Goddesses and Gorgons: Rediscovering magic and witchcraft in Greek mythology, with Rosie Hewlett & Phoenicia Rogerson

You've heard the myths, but do you really know the women behind them? Rosie Hewlett and Phoenicia Rogerson join Lizzy Tiffin to discuss their new books, Medusa and Aphrodite, the truth behind these powerful, magical and monstrous characters, and breathing new life into ancient stories that echo women's millennia-long struggle to simply be heard.

Rosie Hewlett has studied Greek mythology in depth, having secured a first-class honours degree in Classical Literature and Civilisation at the University of Birmingham, and is passionate about unearthing strong female voices within the classical world. Rosie currently lives in Kent with her husband and is now a full-time author spending her days lost inside her favourite stories from mythology.
Rosie's first traditionally published novel, Medea, was an instant Sunday Times bestseller. Her self-published debut novel, Medusa, won the Rubery Book of the Year award in 2021 and is being re-released in hardback for the first time in autumn 2025.

Phoenicia Rogerson has no discernible sense of direction so it’s only natural that she’d get lost in books. When she’s not reading, writing, or spinning in circles, she can be found knitting copious amounts of socks and throwing herself in freezing water. Originally from Cornwall, she now finds herself in London, where she’s aiming for the highest possible bookshelf-to-floor space ratio. Aphrodite is her second novel. She is a winner of the Somerset Maugham Award 2024 for her debut, Herc.

About the Festival
The Edinburgh Women’s Fiction Festival is back for 2025!

This year's festival will take place on Friday 26th and Saturday 27th September 2025, in our lovely new venue of Christ Church Morningside - just five minutes walk from Bruntsfield Links and a short bus ride from the city centre.

The Edinburgh Women's Fiction Festival is a literary festival celebrating writing for, by, and about women. We are an inclusive event and welcome everyone who finds joy in reading women's fiction - commercial, romance, historical, literary, book club and beyond. Our festival showcases authors of genres that are often overlooked, and our aim is to give readers the opportunity to connect with their favourite writers.

2025 Programme
Details of our full programme can be found on our website.

Tickets
General ticket sales will begin on 4th July 2025

Our festival strongly believes in paying our authors, chairs, and workshop leaders the fee recommended by the Scottish Book Trust, which has increased (which is wonderful for our authors!). This has meant an increase in ticket prices, but we are certain you’ll think it’s worth it!

Concession tickets — Where applicable, are available to students, registered disabled (plus one companion), registered unemployed, under 16s, Young Scot card holders and sponsors. Proof of entitlement will be required.