What a wonderful afternoon we had yesterday! The sun shone and the gardens were filled with visitors listening to our authors and enjoying the food, drink and activities that were on offer. Thank you to everyone who came. Below are some photographs of the Festival.
We are thrilled to announce the schedule for this year’s festival. For more information on any of the writers, see our ‘About the Authors’ pages. After each talk there will be the opportunity to buy the writers’ books and have them signed.
12pm – Children’s
Adam Perrott will be introducing his hilarious new book The Odds, perfect for under 10s, while for older children we have Telegraph literary critic Philip Womack, talking about his fantasy novels The Other Book and The Liberators
‘(The Odds) story is brilliantly written and will have children giggling their way throughout’ Sarah Broadhurst
‘Womack writes with great skill, empathy and verve, and (The Liberators) will leave 10- to 13-year-olds mesmerised’ The Daily Telegraph
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1pm – Food
Build up an appetite with food writer and cook Signe Johansen, author of Scandilicious: Secrets of Scandinavian Cooking and Scandilicious Baking.
‘Signe’s voice shines through her writing; this would be a great gift for the cook with a bookshelf already sagging under Jamies, Nigellas, Delias and Ramsays’ The Foodie Shortlist
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2pm – Literary Biography
Join Alan Shelston (Brief lives: Elizabeth Gaskell) and Tom Williams (A Mysterious Something In The Light: the Life of Raymond Chandler), as they explore the lives and works of these two great writers.
‘In (Brief Lives: Elizabeth Gaskell), a brilliant light is shed on the life of the woman behind the writing’ Good Reads
‘Tom Williams is the third and best biographer of Chandler…[A Mysterious Something In The Light is] packed, insightful, entertaining’ The Times
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3pm – Poetry
A session of poetry with Adam O’Riordan (In the Flesh) and Amanda Dalton (How to Disappear, Stray)
‘In the Flesh is an auspicious debut, full of unforgettable lines and hard-won insights. Adam O’Riordan is the real thing’ Hugo Williams
‘How to Disappear is dark, funny, wise, terrifying… This may be Dalton’s first book but she dances round every corner with a grace that many more seasoned writers would die for’ Jo Shapcott
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4pm – Fiction
Crime writer Cath Staincliffe in conversation with former BBC news correspondent and presenter Kevin Bocquet. Cath is the author of fifteen novels, as well as short stories, novellas and radio plays. She is also a screenwriter and the creator of ITV’s hit police series Blue Murder, starring Caroline Quentin.
‘(Cath Staincliffe is) a star in the firmament of British crime fiction’ Big Issue in the North
Our publicity should start appearing in locations near you in the coming days. Keep your eyes peeled! If you feel you can help distribute posters or flyers for the festival, get in touch at denzellbookfest(at)gmail.com
We are busy finalising the line up for this year’s Denzell Gardens Book Festival. Following on from the success of last year’s event, this year we are offering something for everyone. There will be Fiction, Biography, Poetry, Lifestyle and Children’s Writers, all gathered in the beautiful surroundings of Denzell Gardens. Author events will begin at noon, and there will be plenty to keep the whole family entertained. Keep checking the blog, follow us on twitter or like us on facebook to keep up to date with all our exciting plans!
