Survival, Secrets and Thrillers with Amy McCulloch and Harry Whitehead

Two fierce landscapes. Two gripping thrillers. One unforgettable hour. From the scorching sands of the Sahara to the frozen silence of the Arctic, bestselling authors Amy McCulloch and Harry Whitehead conjure some of the planet’s most extreme environments – and the women who fight to survive them.

In Runner 13, Amy McCulloch – author of Breathless and a real-life adventurer – drops readers into the parched heat of the desert, where a supposedly elite endurance race hides deadly secrets. With sandstorms, sabotage and searing suspense, it’s a thriller that simmers with danger.

Harry Whitehead’s White Road journeys to the polar opposite – the icy vastness of the Canadian Arctic. As a polar bear stalks the ice and Big Oil hides its crimes, one woman is forced to make impossible choices in a frozen land where survival is never guaranteed.

Together, Amy and Harry will explore how climate, setting and moral peril shape their work – and why the extremes of nature bring out the extremes in human nature. Expect a taut, tense and timely discussion about eco-justice, resilience, and what it means to pit flawed, brilliant women against the world’s most unforgiving terrains.

The event will be chaired by Kemi Phillips, a passionate reader and experienced book festival chair, who lives in Folkestone. Kemi brings empathy, insight and infectious enthusiasm to every conversation.

Please note: this event lasts for one hour, followed by an opportunity to purchase the books upstairs in The Clearing and have them signed by the authors

FIND OUT MORE

Folkestone Book Festival is our annual celebration of books, bold ideas and the power of storytelling – by the sea. Curated by award-winning author and journalist Sophie Haydock (The Flames, Madame Matisse), this year’s programme features more than 50 events over 11 days, bringing together world-class writers, radical thinkers and unforgettable conversations – all inspired by Folkestone’s spirit of enabling creativity and transformative change.

We want the festival to be for everyone. That’s why we’ve introduced a £5 ticket – a no-questions-asked option for anyone who might be struggling to afford events.

And if you’re planning to come to more than a handful of events, don’t miss our great-value Festival Pass, which gives you access to all events (excluding classes, which need to be booked separately) for just £140.

There’s so much to discover – from headline talks to intimate workshops, big ideas to local voices. Check out the full programme, including our much-loved Local Talent Showcase and a new series of Creative Writing Workshops designed to spark your imagination.

We delighted that our onsite bookseller this year is Waterstones Folkestone.

We thank our major sponsor Saga and supporting sponsors Eurotunnel, Holiday Extras and Friends of the Folkestone Book Festival along with our Education Partner, Canterbury Christ Church University for making this year's festival possible. Creative Folkestone is also supported by Arts Council England, Folkestone and Hythe District Council and The Roger De Haan Charitable Trust.