This post was originally published at Novelicious.com and is now at WritingTipsOasis.com. WritingTipsOasis.com acquired Novelicious.com in June 2022.
by Zarina de Ruiter
It’s time to grab your diary and pencil in some of the fabulous bookish events taking place around the UK in February! You can meet your favourite authors (mostly while enjoying cake and fizz), go to a book launch and even attend a masterclass to help you write a romance novel of your own.
7 – 8 February – While most events require you to venture outside, if you prefer to cosy up on the weekend (a cup of tea and a pile of books at hand, of course) then Harper’s Romance Festival is the perfect literary bash to get involved in. Saturday’s ‘professional development day’ is filled with tips and tricks for aspiring authors, while Sunday’s ‘reader spotlight’ gives fans the opportunity to chat to their favourite authors and win some fab books along the way. We’ll be stockpiling bars of chocolate and tea bags, so we can stay in for a weekend of bookish romance!
14 February – There are few things we love more than books, but cupcakes come close. Very close. So we’ll definitely be keeping our eyes peeled for erotic novel Cupcakes and Coffee by debut author Rebecca Stone. You can attend the launch of the book on Valentine’s Day at Foyles in Bristol. It’s completely free and will involve cupcakes and sparkling drinks – all you have to do is make a reservation.
16 February – 1 March – The Purbeck Literary Festival will see lots of fabulous events, including a historical romance afternoon with Jennie Walters (18 February, £10 including cream tea), a writing workshop (23 February, £22.50, including lunch) and a bubbly afternoon tea with Carole Matthews (24 February, £20).
17 February – Funky café slash bar Drink, Shop & Do in London has a monthly literary salon, Speakeasy, which is a completely free event filled with wonderful author readings. On top of this month’s Speakeasy, they’re also hosting Ten for ‘15: A Fiction Special, which will feature the likes of Shelley Harris (Vigilante), Emily Bullock (The Longest Fight), Rebecca Whitney (The Liar’s Chair) and Antonia Honeywell (whose debut novel The Ship is absolutely brilliant). Tickets are £5 for an evening of readings, games, cocktails and cake. Count us in! 
27 February – 8 March – Celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, the Independent Bath Literature Festival will turn the former Roman city into a literary heaven for nearly two weeks. The festival will feature the likes of David Nicholls, Celia Imrie, Judy Finnigan & Richard Madeley, and Emma Hooper. There will also be other special events, such as The Twenty Best Books of the Past Twenty Years (chaired by Viv Groskop) and How to Promote Your Self-Published Book. Tickets are £5-£30
28 February – Of course we all know Mills & Boon for romance novels filled with swoon-worthy heroes and heart-fluttering romance. But how do you write such a book? The UK’s most successful publisher of romantic fiction is launching a series of writing classes, led by their senior editorial team and one of their bestselling authors, throughout 2015 and the first one is taking place this month. Tickets to the Mills & Boon Romance Writing Masterclass are £195 for a full day of romance inspiration at the Harlequin Lab in Richmond.
Know of more upcoming bookish events? Drop a line in the comments to let us know!