Bluemoose Books 20th Birthday Bash

2026 sees legendary Hebden Bridge publisher Bluemoose Books celebrate their twentieth birthday. Since being founded in 2006 they’ve published an amazing range of work, including many that have been listed for or won big literary prizes, and some of which – such as The Gallows Pole by Benjamin Myers and Ronan Hession’s Leonard and Hungry Paul – have not only been adapted into high-profile TV shows but have become widely acknowledged as modern classics. This special two-part event includes Bluemoose supremo Kevin Duffy being interviewed by writer and Senior Librarian Stu Hennigan, plus short readings from three Bluemoose writers, and a general discussion with them about their experiences working with the press, and their writing life in general. This is a showpiece event to close out our Leeds LitFest 2026 programme and tickets will be in high demand so get in fast if you don’t want to miss out!

Sharon Duggal writes novels and short stories. Her second novel, Should We Fall Behind (2020, Bluemoose Books) was shortlisted for the Royal Society of Literature’s 2021 Encore Award, selected for Between the Covers, BBC television’s flagship book show and chosen as a Prima Magazine Book of the Year. Her debut, The Handsworth Times was The Morning Star’s Fiction Book of the Year 2016 and selected as the Brighton City Reads Big Read in 2017. Her short fiction appears in anthologies including The Book of Birmingham, Visual Verse, and Love Bites: Fiction Inspired by Pete Shelley and Buzzcocks. Sharon’s third novel, Light Across the Plains will be published in September 2026. She is currently working on a fourth book.

Simon Crump is an internationally exhibited artist and the author of experimental fiction, including the composite novels My Elvis Blackout and Neverland, reissued by Galley Beggar Press as Galley Beggar Classics in 2012 and 2014. Other books include short story collection Monkey’s Birthday, the novel Twilight Time, and the historical non-fiction work They Call it U-Boat Hotel, published in 2002 by Grizedale Books. He also co-authored a collection of eyewitness accounts of the Sheffield Tree Campaign with Calvin Payne, Persons Unknown: the Battle for Sheffield’s Street Trees, published by Wrecking Ball Press in 2022. Simon’s latest book, Post It Notes from Underground, will be published by Bluemoose Books in 2026.

Rob Potts has been combining his passion for sport and travel for the past three decades. Born in Salford in 1975, Rob now works as a teacher in Bradford. Prior to his career in education, Rob worked as a journalist, covering a range of sports including football, rugby league and rugby union. His first educational book was published in 2021 and he continues to write periodically for a range of publications. A Football Odyssey: passion, politics and the beautiful game is out with Bluemoose in June 2026

Stu Hennigan is a writer, poet and musician from the North of England. His book Ghost Signs (Bluemoose, 2022) was shortlisted for two major literary prizes including Best Political Book By A Non-Parliamentarian at the Parliamentary Book Awards in 2023. His debut novel, Keshed, was published in February 2026 with his next book, Disappear Here: Bret Easton Ellis’ America forthcoming in 2027, both with Ortac Press. His short fiction, essays, poetry and criticism have been published widely in print and online by Tangerine Press, Prospect, 3:AM, minor literature[s], Broken Sleep Books, White Rabbit, Poetry Birmingham Literary Journal, Visual Verse and many more. He plays guitar in the rock band Kamien, and also works as Senior Librarian For Stock and Reader Development with Leeds Libraries.

Tickets for this event are Pay What You Can Afford, with a suggested donation of £6.00