The Chiswick Book Festival:
September 25th-27th 2009
The Festival's official website has gone live. These pages will no longer be updated. Please click here: www.chiswickbookfestival.org
Make a weekend of it!
1. The first Chiswick Book Festival takes place at the end of the month and we're delighted with the response so far, with authors such as Jacqueline Wilson (right) and Antonia Fraser taking part. The full programme is here. Tickets are now on sale at Waterstone's in Chiswick High Road, and via the Advance Booking Form - so please do book early so we can get an idea of numbers.
The Festival is in aid of reading and literacy charities and the work of St Michael & All Angels, which is hosting most of the events. Grateful thanks to our supporters: Savills, the overall event sponsor, and Waterstone's, which is selling books in the church; Midas PR, which is providing the publicity; Trotters, which is supporting the Saturday morning children's book festival; and Sam's Brasserie and Bar, which is hosting a Family Book Brunch on the Sunday morning. Other opportunities for sponsors are still available.
2. The Festival opens on the afternoon of Friday September 25th at St Michael & All Angels. At 5pm, the best-selling children's author Anthony Horowitz (also creator of ITV's Foyle's War) will speak in the Church. Tickets are £3. His books will be on sale at the Waterstone's stall in the church and he'll be signing copies.
3. At 7 for 7.30pm, Antonia Fraser will be talking about Mary Queen of Scots, the subject of her first major biography, which is being republished in a 40th anniversary edition. Tickets are £5 and she will be signing copies afterwards. Refreshments are available from 7pm.
4. The Children's Book Festival, on Saturday morning September 26th, is free of charge. Authors include Michelle Paver (Ghost Hunter), Preston Rutt (Captain Yellowbelly), a Den of dragon writers, and a 'green session' with Susan Chandler (Vegetable Glue) and Karen Liebreich (The Family Kitchen Garden). The winners of the children's Treasure Hunt in Turnham Green Terrace will also be announced.
5. Admission to other events on Saturday is by a Day Pass costing £5. Writers will include Lynn Barber, Katie Fforde, Judy Astley, James Berry and other poets, Christina Odone, Celia Brayfield and David Nichols. At 6pm there's a Book Festival drinks reception with special guest Sir Peter Blake, who will be signing books.
6. At 7 for 7.30, there's the Book Quiz Supper upstairs in the Michael Room. Tickets cost £20 a head, 8 to a table, and can be bought via the Advance Booking Form (available from this weekend in St Michael & All Angels church). Or reserve a table by emailing the Festival administrator Dinah Garrett at: ddinahg@supanet.com.
7. On Sunday 27th, admission to most events is by a second Day Pass costing £5. After the Patronal Festival service at St Michael & All Angels, events begin at noon with Tracy Borman, whose book about Elizabeth I's court is that week's Book of the Week on Radio 4. Other Sunday authors include Christie Dickason; Michael Frayn; crime writers Sophie Hannah, Stav Sherez and Roy Mitchell; Jane Kelly; Sam Delaney; and Candida Lycett-Green.
8. At 2.30pm, the best-selling children's writer Jacqueline Wilson (above) will speak in the church. There's a separate ticket for this event, price £3, and she will also be signing copies afterwards.
9. On Sunday evening, the Festival ends with the comedy night at the Tabard Theatre. The Aspidistras are just back from the Edinburgh Festival and will be performing "An Evening with Dan Brown... and other Literary Figures". It starts at 7.30pm and tickets are £8, only via the Advance Booking Form.
10. There's also a Book Review Competition, which we hope you'll enter! The following is taken from the Festival leaflet:
- Book Review Competition - 'What I Read on Holiday'
Can you write a witty book review in not more than 300 words (including the title and author's name)? The three best entries will win prizes. Send your entry, marked 'Book Review', to the Festival Administrator, Dinah Garrett, either by email at ddinahg@supanet.com, or at 35 Riverview Grove, London W4 3QL. Please enclose your name, address and phone number - and age, if under 18. Entries close on Friday September 25th 2009. The judges' decision is final.
11. And if you're a member of a book group, please let Dinah Garrett know by email. There's a session on books for Book Groups and we'd like to know the favourite books among Chiswick's book groups.
12. If you'd like to help with refreshments, sound and lighting, tickets, or anything else, please let Dinah know.