Galaxy of writing stars heading this way for book festival
THREE internationally popular children’s authors will be among dozens of writers appearing at this year’s Derby Book Festival, which starts on Friday.
Dame Jacqueline Wilson, David Baddiel and Lauren Child will be at special family events at Derby Theatre during the school half-term.
Other highlights of the nine-day festival, which runs through to Saturday, May 28, include an event celebrating the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee with Royal correspondent Robert Hardman and his definitive biography of HM The Queen, an event with The Great British Sewing Bee’s Esme Young and the closing event will have a local Derbyshire flavour, featuring wine tasting with beverages from Renishaw Hall led by the English Wine Project’s Kieron Atkinson.
Liz Fothergill, chair of the festival, said: “This year we hope that the festival will see a return to near normal after the disruption of the past two years.
“Our venues are fully open and we are keen to encourage our audiences back to our safe and welcoming 70 events in the city’s wonderful spaces.
“The programme includes our usual broad range of events and genres for all ages and interests, and we are particularly excited to have three of the country’s biggest names in children’s literature.”
This year’s programme also includes:
■ Two of the country’s most celebrated poets – Roger Robinson and Raymond Antrobus.
■ Award-winners and shortlisted fiction writers – Costa First Novel winner Caleb Azumah Nelson (Open Water); Booker-shortlisted Graeme Macrae Burnet (Case Study); Waterstones Book of the Year-shortlisted Amy Jeffs (Storyland); Women’s Prize-shortlisted Sarah Moss (The Fell); Joanna Cannon (A Tidy Ending); Stacey Halls (Mrs England).
■ For lovers of wildlife and the natural world – Fred Pearce on A Trillion Trees, Susanne Masters on Wild Waters: a wildlife and water lover’s companion to the aquatic world, forager and author of the River Cottage guides, John Wright on A Spotter’s Guide to the Countryside, and Lulah Ellender on Grounding.
■ For history lovers – Andrew Roberts on George III; Alison Weir on Elizabeth of York; David Hendy on the definitive history of the BBC in its centenary year; Rob Young on The Magic Box: Viewing Britain through the Rectangular Window; Caitlin Davies on Queens of the Underworld: A Journey into the lives of Female Crooks; and Helen Taylor on Why Women Read Fiction.
■ For political animals – Guardian columnist John Crace on A Farewell to Calm; political commentator Paul Mason on How to Stop Fascism; ITV News presenter and novelist Tom Bradby on Yesterday’s Spy.
Five of this year’s events, including the three children’s events at Derby Theatre, will be translated by a BSL interpreter, in partnership with Communication Unlimited. This year’s venues include Artcore, Déda, city and community libraries, Derby College, Derby Museums, Derby Theatre, Landau Forte College, QUAD and Waterstones.
The festival, which is in its seventh year and funded by the Arts Council and sponsorship, is organised in partnership with all the major arts and cultural partners in the city, including Marketing Derby.
Tickets can be booked online or in person or by phone at QUAD, Derby Theatre and Déda for the events they are hosting.