We live in an era defined by crisis – be it war and displacement, climate collapse, or escalating inequality. The author, journalist, and international correspondent Sally Hayden has spent her career covering some of the darkest moments of our time. But even in the face of unimaginable adversity, she has witnessed the love and care of everyday people.
In her new book, This is Also a Love Story, Hayden poses the question, what if news was recounted through the prism of empathy, courage, hope, and love? Crisscrossing the globe, from Uganda to Lebanon, Rwanda to Iraq, the inspirational people she encounters include a couple separated by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, a Nigerian mother who risks everything to save her daughter from forced marriage to a Boko Haram militant, and a group of Syrian women searching tirelessly for their missing spouses and children.
An award-winning journalist, Hayden’s critically acclaimed previous book, My Fourth Time, We Drowned, won several accolades, including the Orwell Prize for Political Writing. She’ll be chatting about the people who feature in This is Also a Love Story and her career in general with author and journalist, Brian Rowan.
Sally will be signing copies of This is Also a Love Story at the end of the event. The book will be both sold at the event and available to buy at Waterstones Bangor, Bloomfield Shopping Centre, at a special 10% festival discount on presentation of any Open House Festival 2026 ticket.
Photo credit Hani Alagbar.
Waterstones Bangor, our official festival bookseller, is offering Open House Festival ticketholders an exclusive 10% discount on all books featured in this year’s literary lineup. Just present a valid ticket for any Open House Festival event between 1st and 31st August 2026 at the point of purchase. Waterstones staff will also be on hand to sell books at our author events, where the same discount will apply. This discount only applies to Waterstones Bangor and runs from 9th April to 31st August.
Please note this is a festival event and an Open House Festival Ticketsolve login will be required to be book tickets.
Please note this event is theatre seated. If you have any accessibility requirements please get in touch with us here.
All ages welcome but under 18s accompanied by an adult.
