Stroud Book Festival - Stroud Salon
I’ll be speaking at the Stroud Salon on Saturday 8th November, virtually! I’ll be at a housesit in Switzerland on the day, but I’ll be joining the festival from afar. Not only will I be speaking there about my writing, my newest book, The Housesitter’s Guide to the Galaxy: The Essential Edition, will be on sale there too!
Event info:
The Stroud Salon returns! Back for its second year, this relaxed gathering is staged to celebrate and support up-and-coming local writing talent.
Join us at The Stroud Hotel for an afternoon of readings, talks and conversations from an eclectic selection of emerging Gloucestershire writers, who have been invited to share extracts from their current work – be it a novel in progress, a collection of poems, or a fully-fledged memoir. The full line-up will be available online from mid-October, and on the day itself.
Pull up a chair, grab a coffee or drink from the Bucknall Bar, and soak up the creative spirit of the Five Valleys.
Venue: The Stroud Hotel
Tickets: Free event, no booking required. Attendees are welcome to drop in and out throughout the afternoon.
Cheltenham Literature Festival
I’m thrilled to announce that I’ll be speaking at another U.K. event - the legendary and epic Cheltenham Literature Festival!
Something special is brewing this autumn in a town where stories come to life. I’ll be joining an inspiring lineup in a place that celebrates words, ideas, and connection.
The festival is running from 📅 10 – 19 October 2025
Come and see me speak on 15th October!
Colive Fukuoka
The Future of Trust-Based Living
I’m Jessica Holmes, a digital nomad, writer, editor, public speaker, and advocate for sustainable travel through house and pet sitting. Over the past three years, I’ve travelled extensively, living in dozens of homes around the world by caring for people’s pets and houses.
In my talk, I’ll share how house and pet sitting has become more than just a practical travel solution - it’s a movement built on trust, connection, and responsibility. I’ll explore how this lifestyle is reshaping the way we think about home, work, and community while on the move, and why it might just be one of the most sustainable, rewarding ways to see the world.