The Book: A Celebration

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Written By Jason Conway

There's a marvellous little festival happening in Stroud at the moment, a celebration of all things papery and information-packed, organised by Dennis Gould, printer of sublimely anarchic letterpress objects of beauty and poet. It is The Book: A Celebration.

I'm sorry I'm a little late in posting this blog - I've been dreadfully busy with job searching and manuscript editing etc - but if you can get to Stroud before it closes on December 8th, it's well worth it.

Included in the festival is a selection of the 10 favourite books of 50 Stroud people of all ages, all of which are on display and there to be read, and it's marvellous to see the range of interests and excitements on display, from poetry to children's books, anarchist colonies to art.

Novelist Jamila Gavin, who opened the festival, gave a speech suggesting that we may be at a similar point, with digital publishing, as we were at the time of the invention of the Gutenburg press, a time of revolution where technology utterly changes the way we absorb information. I'm not so sure - walking around Stroud's Old Town Hall, it still strikes me that the book is an almost perfect technological advance. With care, these beautifully bound, splendid-smelling objects could outlast any oil or energy apocalypse, whereas a Kindle would give up the ghost within weeks.

There are also free-to-enter daily lunchtime talks and readings - still to come: Rosie Bailey; Celia and Sasha Mitchell reading Adrian Mitchell's work; myself (Thursday 29th November, 1pm, gratuitous plug, apologies) and many more. Click here to find out who's coming up.

There's a plethora of magnificent things to see, read and hear but, in my opinion anyway, any festival that proudly features a display of every single edition of Ian Serrailler's magnificent The Silver Sword, alongside a tender history of the book written by his daughter Jane, absolutely has to be worth a visit.

Celia and Sasha Mitchell at The Book: A Celebration

Rosie Bailey at The Book: A Celebration

Jason Conway

I'm a creative guru, visionary artist and eco poet based in Gloucestershire UK.

I love designing Squarespace websites for clients as well as providing a full range of graphic and website design services. My clients are passoinate entrepreneurs that are making a positive difference in the world.

Clients can hire me for brand and marketing strategy, content research, content writing and content management, social media training and management, blog and article writing, book design, book cover design, self publishing help, packaging design and sign design.

I'm a creative coach helping passionate and ethical business owners to create sustainable businesses geared for a healthy work life balance and helping to break through blocks and regain or maintain focus. I use creativity as a key problem solving tool and motivator.

As an artist is create inspirational works of art for private and corporate clients, from full size wall graphics and installations for offices, conference areas and receptions, to cafe's and restaurants to health and wellbeing centres. Any wall or space can be transformed with large scale art, which is a key motivator for staff and can reduce work related stress. I also accept private commissions for paintings, sketches and illustrations.

As a published poet I write about the joys of nature and the human devastation of it. I also write poems for brands and businesses to engage their audiences in new and more thought provoking ways.

https://www.thedaydreamacademy.com
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