Local Author Rachel Edwards Delivers Inspiring Workshop

Rachel writes novels and columns for The Guardian and The Sunday Times, is a frequent guest at national literary festivals and speaks on BBC Radio, including Woman’s Hour on Radio 4. During the event, she shared her experiences as a Black British writer, her journey as a local author, and her insights into the world of fiction.

Rachel led a hands-on creative writing workshop in the morning, working with University Centre Somerset students, BTC A Level students and ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) learners. The afternoon session, ‘In Conversation with Rachel Edwards’, attracted nearly 80 attendees. Rachel gladly signed copies of her novels ‘Lucky’ and ‘Darling’ and visited the Taunton Learning Resource Centre (LRC) to meet the library staff.

She shared,

“I was thrilled to be invited to the Taunton campus for a workshop and Q&A session. I feel passionately about engaging with both readers and emerging writers; all those interested in the written word. I was hugely impressed by the enthusiasm of everyone I met; it was a privilege to be involved.”

This event is part of the “Word Live in Libraries” authors’ tour in the South West, funded by the National Lottery through Arts Council England and supported by South Western Regional Library Services and Literature Works. Twenty academic, public and NHS libraries across the region are bringing together authors, poets, playwrights and spoken word artists to talk to audiences and facilitate creative writing workshops.

Jolanta Peters, Research and Library Services Manager, said,

“This event has been yet another exciting opportunity for us to promote diverse reading, literacy and learn creative writing skills. We are very honoured to be part of the Word Live in Libraries initiative in the South West and to offer this unique opportunity to our students and staff.”

Thank you to Brendon Books for supplying the books for the event.