A Shared Reading Podcast by Derby Book Festival

Local voices, shared stories, real connection - discover our new Shared Reading podcast

Shared Reading is a much-loved community programme run by Derby Book Festival. Our podcast hosted by two of our Shared Reading volunteers Ellie and Steve, celebrates the joy of shared reading with local voices and authors from across the East Midlands.

We’re currently looking for short pieces of writing and potential guests to feature in upcoming episodes. If you’re a writer with something to share, we’d love to hear from you. 

Shorter pieces work particularly well, as we read them aloud on the podcast and explore the thoughts and feelings they inspire in conversation. If your work is selected, you’ll be invited to join us as a guest to talk about it.

To be considered, please complete this form. We’ll keep a bank of submissions and may be in touch if your piece fits one of our upcoming themes. This means you might not hear from us immediately, but that doesn’t mean we’ve forgotten you!

We can’t wait to hear your words.

Warm wishes,

The Shared Reading Team @ Derby Book Festival

📧 shared.reading@derbybookfestival.co.uk

📑 Join a Shared Reading session near you, find out more here
📚 Volunteer with us, find out more and register your interest here
📰 Sign up to our Shared Reading newsletter here
💛 Support Shared Reading with a donation here   
Derby Book Festival is a Charitable Incorporated organisation registered with the Charity commission for England & Wales Number 1159763

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Episodes

Monday Apr 13, 2026

Local voices, shared stories, real connection - welcome back to the Shared Reading podcast from Derby Book Festival
This episode is hosted by Shared Reading volunteers Ellie and Steve, and we’re diving straight into a mini Shared Reading-style session on the theme of Friendship. As always, it’s a relaxed and friendly conversation sparked by reading together in the moment.
Featuring:
Sam Warburton - local author, illustrator and sketchnote artist. Sam shares two readings from her debut illustrated book - The Dog, The Bird, The Book, and joins the discussion as we explore what friendship can look like in small moments, quiet exchanges, and the ways we support one another.
Lucy Prior - Shared Reading volunteer. Lucy joins as our Shared Reading guest voice for this episode, taking part in the conversation and reflections alongside Ellie, Steve and Sam. 
Today’s readings:
Sam reads Chapter 4 (“Walking Towards Your North Star”) and Chapter 5 (“Experimenting and documenting”) from The Dog, The Bird, The Book. Sam has kindly allowed us to share a PDF copy of these chapters so you can read along and enjoy the beautiful illustrations.
Download Chapters 4 & 5 (PDF) here
Find out more about Sam (and her work)
Website: https://www.samwarburton.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/samwarburton_illustrator/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-warburton-acim/
Substack: https://samwarburton.substack.com/
If you head to Sam's website you can buy signed copies of The Dog, The Bird, The Book and subscribe to her free arTEA break newsletter which gives you a gentle, wellbeing-focused art session by email on the third Friday of every month at 12pm.
Thank you
A big thank you to Dubrek Studios for being the perfect recording spot for this episode.
Coming up at Derby Book Festival
Derby Book Festival takes place 22–31 May. Tickets are available to book online via the website https://www.derbybookfestival.co.uk/  and we’ll also be taking donations for the Children’s Book Appeal, if you’re visiting the festival and would like to bring children’s books to donate, we’d love your support.
Want to be involved in a future episode?
We’re currently looking for short pieces of writing and potential guests to feature in upcoming episodes. If you’re a writer with something to share we’d love to hear from you. 
If you're a writer, shorter pieces work particularly well, as we read them aloud on the podcast and explore the thoughts and feelings they inspire in conversation. If your work is selected, you’ll be invited to join us as a guest to talk about it.
To be considered, please complete this form. We’ll keep a bank of submissions and may be in touch if your piece fits one of our upcoming themes. This means you might not hear from us immediately, but that doesn’t mean we’ve forgotten you!
If you're a participant or volunteer at one of our Shared Reading groups and are interested in coming on the podcast as a guest to talk about your experiences we'd also love to hear from you, please drop us an email at the address below.
 
