Bluemoose to run first writing school retreat in May 2020

Independent Hebden Bridge-based publisher Bluemoose Books will run its first writing school in May 2020 with a second planned for September.

The Bluemoose Writing School will be held in Halifax between 4th and 6th May 2020, led by Bluemoose editor, Leonora Rustamova, who edited all three of Benjamin Myers' titles including The Gallows Pole which last year won the world’s leading literary award for historical fiction, the Walter Scott Prize.

There will be 20 places overall and two free bursary places and travel expenses paid, within mainland Britain for writers from working class and BAME backgrounds. More details, including costings for the paid places, will be made available soon. The writing school is being run in partnership with The Holdsworth House Hotel in Halifax. 

Kevin Duffy, co-founder of Bluemoose Books, told The Bookseller: “The course will enable writers to access the best editorial help and advice for their work, mentoring, the business of publishing and writing, sales and marketing your work, the digital and online world of books, writing as a business and workshops on presenting and reading your work in public. There will also be advice from award winning writers.”

Earlier this month, Duffy revealed that the indie publisher will launch a subscription model for the first time to accompany its year of only publishing female writers over 45 in 2020, after celebrating a record month in October.