This is the second such programme following the success of the first tour in June and July 2025.
The talks and workshops will cover a broad range of topics, fiction and non-fiction, and will include the following authors at library events in the autumn across the city and county:
Ian Collis: An illustrated talk on the history of Britain's most notorious football game
Melbourne Library, Wednesday 17 September, 7am to 8.30pm
Ian Collis is the author of The Derby Game: A History of Local Rivalries, which charts the rise of the football “derby” from medieval Shrovetide contests in the town of Derby to today’s fiery clashes between rivals like Liverpool and Everton.
Judith Barclay: A Novel Experience: A writer’s journey from inspiration to publication
Ripley Library, Saturday 27 September, 10.30am to midday
Influenced by her lifelong passion for Italy and all things Italian, Judith Barclay wrote her debut novel The Da Calvi Legacy following research into the history of the mass immigration and integration of Italians into South Wales, from as early as the nineteenth century.
Cathy Grindrod: Derbyshire’s first Poet Laureate talks about her life and experiences through memoir and poetry
Ashbourne Library, Tuesday 30 September, 2.30pm to 4pm
Cathy Grindrod is a former Derbyshire Poet Laureate, publishing six collections of poetry. She also writes memoirs and plays, plus the libretto for the acclaimed oratorio, More Glass Than Wall. Cathy will talk about her adventures as Poet Laureate and her life as a writer and share some of her poems.
Steven Dunne: Serial Killers! Why are we fascinated with them and how do thriller writers create their own fictional serial killers?
Alvaston Library, Derby, Wednesday 8 October, 1.30pm to 2.30pm
Steven Dunne’s debut novel Reaper, an acclaimed serial killer thriller, featured the hyper-intelligent but troubled Derby detective DI Damen Brook. Six more critically acclaimed books followed in that series. His new series began with Blood Summer, which is set in Southern France.
Ben Macpherson: Fresh from the Edinburgh Fringe, poems and stories to amuse all ages
Normanton Library, Derby, Thursday 9 October, 2pm to 3pm
Ben Macpherson is a writer and performer who has taken his spontaneously funny comedy, theatre and spoken word shows around the UK, with credits including BBC Radio 4 and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. His first book, Serious Nonsense (for Terribly Grown-Up People), was published in 2023.
Ian C Douglas: World-building skills for writers wanting to create their own fictional world
Riverside Library, Derby, Monday 13 October, 1pm to 2pm
Ian C Douglas hosts a workshop for adults with interests in fantasy or science-fiction. An introduction to world-building, including place, timelines, cultures, flora and fauna, magic, or technology. The session includes pair work, writing practice and quizzes, aimed at building skill and knowledge on world-building, and gain confidence as a writer.
Matthew Page: The colourful, controversial and occasionally profound story of the Bible on the silver screen
Ripley Library, Saturday 18 October, 11am to midday
Since the very earliest days of cinema, filmmakers have been adapting the stories of the Bible for the silver screen, inspiring musicals, comedies, sci-fi and the avant-garde as well as spawning their own genre: the biblical epic. Matthew Page traces this colourful and often controversial history across five continents and 125 years.
Cathy Grindrod: Derbyshire’s first Poet Laureate talks about her life and experiences through memoir and poetry
Mickleover Library, Derby, Saturday 18 October, 11am to midday
Cathy Grindrod is a former Derbyshire Poet Laureate, publishing six collections of poetry. She also writes memoirs and plays, plus the libretto for the acclaimed oratorio, More Glass Than Wall. Cathy will talk about her adventures as Poet Laureate and her life as a writer and share some of her poems.
Mark Eklid: Fact to fiction: Making the move from sports journalist to crime thriller writer
Borrowash Library, Wednesday 22 October, 4.15pm to 5.15pm
Mark Eklid was an award-winning regional newspaper sports journalist with the Derby Telegraph before switching from cricket to crime thrillers. With six novels already on the shelf and a seventh on the way, Mark talks about how his former career sparked and still influences his new life in crime fiction.
Sophie Draper: The Hand of Glory
Ashbourne Library, Tuesday 28 October, 2.30pm to 4pm
A gothic tale of thievery gone wrong. Traditional storytelling for adults and older children from award-winning author and storyteller Sophie Draper.
Award-winning author Sophie Draper presents The Hand of Glory, a gothic story of thievery gone wrong. It’s a cautionary tale for Halloween, including songs and ballads performed by Sophie, a traditional oral storyteller. Suitable for adults and young people over 11.
Dan Webber: The fascinating connections between Derby and Dracula, the world’s most famous vampire legend
Ripley Library, Saturday 15 November, midday to 1pm
101 years after the stage production of Bram Stoker’s classic gothic novel had its world premiere at The Grand Theatre on Babington Lane in Derby, Dracula Events Specialist Dan Webber reveals a fascinating story unearthed during research as part of the Dracula Returns to Derby project.
Steve Bonham: Stumbling over Eden
Ashbourne Library, Thursday 27 November, 2.30pm to 4pm
Tales of travels around the wild world told in a totally unique style.
Stumbling Over Eden is not just the story of an eccentric journey from the top of the Atlas Mountains to the Sahara Desert, but an invitation to explore the question: “What is adventure?” Adventurer and psychologist Steve Bonham tells his tale not only as trail journals but through the songs, jokes and stories that arose from his travels.
Our Cabinet Member for Health and Communities, Councillor Dawn Abbott said:
“I’m really pleased that we can support home-grown talent in this way, working with partners to give local authors a boost. I wish them all every success.”
Sian Hoyle, Derby Book Festival Director said:
“We are delighted about the success of the first author tour and have received great feedback from both library staff, audiences and the authors.
“Our aim is to support local authors on their writing journeys, enabling them to promote and sell their books, bring them to a wider audience and gain feedback from readers.
“There will be a small charge for the events which is given to the author, who will also be selling copies of their books at their events.”
Find further details of the Derby Book festival.
Book tickets for the events.
Derby Book Festival's autumn edition will be held from 13 to 16 November 2025 and will include around 20 events for adults and children. The full programme will be available from Monday 29 September when tickets go on sale for all events. Venues will include Artcore, our libraries, Derby Libraries, Derby Theatre, Derby Museum and Art Gallery (Old Library) and QUAD.