Guildford’s Book Festival Is Less Than a Month Away

Published on: 5 Sep, 2024
Updated on: 12 Sep, 2024

Click here to link to GBF website

Preparations continue for Guildford’s Book Festival, which this year takes place in venues across the Borough and beyond between 6 and 20 October.

Chair of the GBF’s Trustees Nikki Nelson-Smith helping to promote the festival at this week’s Farmers’ Market in Guildford High Street.

Now in its 35th year, the event will feature the following highlights: worldwide bestselling author Alexander McCall Smith with his latest book in the hugely popular No.1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series; multi award-winning crime fiction author and Prime Suspect creator Lynda La Plante, sharing stories from her new memoir; Queen of Latin Ballroom and Strictly Come Dancing head judge Shirley Ballas with Dance to the Death, the second novel in her Sequin Mysteries series.

Other highlights will include: Great British Sewing Bee favourite Patrick Grant discussing Less, his bestselling book urging us to rethink our relationship with clothing; Olympian and former World Champion athlete Iwan Thomas shining a light on the highs and brutal lows of his incredible career; and award-winning wildlife gardening writer, broadcaster and TV presenter Kate Bradbury showing us how to take a stand against the climate crisis in our own back gardens.

Kate Mosse © Ruth Crafer

Multimillion-selling authors Kate Mosse and Alison Weir return to the Festival with their latest historical novels, and Linda Porter explores The Extraordinary Life of Margaret Tudor, elder sister of Henry VIII, whose importance has, until now, been overlooked.

History lovers will also enjoy this year’s History Day at West Horsley Place featuring Nicola Tallis with her acclaimed biography of young Elizabeth I, Melita Thomas introducing the lives of 1000 Tudor People, David Gibbins sharing his History of the World in Twelve Shipwrecks and Saul David discussing Sky Warriors – British Airborne Forces in the Second World War.

Paul Cooper, creator of the hit podcast Fall of Civilizations, will look at the rise and fall of history’s greatest empires and Amy Jeffs, bestselling author and illustrator of Storyland and Wild, comes to the Festival with her latest book, Saints.

Col Patrick Crowley

Patrick Crowley considers the history of ‘The Tigers’, The Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment, and in Four Shots in the Night Henry Hemming sheds new light on the Troubles in Northern Ireland. Kate Summerscale tells the riveting true story of The Murders at 10 Rillington Place.

Leading expert and correspondent on China Michael Sheridan discusses his new biography of Xi Jinping, arguably the most powerful man in the world.

This year’s Readers’ Day includes bestselling authors Louise Candlish and Freya North, acclaimed writers Abi Daré and Laura Dockrill and award-winning debut novelists Amy Twigg and Jody Cooksley – who both live in Surrey.

Multi-million bestselling local author Adele Parks will discuss her latest novel, First Wife’s Shadow, at this year’s Literary Dinner.

Matt Gaw celebrates the power and beauty of British weather – in all its wild and stormy forms – and Tiffany Francis-Baker shares her guide to seasonal living, with tips on how to embrace each season and connect with nature.

Anjali Goswami

This year’s programme is packed with events for children and young people. Dinosaur detectives can discover Dig Dig Dinosaur with Anjali Goswami at Leith Hill Place, Oi Dinosaurs! with Kes Gray and How to Draw Dinosaurs with Jonny Duddle. There will also be a nature art workshop with Yuval Zommer at Watts Gallery – Artists’ Village and a nature treasure hunt with Moira Butterworth at Dapdune Wharf.

Guildford Book Festival is a registered charity and each year the Festival partners with other local charities and community groups to deliver events. This year’s programme includes: Mathilda delle Torre discussing Conversations from Calais in partnership with Amnesty International; a celebration of the legendary Gerry Mulligan in partnership with Guildford Jazz; a Short Story Showcase for local authors in partnership with Zero Carbon Guildford; and A Field Guide to Autumn with Gabby Dawnay at Knowle Park, part of the Surrey Hills Society ‘Growing Together’ project. Local journalist and Guildford Town Guide Jeff Thomson will talk about the town’s literary links.

For the first time, Guildford Book Festival is pleased to present a special event in partnership with Books Beyond Words, a national charity co-creating word-free stories for people with learning disabilities. Rose Gets in Shape takes place at Guildford Library.

The Festival’s ever-popular Creative Writing Course returns this year, once again delivered online by tutor Rachel Marsh.

Alex Andrews, Guildford Book Festival Director, said: “We’re really excited about this year’s line-up, which includes some of the biggest names along with bright new stars discussing a huge range of genres and topics. Guildford Book Festival was established to provide something for everyone and, 35 years on, this ambition continues. Whether you’re a fan of fiction, fascinated by crime or fancy learning something new, there’s lots to discover and enjoy this year!”

The 2024 Guildford Book Festival takes place between 6 and 20 October at venues across the Borough and beyond. Tickets are now on sale. For further information and to book tickets: guildfordbookfestival.co.uk