Guildford Book Festival 2017 Line-Up Announced

Published on: 15 Aug, 2017
Updated on: 18 Aug, 2017

By Jan Todd

The Guildford Book Festival, now said to be recognised as the premier literary event in the South-East, has announced its 2017 programme and a new venue.

This year the festival will have a dedicated marquee, erected on Guildford Cricket Ground, which will play host to many of the key speakers, and act as the festival hub.

The festival will take place at various venues across the town between Sunday, October 8 and Sunday, October 15.

TV presenter Jeremy Vine

The line-up of the 28th annual festival includes food writer Nigella Lawson, Booker prize-winning author Alan Hollinghurst, popular presenter Jeremy Vine, BBC world affairs editor John Simpson and legendary mountaineer Sir Chris Bonington.

The popular ‘Readers’ Day’ event will take place in the Festival Marquee and will feature seven authors in one day including: Penny Vincenzi, romantic novelists Veronica Henry and Kate Eberlen, author and playwright Rachel Joyce, debut novelist Polly Clark and crime writers Lucy Atkins and Fiona Barton.

Crime writing is always popular at the Guildford Book Festival and this year the Festival will welcome the return of international bestselling crime writer Peter James, as well as Silent Witness writer M J Arlidge.

A literary lunch at the Harbour Hotel will bring together former MEP and father of Boris, Stanley Johnson and dance critic and author, Judith Mackrell.

Tea with bestselling author Cathy Kelly?

There will also be an opportunity to take afternoon tea with Sunday Times bestseller Cathy Kelly, and author and Books Editor of Woman & Home Fanny Blake.

There will be more than 50 speakers throughout the week of the festival, including Academy Award-winning Tolkien illustrator Alan Lee and mother of tennis champions Andy and Jamie, Judy Murray.

For aspiring and developing writers, author and writing instructor Rachel Marsh will run creative writing workshops throughout the week.

Each year, Guildford Book Festival works in partnership with local community groups and charities to bring unique and inspirational events to members and prospective members, and to raise awareness of these organisations within Guildford and the surrounding area.

Food writer Nigella Lawson

This year’s Amnesty International event brings BBC journalist Emma-Jane Kirby to the Festival to share her first-hand experience of reporting on the reality of mass migration today, brought to life in her powerful account of The Optician of Lampedusa, and David Cronin, talking about his book, Balfour’s Shadow.

The festival also looks forward to working once again with Guildford Arts Society and Watts Gallery.

Funds raised through ticket sales and sponsorship enable the festival to take authors into the schools of Guildford. This year students will be entertained by award-winning illustrator and author Emma Dodd, M G Leonard, Katherine Webber and Rob Lloyd-Jones.

New for 2017 is an event for secondary schools at the University of Surrey featuring Irena Brignull, Melinda Salisbury, Frances Hardinge and hosted by author and publisher Rachel Hickman.

Commenting, Guildford Book Festival co-director Jane Beaton said: “We are delighted to be welcoming so many wonderful authors to Guildford this autumn offering a rich and varied programme of events.”

Her fellow co-director Alex Andrews added: “We have something for every taste and age.”

Tickets for festival events will be on sale from August 14.

For further information and to book tickets, visit www.guildfordbookfestival.co.uk or call 01483 444334.