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Starting at 40: Inside the Life of a Career Writer
Wed 13 May
|Bàrd Books
Claire Fuller is the bestselling author of five novels, including Unsettled Ground (winner of the Costa Novel Award), Our Endless Numbered Days (winner of the Desmond Elliott Prize), and Swimming Lessons (shortlisted for the RSL Encore Award).
Time & Location
13 May 2026, 19:00 – 21:00
Bàrd Books, 341-343 Roman Rd, Bow, London E3 5QR, UK
About the event
Claire Fuller is the bestselling author of five novels, including Unsettled Ground (winner of the Costa Novel Award), Our Endless Numbered Days (winner of the Desmond Elliott Prize), and Swimming Lessons (shortlisted for the RSL Encore Award).
And yet, she only began writing her first novel at the age of forty.
As she launches her sixth novel, Hunger and Thirst, Claire will look back on her journey from the very beginning, offering behind-the-scenes insight into what it takes to build an enduring career as a writer.
The talk and Q&A will be followed by live feedback on first lines. Writers are invited to submit their opening 4–5 sentences (maximum 80 words), and up to 20 entries will be selected at random for discussion on the night. You may include a brief introductory line outlining your novel’s title, genre, and premise. Submission details will be shared in your booking confirmation email.
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Assistance to writers on low incomes or from under-represented backgrounds
We’re offering a minimum of 20 free entries for UK based writers on low incomes or from communities currently under-represented in publishing. Applications will be reviewed and the most promising submissions will be selected by the BPA team. Please click here to Contact BPA with your application and, if relevant, proof of financial eligibility such as: Jobseeker’s Allowance; Disability Benefit; Income Support; Working Tax Credit; Child Tax Credit; proof of being a full-time student; Housing Benefit; proof of being a full-time carer. All details will be kept confidential.