The Making of Manderley Press
Rebeka Russell is the founder and publisher of Manderley Press, a independent publishing house that specialises in exquisitely produced editions of books inspired by distinctive places, buildings or landmarks.
She has worked for several decades in bookshops, publishing companies and museums, learning what makes a publication both beautiful and compelling; her journey led her to establish Manderley Press in 2021. Firmly believing that the outside of a book should be as alluring as its interior, she breathes new life into forgotten titles through stunning cover designs and specially commissioned introductions by some of today's finest writers and artists, reintroducing them to a brand new generation of readers.
Join Rebeka as she discusses her work and the story behind Manderley Press. She will be in conversation with illustrator Annabel Pearl, who has designed the cover for two Manderley Press titles, both by the best-selling author Joan Aiken – Tales of London Town and The Haunting of Lamb House (to be published in October 2026) as well as two special edition art prints, and matching stationery . Together they will talk about their creative process and shared passion for bringing books back to life.
Tickets cost £10 each and can be purchased here: www.wolseytheatre.co.uk/events/manderley-press-rebeka-russell/
A little bit about the Ipswich Book Festival
Tony Felgate, Cathy Frost, Emma Lightfoot and Andrew Marsh are friends and local business owners who have been brought together by books. The idea for Ipswich Book Festival was borne out of a WhatsApp chat in September 2024. We all think Ipswich is a great place to live and work, and are aware of its foibles. One of the aims of our festival is to encourage people to move between venues, and perhaps see a part of Ipswich they haven’t seen before. Our logo is based on a kaleidoscope, so each year our festival will evolve. Like Ipswich, you may never see the same thing twice.
Our patrons are all incredibly talented and much-admired published authors, and the collective breadth of their work/books covers many genres and engages with many demographics. They are: Ashley Hickson-Lovence, Frances Quinn, Matson Taylor, Thomas Taylor and Eva Verde. All five are already known to us – in both a professional and personal capacity – and they are a huge part of the Dial Lane Book’s family and the Ipswich readers and book lovers community, They all accepted our invitation with considerable enthusiasm and gusto, and all are prepared to go above and beyond with ways they can be involved and offer their support.
To find out more about the festival, and all the other amazing events, please visit the official website here: www.ipswichbookfestival.co.uk
