Tides of time

Writing the historical sea

Presented by: Portsmouth BookFest

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0	SOUTHSEA: D-Day Story
P	Wednesday 4th March, 2026
N	7:00pm

Event information

With Katie Daysh & Carolyn Kirby
Moderated by Nikki Jones
Set sail on a literary voyage through time with three acclaimed authors whose novels are steeped in the salt and spray of the sea. From queer naval adventures to smuggling on the Sussex coast, this panel explores how the sea shapes stories, characters, and history itself.
Katie Daysh is the author of the Nightingale & Courtney series, an Age of Sail adventure set in the 18th century. Her novels, including Leeward and A Merciful Sea, bring to life the emotional depths of life at sea, exploring themes of identity, loyalty, and mental health.
Carolyn Kirby is an award-winning historical novelist whose books The Conviction of Cora Burns and When We Fall have earned critical acclaim. Her latest novel, Ravenglass, is a sweeping 18th-century tale of identity, rebellion, and the sea, set against the backdrop of the Jacobite rising.

Join us for a lively discussion on how the sea continues to inspire powerful, atmospheric fiction — and discover the stories that lie beneath the waves.