How it Began ...

A new event for the area, Mani Lit Fest almost invented itself. It began one lazy day in summer 2018, with a cup of coffee in the shady garden of Patriko Bar in Stoupa, and a conversation with historical novelist Carol McGrath. A part-time resident of the area, Carol had previously done a 'Meet the Writer' event at the bar, where she had talked about her first novel 'The Hand-Fasted Wife' (book one of her Daughters of Hastings trilogy). Carol having just published her fourth novel, ''The Woman in the Shadows', the talk turned to the possibility of her doing another similar event at the bar. Less than an hour later, the idea had somehow grown into a full day event of workshops, talks, performances and literary cocktails, and we realised it had turned into a mini literature festival.