Join the British Fantasy Society for an online day of panels, interviews & readings on the topic of inspiration. What inspires the worlds and characters we create? And how do stories inspire the real world around us?

Introduction & Welcome (10–10:15am)

Panel 1 (10:15–11am): Fairytales, Gods & Monsters. A discussion on how myths and legends inspire works of fantasy and horror. Why do the old stories still fascinate us? How do we keep them fresh and new? Join moderator PS Livingstone and panellists Stephanie Ellis, Shauna Lawless and Wole Talabi as they chat about the fairytales, gods and monsters that awaken their imaginations. Find out more about our guests in this panel.

Readings: Daniel McCormack (11:05–11:15am), Rob Cameron (11:20­–11:30am)

Break (11:30–12noon)

Panel 2 (12–12:45pm): Music, Movies & Media. A conversation about how different types of media get our creative juices flowing. How does music move you to build worlds and form characters? What changes in a story from page to screen? Moderator Robin CM Duncan chats to panellists Kit Power, Russell A Smith and Neil Williamson to answer these questions. Find out more about our guests in this panel.

Readings: R.W.W. Greene (12:50–1pm), Ivor K. Hill (1:05–1:15pm)

Lunch (1:15–1:45pm)

Afternoon recap (1:45–2pm)

Author interview (2–3pm): Award-winning author C.J. Cooke

Readings: A.K.M. Beach (3:10–3:20pm), Rien Gray (3:25– 3:35pm)

Break (3:35–4pm)

Panel 3 (4–4:45pm): History & Current Affairs. Does life imitate art or is it the other way around? How do historical events and the world we live in influence the stories we tell? Join moderator Lauren McMenemy as she chats to Mary Robinette Kowal, Benjamin Langley and Olivia Atwater about how books can be a lens to view the human (or not) experience. Find out more about our guests in this panel.

Open mic (5–6pm): A get-together at the end of the day and an opportunity to catch up with all your writing community pals.

Find out more about all our readers and their work.