A Place for Hope: A Book Talk with Sophie Pierce & Fiona Williams

United by stories of loss with a deep connection to place, two incredible authors join us to talk about their works.

Sophie Pierce, known for her Wild Swimming guides, shares a different side of herself in The Green Hill: Letters to a Son. Following the loss of her son, Sophie writes a moving memoir about love and grief, and the healing power of the natural world, particularly Dartmoor and South Devon.

Fiona Williams navigates similar depths in her debut novel, The House of Broken Bricks. Set in a rural Somerset village, this is the story of a broken family, what they see and cannot say in their overlapping perspectives. It is a tale of loss & hope, of life in the cracks and how it can be repaired.

In addition to this engaging conversation, Sophie & Fiona will sign copies of their books on the night. You can reserve a copy of their books during the registration process. This is a free but ticketed event.

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About the Authors

Sophie Pierce lives on the edge of Dartmoor in Devon, and has a passionate interest in our emotional connection to natural landscapes. Her memoir, The Green Hill: Letters to a son (Unbound, March 2023), explores this in the context of traumatic bereavement. Sophie loves swimming in rivers, lakes and the sea, and is also the co-author, with Matt Newbury, of five wild swimming guides (with Wild Things Publishing). Until 2020 she was a radio and TV reporter for BBC South West, and had a varied career spanning over 20 years, covering stories on everything from natural disasters through to political scandals and skateboarding ducks.

Fiona Williams holds a BSc (Hons) in Biological Sciences from the University of Westminster and an MA with Distinction in Creative Writing from Bath Spa University. She is the winner of the 2021 Bridport Prize, Peggy Chapman-Andrews First Novel Award. Originally from South-East London, she now lives with her family on the Somerset Levels. She is currently completing a PhD in Creative Writing at the University of Exeter. The House of Broken Bricks is her debut novel.