Have you ever been to a literary festival, or a book festival? They’re different from book fairs – those are industry-only, business affairs where rights deals are struck and conferences are held.

Festivals, on the other hand, are open to the public and like their musical counterparts, have had a huge popularity surge in the past few years. The big ones – Oxford, Hay, Cheltenham, Edinburgh – are where you’d expect to see bestsellers and real literary heavyweights promoting their latest tomes but they also visit Bath, Oundle, Cambridge, Lincoln, Nottingham and beyond.

What are book festivals? Over at least two days, sometimes up to two weeks, authors and publishers will descend upon a little town newly covered in marquees and host events on a myriad of topics surrounding literature. And readers come to take part, in their hundreds and thousands. Some just hoping to catch a glimpse of their favourite author, or get a book signed, others to meet with authors and other readers, to talk books. Festivals make what can be a serious and intimidating pursuit – discussing literature – a seriously fun and accessible occasion.

And I’d never really been to one. Shocking, I know, loving books and working in publishing, but the idea or opportunity had never really presented itself. So when I got the chance to accompany two of our authors to the Borders (as in Scotland, not the defunct bookshop chain) book festival this month, I couldn’t leave my desk fast enough to hop on the train up to Berwick-Upon-Tweed.

Don’t tell our publicity manager, but it was really more of a fabulous mini-break than work. I was technically required to attend because one author’s event uses a whole suitcase of props which I had to bring…and then participate in his event as a very unglamorous assistant. Potentially dogsbody stuff, frankly, but to my delight I was treated like one of the family.

We arrived and were ushered in to supper, with other authors appearing at the festival. I had to check subtly with my author if it really was Kate Adie (Me: “As in, Tiananmen Square Kate Adie??” Author: “Yes, maybe don’t call her that…” Me: *stay cool, stay cool*…), Jimmy Naughtie from the Today programme and Chris Mullins former MP. After dinner there was a very interesting discussion with Dorothy Rowe of her latest psychology work, ‘Why We Lie’, and what the difference between a lie and a fantasy is, or indeed, if there is. I felt like I was in the best kind of tutorial – one with no essay to prepare and just fascinating tutorial partners to listen to.

And then the next morning I had the pleasure of seeing my authors in action at their events. Of course, I see them in action as writers in my day job, and am never less than impressed with their work, but this was something entirely different. They performed to, enlightened and entertained the school groups with aplomb. They knew which kids they could pick on to come up on stage and tease gently, and which to avoid making fun of. They answered questions and chatted with each child who came for a signed book.

While on a basic level, this uses the same innate talent of ‘getting’ children’s wavelengths, this is such a very different skill from writing for children. Writing is a solitary, long-term pursuit that requires perfectionism. Performing needs quick thinking, quick wit and easy charm. So I am even more in awe of our authors’ talents than before, that they have such diverse skills. It can’t be easy for writers today to know they are under pressure to be almost stand-up comedians one day, and go back to their lonely garret the next.

However painfully shy or introverted an author is, they cannot fail to be swept up in the enthusiasm and genuine pleasure in their work that comes with a book festival. For readers, too, in the 21^st century, their favourite pastime has never been more sociable. Whether it’s online or in person, sharing ideas has never been more straightforward or more fun. So, go to a book festival this summer, it’s cooler than ever to be clever.