Join us at Conversations on the Coast

At Conversations on the Coast, we celebrate the rich literary heritage of Scotland. Whether you’re a fan of contemporary fiction, historical novels, crime, or non-fiction, our festival has something for every book lover. Join us as we delve into the minds of talented authors, exploring their latest publications and the stories behind their writing.

Hosted in the stunning seaside town of Elie and Earlsferry, this festival invites you to indulge in the natural beauty of the Scottish coastline while you indulge your literary appetite. Perhaps, while you’re here, you can also enjoy some local cuisine or take a walk along the Seaside Award-Winning beach!

WHAT'S ON

Conversations on the Coast 2025 was celebrated as one of our most successful festivals yet! Our 2026 lineup has not yet been announced. Subscribe to our newsletter to be informed when this year's events are released.

November 6

We Are Now the Problem

Join bestselling author Denise Mina, dubbed 'crime-writing royalty', as she introduces her latest thriller, The Good Liar. This dark forensic mystery takes you on a tense journey through life-changing decisions and harrowing truths, and asks you — what secrets are you willing to keep?

Denise Mina

November 13

The Shapeshifter's Daughter

Join Sunday Times bestselling author Sally Magnusson as she introduces her new release, The Shapeshifter's Daughter, the spellbinding feminist retelling of the Norse myth of Hel, the Goddess of the Underworld, set in the magical landscape of Orkney.

Sally Magnusson

November 20

Grantchester and More

Join James Runcie as he delves into The Grantchester Mysteries and his other novels, exploring themes of murder, love and hope. A captivating insight into the stories—and humanity—behind the mystery.

James Runcie

November 27

Game, Set & Murder

Join bestselling author Judy Murray as she serves up secrets, suspense and tennis drama in her cosy mystery Game, Set & Murder. Expect insider insights, killer twists — and plenty of surprises.

Judy Murray

BOOK TICKETS

NEWS

Denise Mina 600x600

Wrapping up Conversations on the Coast 2025

As we close off the year, we’re taking a moment to look back on what has been our most successful Conversations on the Coast festival to date.

Conversations on the Coast 2025: Our Most Exciting Programme Yet

Conversations on the Coast returns for its fourth year, offering what promises to be its most exciting programme yet.

The Cliff House: Chris Brookmyre to take audience inside his locked-room mystery at Fife festival

Chris Brookmyre is a returning author to this year’s Conversations on the Coast. Read his interview in The Courier about his latest novel The Cliff House and his thoughts on being part of the festival.

More news

Visit the beautiful East Neuk of Fife

Our festival is set in the beautiful village of Elie and Earlsferry in the East Neuk of Fife. Locals know Elie and Earlsferry as the perfect seaside destination with its long golden beaches and curved bay, and it’s a popular tourist destination thanks to its beauty and history. It’s the ideal setting for the East Neuk’s inaugural literary festival, which brings Scottish authors and lovers of literature together to spark conversations.

Things to do

Getting here

In the news

“The East Neuk has so much to offer.”

The Sunday Post

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL

Conversations on the Coast is our name for the East Neuk Literary Festival and we’re a registered Scottish charity. We’re here because we want to support Scottish authors and anyone who believes that the written word is something indelibly human that should be protected and treasured.

Now entering its third year, the festival is hosted every November in the town of Elie and Earlsferry, and offers a series of author-hosted events. The authors who join us represent a wide range of genres, from crime to historical fiction. You can see previous years' events on our Authors page.

The festival aims to bring Scottish authors to the Eats Neuk and also to attract visitors to the local community to enjoy what this coastline has to offer.

VIEW AUTHORS