #USA #UnitedStates #UnitedStatesOfAmerica #Books #bookfestival #catonsville #Entertainment #MaryTilghman #Marylandauthors #readlocal #SarahWyeth #SimplyMadeHere #simplywrittenherefestival #wmar
https://www.newsbeep.com/us/135593/

And we're off! It's the first day of the Open Book Festival in Cape Town, and HHB/IP author Andile Cele will be there every day on panels; to celebrate, we're posting a mini-preview-clip from our upcoming Podchat with her - enjoy!

#bookfestival #africanliterature #books #bookchat #openbook #openbookfestival #bookstodon

It's all kicking off!

Such an enjoyable time chatting with Andile yesterday for the Holland House Podcast - We'll be sharing clips over the coming weekend, when Andile will be attending the Open Book Festival, including the Book Lounge - swipe for dates!

Will You Be There?

#bookfestival #africanliterature #books #bookchat #openbook #openbookfestival #comingsoon #bookstodon

The Book Lounge is also a second home to host to the Open Book Festival, sparking conversations and connections as authors and readers come together for a fabulous 3-day book event!

Are you there this year?
See how many Holland House/Island Prize/Karavan Press titles you can spot!

#books #openbookfestival #bookfestival #indiebookshop #bookstodon

All the days, all the times.... the Open Book Festival launches 5th of September - are you there?

Holland House author Andile Cele (Island Prize Selection 2023) is !

Swipe for details of days, times, place

And check out
https://openbookfestival.co.za/festival-programme/

#bookfestival #africanliterature #books #bookchat #openbook #openbookfestival #bookstodon

#bookstodon #indiebookshop #indiebookstores #bookfestival #wigtownbookfestival #booktown #scotlandsnationalbooktown #wigtownbooktown

A quick reminder of tomorrow's event - Recommended! author Nicola Wilson will be talking about her book, the book society, the people behind it, and the legacy of their taste that is still with us on bookshelves today.
Event link:
https://www.eveshamfestivalofwords.org/event/recommended-the-writers-who-changed-how-we-read/

#bookstodon #booktalk #bookfestival #event #authorslife #newtitle #whattoreadnext

Out tomorrow - swipe for preview excerpt and more...

Check out:
https://research.reading.ac.uk/thebooksociety/about/

https://www.eveshamfestivalofwords.org/event/recommended-the-writers-who-changed-how-we-read/

https://www.hhousebooks.com/books/recommended/

#booksbooksbooks #newtitle #outsoon #publishing #authorlife #bookfestival #booktalk #authortalk
9 m

More from the weekend's @cymerafestival : Rhiannon Grist chairing a panel on folk horror with Andrew Michael Hurley and Yvonne Battle-Felton on the theatre stage of the Pleasance https://www.flickr.com/photos/woolamaloo_gazette/54585473608/in/dateposted/

#Author #Auteur #Writer #photography #photographie #books #livres #Cymera #Cymera20205 #BookFestival #Edinburgh #Edimbourg #Pleasance

Last day off before @cymerafestival , so going over notes & possible questions ahead of chairing a three-author panel this weekend https://www.cymerafestival.co.uk/cymera25-events/2025/4/10/home-sweet-home

And of course I'll be going to a bunch of events to listen to them all weekend. Looking forward to catching up with folks.

#Edinburgh #Edimbourg #Books #Livres #Cymera #Cymera2025 #CymeraFestival #ScienceFiction #GarethPowell #EMFaulds #StarkHolborn #BookFestival

Last day off before @cymerafestival , so going over notes & possible questions ahead of chairing a three-author panel this weekend https://www.cymerafestival.co.uk/cymera25-events/2025/4/10/home-sweet-home

And of course I'll be going to a bunch of events to listen to them all weekend. Looking forward to catching up with folks.

#Edinburgh #Edimbourg #Books #Livres #Cymera #Cymera2025 #CymeraFestival #ScienceFiction #GarethPowell #EMFaulds #StarkHolborn #BookFestival

Last day off before @cymerafestival , so going over notes & possible questions ahead of chairing a three-author panel this weekend https://www.cymerafestival.co.uk/cymera25-events/2025/4/10/home-sweet-home

And of course I'll be going to a bunch of events to listen to them all weekend. Looking forward to catching up with folks.

#Edinburgh #Edimbourg #Books #Livres #Cymera #Cymera2025 #CymeraFestival #ScienceFiction #GarethPowell #EMFaulds #StarkHolborn #BookFestival

Last day off before @cymerafestival , so going over notes & possible questions ahead of chairing a three-author panel this weekend https://www.cymerafestival.co.uk/cymera25-events/2025/4/10/home-sweet-home

And of course I'll be going to a bunch of events to listen to them all weekend. Looking forward to catching up with folks.

#Edinburgh #Edimbourg #Books #Livres #Cymera #Cymera2025 #CymeraFestival #ScienceFiction #GarethPowell #EMFaulds #StarkHolborn #BookFestival

Last day off before @cymerafestival , so going over notes & possible questions ahead of chairing a three-author panel this weekend https://www.cymerafestival.co.uk/cymera25-events/2025/4/10/home-sweet-home

And of course I'll be going to a bunch of events to listen to them all weekend. Looking forward to catching up with folks.

#Edinburgh #Edimbourg #Books #Livres #Cymera #Cymera2025 #CymeraFestival #ScienceFiction #GarethPowell #EMFaulds #StarkHolborn #BookFestival

Day off, appointments kept, now walk to Cloisters and my @cymerafestival event reading (the trusty notebook, a festival veteran, is out too, of course). Three books to read, questions to think up...

I'll be chairing here at Cymera in June https://www.cymerafestival.co.uk/2025-tickets/home-sweet-home

#books #livres #Cymera #Cymera2025 #BookFestival #ScienceFiction #bookstodon

For Writers, readers, travellers - here's a list of writers, readers & literary festivals in Australia in 2025.

https://annafeatherstone.com/writing-resources/list-of-australian-writers-festivals-2025/

#bookstodon #writersfestivals #bookfestival

Taken this day, 2010, Alan Moore in conversation with Steve Bell at @edbookfest https://www.flickr.com/photos/woolamaloo_gazette/4946343356/

#Edinburgh #Edimbourg #photography #photography #books #livres #SteveBell #AlanMoore #EdinburghInternationalBookFestival #BooKFestival #comics #BandeDessinee

Taken this day, 2010, Alan Moore in conversation with Steve Bell at @edbookfest https://www.flickr.com/photos/woolamaloo_gazette/4946343356/

#Edinburgh #Edimbourg #photography #photography #books #livres #SteveBell #AlanMoore #EdinburghInternationalBookFestival #BooKFestival #comics #BandeDessinee