WORKSHOP: Memoir Writing with Lily Dunn

Folkestone is full of extraordinary stories. Maybe it’s time to tell yours. Join acclaimed memoirist, novelist and mentor Lily Dunn – author of the powerful memoir Sins of My Father: A Daughter, a Cult, a Wild Unravelling, in which she chronicles the reverberations of one man’s decision to abandon his family in pursuit of spiritual enlightenment. Lily is also the founder of London Lit Lab (with Folkestone author Zoe Gilbert) and one of the UK’s most respected writing tutors, known for her ability to hold space for difficult truths and guide writers towards clarity, courage and craft.

In this intimate and empowering workshop, she’ll help you explore the story only you can tell – with honesty, shape and emotional power. Drawing from her new book Into Being: The Radical Craft of Memoir and Its Power to Transform, Lily will guide you through the essentials of memoir: voice, structure, memory, vulnerability, and how to turn lived experience into compelling narrative.

Whether you’re just starting out or returning to a project in progress, this workshop offers practical tools, thoughtful prompts, and the space to begin (or begin again). In a town like Folkestone – creative, complex, full of untold lives – your story matters.

Please note: this workshop lasts for three hours, including breaks, followed by an opportunity to purchase the book and have it signed by the author

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.