Warm wishes,
The Shared Reading Team @ Derby Book Festival
📧 shared.reading@derbybookfestival.co.uk 
 
📑 Join a Shared Reading session near you, find out more here
📚 Volunteer with us, find out more and register your interest here
📰 Sign up to our Shared Reading newsletter here
 
Like us on Facebook | Follow us on Instagram

Saturday Feb 21, 2026

Local voices, shared stories, real connection - welcome back to the Shared Reading podcast from Derby Book Festival
This episode is hosted by Shared Reading volunteers Ellie and Steve, and we’re joined by two wonderful guests:
Peter, a Shared Reading participant, who shares what his Shared Reading group means to him and what he enjoys most about taking part.
Cullen, a local poet, who wrote two brand new poems especially for this episode on our theme: Colour.
Together, we explore Cullen’s poems and take part in a mini Shared Reading-style session, sharing reflections, memories, images, and feelings that the words bring up, just like you’d experience in a real Shared Reading group.
Find out more:
If you'd like to find out more about Cullen Marshall and his poetry you can follow Cullen on Instagram
The Shared Reading group mentioned a few times in this episode is our Artcore Café group:📍 Artcore Café, 8 Albert St, Osnabruck Square, Derby, DE1 2DS🗓️ Every Thursday⏰ 11:30-12:30📌 Upstairs room
If you'd like to give Shared Reading a try you're very welcome to pop in and join us at Artcore (or any of our other groups), no need to book, just turn up.
A big thank you to Dubrek Studios for being incredibly helpful and supportive hosts during the recording of this episode.
Want to be involved in a future episode?
We’re currently looking for short pieces of writing and potential guests to feature in upcoming episodes. If you’re a writer with something to share we’d love to hear from you. 
If you're a writer, shorter pieces work particularly well, as we read them aloud on the podcast and explore the thoughts and feelings they inspire in conversation. If your work is selected, you’ll be invited to join us as a guest to talk about it.
To be considered, please complete this form. We’ll keep a bank of submissions and may be in touch if your piece fits one of our upcoming themes. This means you might not hear from us immediately, but that doesn’t mean we’ve forgotten you!
If you're a participant or volunteer at one of our Shared Reading groups and are interested in coming on the podcast as a guest to talk about your experiences we'd also love to hear from you, please drop us an email at the address below.
 
Warm wishes,
The Shared Reading Team @ Derby Book Festival
📧 shared.reading@derbybookfestival.co.uk 
 
📑 Join a Shared Reading session near you, find out more here
📚 Volunteer with us, find out more and register your interest here
📰 Sign up to our Shared Reading newsletter here
 
Like us on Facebook | Follow us on Instagram

Wednesday Oct 29, 2025

Local voices, shared stories, real connection - welcome to our new Shared Reading podcast
In this pilot episode we introduce our hosts Ellie and Steve (two of our Shared Reading volunteers).
We're also joined by Rose Braisby from the Shared Reading team at Derby Book Festival to discuss what Shared Reading is and what it's like to join a Shared Reading group.
We enjoy a mini Shared Reading session along the theme of voices and include a reading from Zhuriel De la Rosa (winner of the 11-17 age category) of Derby Book Festival's Flash Fiction competition this year.
 
Find out more:
Learn more about Derby Book Festival's annual Flash Fiction Competition and how you could take part here
Want to be involved in a future episode?
We’re currently looking for short pieces of writing and potential guests to feature in upcoming episodes. If you’re a writer with something to share we’d love to hear from you. 
If you're a writer, shorter pieces work particularly well, as we read them aloud on the podcast and explore the thoughts and feelings they inspire in conversation. If your work is selected, you’ll be invited to join us as a guest to talk about it.
To be considered, please complete this form. We’ll keep a bank of submissions and may be in touch if your piece fits one of our upcoming themes. This means you might not hear from us immediately, but that doesn’t mean we’ve forgotten you!
If you're a participant or volunteer at one of our Shared Reading groups and are interested in coming on the podcast as a guest to talk about your experiences we'd love to hear from you please drop us an email at the address below.
We can’t wait to hear your words.
Warm wishes,
The Shared Reading Team @ Derby Book Festival
📧 shared.reading@derbybookfestival.co.uk 
 
📑 Join a Shared Reading session near you, find out more here
📚 Volunteer with us, find out more and register your interest here
📰 Sign up to our Shared Reading newsletter here
 
Like us on Facebook | Follow us on Instagram

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