Gollancz Festival 2016 partners with Foyles

Gollancz, Orion's science fiction and fantasy imprint, is partnering with Foyles for the Gollancz Festival 2016.

The festival, now in its third year, claims to be the first integrated digital and physical literary festival in the world and last year it was shortlisted in the National British Book Industry Awards for Marketing Strategy of the Year for successfully boosting book sales in shops and online. 

This year's festival will be held in partnership with SFX Magazine, Picturehouse Central, and The Arthur C Clarke Awards additionally, and comprises more than 50 writers on the roster, including Ben Aaronovitch, Joanne Harris, Elizabeth Bear, Stephen Baxter, Christopher Priest, Tom Lloyd, Joe Abercrombie and Scott Lynch. 

The latter three Gollancz authors will be celebrating the 10th anniversary of their respective novels The Stormcaller, The Blade Itself and The Lies of Locke Lamora, while this year’s festival marks the 5th anniversary of website portal the SF Gateway, its science-fiction and fantasy library, launched in 2011, dedicated to re-publishing mostly out-of-print works.

Physical events will be hosted at both Foyles, Charing Cross Road and The Phoenix Artists Club, less than one minute walk from one another. The main festival programming, which will include panels and in conversation events, will take place in Foyles’ event space on Saturday 17th September, (10am – 1pm and 3pm – 6pm), and on Sunday 18th September (10am – 1pm), priced £15, with the option to join the Gollancz authors for a party in the Foyles auditorium for an additional £15 (6.30pm – 9.30pm).

Gollancz will also be hosting a Gollancz Festival Writer’s Day at The Phoenix Artists Club, on Saturday 17th September (10am – 1pm and 3pm – 6pm), priced £25. It will include a talk from the Gollancz editors, a presentation from literary agent Juliet Mushens, and a speed workshopping session with Gollancz authors. 

Fans will be able to get books signed at all events and a complimentary goody bag of collectible Gollancz Festival merchandise.

Meanwhile the digital side of The Gollancz Festival 2016, amplified in collaboration with Hachette Australia and New Zealand, will expand the festival's reach, sharing interactive content from 12th – 17th September to allow readers worldwide to interact with #GollanczFest on the platform of their choice. 

Publishing director of Gollancz, Gillian Redfearn, said: “We’re delighted to bring the award-winning Gollancz Festival – the only publisher-led Literary Festival in the world – back for a third year. It’s a fantastic way to bring authors and readers together to celebrate the genre and share an excitement for books, in addition to being enormous fun for everyone involved.”

Andy Quinn, head of events at Foyles said: “Foyles customers are passionate about their sci-fi and fantasy writing, so we’re delighted that we get to be a part of such a wonderful festival, working alongside the teams at Gollancz and SFX Magazine to bring together the most exciting talent across these two unique genres.”

Tickets go on sale today (12th July) and can be bought at www.gollanczfest.co.uk or www.foyles.co.uk/Gollancz-Festival.