Psychologist Philippa Perry on how a festival helped create her bestselling parenting book and why she needs to be in the East Sussex countryside
Writing can be something of a solitary occupation, so the rise of the literary festival has been a boon for authors such as Philippa Perry.
“I don’t enjoy the process of writing books,” she confesses as she prepares to revisit this summer’s Curious Arts Festival in Pippingford Park later this month. “I find writing is like climbing a mountain – when you’re editing you’re getting to the top and climbing down the other side, which is a lot easier.”
The Curious Arts Festival, which until its move to Ashdown Forest this month was held in Hampshire, played a role in the creation of Philippa’s critically acclaimed, bestselling tome The Book You Wish Your Parents Had Read (And Your Children Will Be Glad That You Did). Philippa was encouraged to take part after its co-founder Clare Conville saw her as a special guest at fellow Sussex writer Damian Barr’s literary salon at The Savoy.
“I used Curious Arts to see whether people got what I was trying to say in the book,” says Philippa. “I was talking about the validation of feelings, listening to feelings, all these ideas which were in the book. They landed really well with people which gave me confidence. It was a whole tent of about 200 people who I could test my ideas on.
An author can take courage from that. When you’re writing it can feel like nothing is coming back – when you go to festivals you can have a dialogue with your audience.”
This story is from the August 2019 edition of Sussex Life.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the August 2019 edition of Sussex Life.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
TAKE YOUR TIME
Dean Edwards’ new cookbook features delectable recipes that you can slow cook or stick in the oven. Here’s a selection of the best
Decorative art
Not simply functional, treat your walls like an extension of your personality
ON THE FRONT FOOT
The rugby legend took the reins at Sussex County Cricket Club in 2017, rekindling his love for a sport that first won his heart on the village cricket fields of North Yorkshire
NAKED AMBITION
In the 1980s, Christine and Jennifer Binnie partied with Boy George and Marilyn and bared all as performance art collective The Neo-Naturists. Now they are working together to gain the recognition they feel they deserve
ROCKET MAN
Astronaut Tim Peake has come a long way since growing up in Westbourne and attending Chichester High School for Boys: 248 miles above Earth, to be precise. But, he says, life on the International Space Station has a lot in common with family caravanning holidays
Revolution man
Lewes’ most famous resident Thomas Paine may be the greatest propagandist who ever lived. But how did a humble customs and excise officer ignite the touchpaper for revolution in not one but two countries?
THE DIARY
17 exciting things to do this month in East and West Sussex
All in a day's work
Meet Tim Dummer, who has helped keep Midhurst’s Cowdray Estate shipshape for an impressive five decades
My favourite Sussex
Bruce Fogle is an author and a vet with a practice in London who has lived in West Sussex with his wife, the actress Julia Foster, since 1989. He recently became president of RSPCA Mount Noddy near Chichester
10 OF THE BEST Meat-free restaurants in Brighton and Hove
Brighton is often rated one of the most vegan-friendly cities in the UK. What these restaurants prove is that plant-based food doesn’t have to be puritanical – at all of these places you’ll find big flavours and a desire to push the envelope
