THE future of storytelling is safe, but the way we tell tales may change, according to Booker longlisted author Rachel Joyce, as she launched the Oswestry Festival of the Word 2013.
The Stroud-based writer and former actress, pictured, also praised literary festivals like the Oswestry event, noting their importance to people of all ages at the event at The Walls Restaurant on Wednesday.
She also praised literary festivals like the Oswestry event, noting their importance to people of all ages.
Now in its fourth year the Oswestry and Border Counties Advertizer-sponsored event runs from March 9 to March 19 and will celebrate the word in its written, spoken and sung form, with a vast list of musicals, plays, ‘audience with’ sessions, workshops and storytelling sessions.
Speaking to the Advertizer, Rachel said: “I do think literary festivals have a place, partly because I love writing and talking about what I have read, so to go places where groups of people really love books is a treat and it is really important that we have these opportunities to talk.”
Referring to the growth of reading through hand-held devices rather than books, Rachel continued: “I think it’s important to tell stories, it’s part of our make-up. Experiences, feelings and things we don’t understand, telling a story makes them less frightening. I don’t think we will ever stop telling stories, it’s a primitive need to tell stories and even if our ways of telling stories change I think we will keep doing it.”
As part of the launch Rachel discussed her debut novel ‘The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry’, which follows the long tour of a man looking to say goodbye for the final time to an old friend.
In a funny, but touching interview, Rachel revealed the story was originally a radio play seven years ago, but extended it into her first novel so she could include more characters. She also admitted that there was part of Harold in her, but also in her father who was battling
cancer as she was writing.
She said: “I enjoyed this evening’s event. People were incredibly warm, although it’s not the part of writing I’m used to.”
Her second novel ‘Perfect’ is out in July.
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