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Highlights

• An immersive weekend break in November where you will explore the art and science of writing science fiction
• Learn from and be inspired by renowned and bestselling science fiction authors Adam Roberts and Tade Thompson
• Get to grips with the key elements of worldbuilding, character development and plotting from established authors
• Hear how to harness your creativity from ×îÐÂÂ鶹ÊÓƵ’s comment and culture editor Alison Flood and former editor-in-chief Emily H. Wilson, who will reveal how the latest science can help you unlock your creative potential
• Hone your craft in interactive workshops and network with fellow sci-fi enthusiasts
• Meet ×îÐÂÂ鶹ÊÓƵ staff, science fiction experts and fellow ×îÐÂÂ鶹ÊÓƵ readers
• Stay at the beautiful, Grade II-listed De Vere Cranage Estate hotel

Meet the expert

Adam Roberts

Adam is the author of 25 science fiction novels and many non-fiction and academic works, including The History of Science Fiction (2nd ed Palgrave 2016). His most recent novels are The Death of Sir Martin Malprelate (Datura 2023) and Lake of Darkness (Gollancz 2024). He is a professor of 19th-century literature at Royal Holloway, University of London, and lives a little way west of London. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature.

Tade Thompson

Tade is a multi-award winning writer of novels, short stories and screenplays. His background is in medicine, psychiatry and social anthropology. He is a winner of the Arthur C. Clarke award for his book Rosewater, a fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and the vice president of the British Science Fiction Association. He lives and works on the south coast of England.

Alison Flood - Host

Alison is ×îÐÂÂ鶹ÊÓƵ’s comment and culture editor. She has a degree in English literature from the University of Cambridge and was previously books writer for the Guardian. She chairs the British Book Awards’ crime and thriller award, is judging the 2024 Orwell prize for political fiction, and has also judged the Costa first novel award and the McIlvanney prize. She has contributed essays and forewords for titles including Poor Souls’ Light, a collection of stories inspired by Robert Aickman, and Literary Landscapes.

Emily H. Wilson - Host

is the former editor of ×îÐÂÂ鶹ÊÓƵ. Previously, she worked at The Guardian, where she served as features editor, website editor and editor-in-chief of the newspaper’s Australian edition, as well as running the paper’s science, technology, health and environment coverage. Her first novel, Inanna, set in ancient Sumer, the world’s first-known civilisation, was published in August 2023. 

Alongside her journalism career, she has always had a deep interest in prehistory and the earliest days of recorded history, and has attended many digs, including one of a Bronze Age city in the east of Crete. She lives in Cerne Abbas, where she explores the Dorset countryside in her spare time, hunting for prehistoric stone tools.

WHAT'S INCLUDED

• Two nights' accommodation at the DeVere Cranage Estate
• Full board meals thorughout - two breakfasts, two lunches and two dinners
• Tea and coffee throughout
• All writing workshops, support by authors
• Guest talks and workshops
• Onsite parking
• Single supplement
• Fully detailed joining instructions pack, sent two weeks before the event
• 24-hour onsite support

WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED

• Transport to the venue
• Travel insurance
• Additional snacks, drinks and alcohol
• Additional nights at De Vere Cranage Estate. Available for a supplement

HOW TO GET THERE

The Weekender is hosted at the De Vere Cranage Estate hotel in Cranage, near Crewe in Cheshire, England.

By road: The hotel is minutes away from junction 18 of the M6 motorway. The postcode is CW4 8EW.

By rail: The nearest train station is Goostrey, which is just 15 minutes by train from the mainline station at Crewe. Goostrey is just 4 kilometres from the hotel and a local taxi service is available (advance pre-booking is required). Alternatively, you can alight at the mainline stations of Crewe or Macclesfield, both of which are 20 minutes away by taxi.

You are responsible for making your own way to and from the accommodation at the beginning and end of your stay. 

START AND END TIMES

The event will begin at around 5pm on Friday and finish at around 3pm on Sunday. You can check in from 2pm on the Friday.

Should you wish to arrive a day earlier and/or stay a day later, just scroll down to the "add-ons" section when you book your tickets.

We will send full instructions, including directions to the hotel, a few weeks prior to the event. 

CAPACITY

For this weekender, there will be a maximum capacity of 80 guests, though guests will be split into smaller groups during focus sessions. Our weekenders have a larger capacity than other Discovery tours, featuring a single location and a series of highly engaging talks from a number of distinguished speakers. 

AGE RESTRICTIONS

Children are welcome, but they must be aged 12 or over and accompanied by a parent or guardian. If aged 16 or 17, adult supervision isn't required but a written note from a parent or guardian must be supplied to us before arrival.

Please bear in mind that the level of the talks and activities is aimed at adults.

Accommodation

De Vere Cranage Estate, Cheshire, England

Tucked away in a peaceful corner of Cheshire, this Grade II-listed 4-star rural retreat is near the charming village of Holmes Chapel. It has both indoor and outdoor restaurants, comfortable meeting rooms for our event, a heated pool, gym, steam room and tennis courts.

Outdoors, there are 20 acres of attractive gardens with views across the Cheshire countryside. Jodrell Bank is within 8 kilometres of the hotel.

Please note: If required for reasons beyond our control, we reserve the right to substitute alternative accommodation of equal or higher quality or adapt the itinerary if required.