Felixstowe Book Festival organisers have reluctantly cancelled this year's event and plan to hold it in June 2021 instead.

More than 40 authors had been booked to take part in the eighth festival, with a 'books by the sea' theme providing the anchor for the event at the Orwell Hotel.

The proposed dates for next year are 25-27 June 2021 when authors will once again return to the coastal town for a weekend of talks, book signings, workshops and children's events.

Meg Reid, the Festival Director, said."I am very sad that the Felixstowe Book Festival will not take place on 26th to 28th June 2020 due to the risks surrounding the Covid-19 pandemic.

"With the need to keep the health and safety of everyone of paramount importance, the uncertainty of when our venues will re-open, and not knowing when limitations on public gatherings might be lifted, we feel that this is the only option we have.

"We will announce further details when we have them. Most of the authors who were booked for 2020 have already agreed to come to the festival next year. I would like to say a huge thanks to everyone involved with the Festival for all their hard work and to all the booklovers who support us faithfully each year. We will meet again in 2021."

Book lovers can still interact with like-minded people as organisers have set up interactive sessions on Zoom.

Meg Reid added: "We have already begun a series of author Q and A sessions on social media and on our website, our Book Club is meeting again via Zoom on Tuesday 4th May, and we are investigating the possibility of live streaming at least six author sessions over the 2020 festival weekend dates."

"We will announce further details when we have them. Most of the authors who were booked for 2020 have already agreed to come to the festival next year. I would like to say a huge thanks to everyone involved with the Festival for all their hard work and to all the book-lovers who support us faithfully each year. We will meet again in 2021."

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