Edinburgh Women’s Fiction Festival 2024: A Weekend to Remember
Edinburgh Women’s Fiction Festival 2024: A Weekend to Remember
This weekend, I had the absolute pleasure of attending the Edinburgh Women’s Fiction Festival, and what an inspiring and fun-filled time it was! From engaging panels to meeting up with friends, the festival truly lived up to its promise of celebrating women’s voices in fiction.
Cosy Fantasy Panel: A Magical Escape
One of the highlights for me was the Cosy Fantasy panel, Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered: The magic and love of cosy fantasy. With debut authors Nadia El-Fassi and Lucy Jane Wood, this panel celebrated the start of the witching season with their delightfully cozy novels, Best Hex Ever and Rewitched. The discussions around themes of self-love, friendship, found family, and a sprinkle of romance left me feeling uplifted and inspired. It was such a joy to hear how these stories were crafted to be warm, magical, and meaningful, and I’ve already added the books to my autumn reading list.
Other Panels I Attended
The festival was packed with fascinating discussions, and I was thrilled to attend the following panels:
- An Insight Into Indie and Traditional Publishing (Friday 27 September — 3:30 to 5 pm)
This panel, featuring Julia Boggio, Jayne Castel, and Elliot Fletcher, tackled the hot topic of indie vs. traditional publishing. Chaired by Jane Anderson, the session offered a behind-the-scenes look at the authors’ writing journeys and their decisions to self-publish. It was insightful to hear their perspectives on the romance genre and how they’ve thrived through independent publishing. - Unladylike and Scandalous Behaviour: Regency Romance (Friday 27 September — 5:30 to 6:30 pm)
In this panel, Amita Murray and Emma Orchard, chaired by Katrina Kendrick, discussed the enduring allure of Regency romance. As Bridgerton has reignited the genre, the authors explored why the Regency era remains so swoon-worthy. It was a treat to dive into the charm of this historical period through a modern lens. - Happy Ever After (Saturday 28 September — 2 to 3 pm)
In this heartwarming panel, authors Sharon Gosling, Rebecca Ryan, and Heidi Swain discussed their feel-good novels, idyllic settings, and the all-important question: what makes a happily ever after? Chaired by Sara-Jade Virtue, this session was a feel-good escape into the world of love, life, and the perfect endings we all crave. - Walking in the Shadow of Men: Bringing women to the centre of historical fiction (Saturday 28 September — 5 to 6 pm)
To close the festival’s author events, Sara Sheridan and Lesley McDowell, chaired by Kim Sherwood, delved into their latest novels about forgotten women in history. It was an empowering discussion on reclaiming women’s voices in historical narratives, and I left feeling both inspired and eager to explore more historical fiction that centers women’s experiences.
Catching Up with Friends
Of course, no festival experience would be complete without the chance to catch up with fellow book lovers and friends. One of the best parts of this weekend was the time I spent with my wonderful group. Whether it was chatting over coffee about our latest reads or geeking out about the next panel, being surrounded by like-minded people made the weekend extra special. The energy of the festival was infectious, and it was lovely to share it with those who truly get the joy of books and storytelling.
Final Thoughts
The Edinburgh Women’s Fiction Festival once again proved to be a fantastic celebration of diverse stories, empowering women, and the magic of words. I left feeling inspired, energized, and already looking forward to next year’s event!
I reviewed at the festival officially as one of the bloggers in residence. Alongside my blogger friends below. Why not give them a follow?
https://www.instagram.com/portybelle/
https://www.instagram.com/franmcbookface/
https://www.instagram.com/thebooktrail/
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Kelly Lacey & Love Books Tours 
What a brilliant write up! I hardly took any photos, mostly wee bits of film! Might do something with those. A fabulous weekend and as you say made all the more special because of being there with wonderful friends.
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just devastated not to be there! Fab post Kelly!
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