*** Unlike last year’s 30-minute seven-panel genres format, the April 2027 festival will contain five panels of novelists, children’s authors, non-fiction authors, poets and short story authors ***
READERS: spend a wonderful day in the company of a wide variety of self-published authors from around the UK.
AUTHORS: network with other authors and readers. See the Participate page for details of how to take part. When the panels are full to take part (listed below) you’re welcome to purchase a ticket and have your flyers and/or bookmarks on the marketing table. Alternatively you could take part in an October festival.
TICKETS: the link will be here when available. Tickets will be £15 for the entire day, a reduction of £5 on last year as we know life is expensive!
WHEN/WHERE: The third ‘in person’ festival will be held on Sunday 25th April 2027 at The Holiday Inn, on the corner of New Road / Aston Clinton Road, Aylesbury HP22 5QT.
BOOKS: We will have a cash bookshop for panel authors’ books. They will receive 100% of the agreed cover price. Any card fees will come out of ticket sales so please bring cash. There will also be book-related tote bags for sale at just £3 each (new and pre-loved) and other goodies starting at £1 each. There will also be a raffle with the monies from that and ALL the profits from the day goes to the three book-related local charities.
Self-Pub Fest has been created by Aylesbury author, tutor, mentor, WI/U3A speaker, blogger, podcaster Morgen Bailey, who you may know from looking after many of the local book swap libraries. She has three crime-writing friends on her unofficial committee (names in bold below).
Morgen may appear on one panel but otherwise she will be overseeing the day, ensuring everything runs smoothly, along with a small army of volunteers. She/they will be taking photographs which will be shared on social media and posted on this site.
Following feedback from the 26 April 2026 Festival (Meet the Authors) inaugural festival, there are fewer panels, running for longer with four authors on each, plus a moderator.
- 10am: the first panel will take place and feature four novelists including Sherry Hostler with a guest moderator (tba).
11am: there will then be a 30-minute break to buy books, have them signed and network.
- 11.30am: the second panel will take place and feature four children’s authors with a guest moderator (all t.b.a.)
12.30pm: there will then be a 45-minute break to buy books, have them signed and network, and have lunch!
- 1.30pm: the third panel will take place and feature four poets/short story authors including BB Elsin and Self-Pub Fest founder Morgen Bailey, with a guest moderator (all t.b.a.).
2.30pm: there will then be a 30-minute break to buy books, have them signed and network.
- 3pm: the panel will take place and feature four non-fiction authors with a guest moderator (all t.b.a.).
4pm: there will then be a 30-minute break to buy books, have them signed and network
- 4.30pm:the panel will take place and feature four novelists with Morgen Bailey as moderator (other novelists t.b.a.).
5.30pm: there will then be a 30-minute break to buy books, have them signed and network.
- 6pm: the festival will then close.
Of the 20 potential authors appearing, below are confirmed so far…
- Fantasy historical novelist and short story author BB Elsin (1.30pm poetry/short stories panel)
- Crime novelist Sherry Hostler (10am novelists panel)
- You could appear here
- You could appear here
- You could appear here… and so on
So eight novelists, four children’s authors, four poets/short story authors, and four non-fiction authors ~ twenty self-published authors, one or more of whom will moderate some of the panels. All their books will be available in our bookshop along with tote bags (£3 each) and other goodies starting at £1 each.
New to Self-Pub Fest? If you are a self-published author and would like to be on a panel, please see the Participate page.
If you’re self-published but don’t want to be on a panel, you’re very welcome to buy a £15 all-day ticket and have your marketing material (bookmark and/or A5 flyer) on the marketing table. You won’t have your books in the bookshop on the day but hopefully you will be able to chat with potential readers. Should any of the listed authors not be able to attend on the day you’re welcome to be a ‘reserve’ (you would still have to buy a ticket!).