Real Buzz To 25th Anniversary Guildford Book Festival

Published on: 10 Oct, 2014
Updated on: 10 Oct, 2014

By Victoria Lazarevic

Don’t miss out on the buzz around town next week as Guildford’s Book festival takes place with its 25th anniversary edition.

The festival launch was held at the Radisson Blu Edwardian Hotel in Guildford on Monday evening (October 7) in the company of the festivals sponsors, trustees, friends and author Elizabeth Buchan.

The festival programme boasts an impressive calibre of authors and events, starting this very Sunday evening, October 12, when actress Shelia Hancock will be introducing her first novel Miss Carter’s War at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre.

Theatre director James Barber said: “We are very excited to be hosting both Shelia Hancock and also Paul Merton at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre.”

Professor Jim Al Khalili.

The University of Surrey is contributing more than just funding to the festival this year as two of its professors –Jim Al-Khalili (also familiar to Radio 4 listeners) and Professor Johnjoe McFadden, feature in the line up on Wednesday, October 15, to discuss their book Life On The Edge. A book about how quantum biology is seeking to solve some of life’s most mysterious puzzles.

Professor Johnjoe McFadden. Picture by Andrew McKay.

Literary lunches, workshops and even more authors, too many to mention, will fill up the week with a full line up to satisfy any reader, writer or literary wannabe. A ‘readers’ day’ for Guildford’s avid literary lovers will be held at G Live on Saturday, October 18, offering a mini festival with interviews and events with eight authors, (lunch and a goody bag too!)

Our children and grandchildren offer us the perfect excuse for a quick trip down memory lane to meet the author of Dennis the Menace’s latest adventure Mayhem With Dennis the Menace, or to Go Adventuring With The Famous Five at the Radisson Blu Edwardian Hotel at 11am on Sunday, October 19.

Festival director Jim Parks. Picture by Rachel Lowndes.

Jim Parks is Guildford Book Festival’s energetic and enthusiastic creative director and it is his second year of running the event. When asked how he has attracted such a high calibre of authors to Guildford’s festival line up, he explained: “I have two strings to my bow. Firstly, that it is the festivals 25th year and secondly, I really understand the publishing world.”

Jim used to be the international marketing director for Universal Studios and is married to bestselling author Adele Parks.

Clearly the festival is in safe hands – it’s simply up to us to enjoy it.

The festival from October 12 to 19 at different venues in Guildford.

Click here for the festival’s website to see the full line-up and to book tickets.

Tickets can also be booked at Guildford’s Tourist Information Centre and the Electric Theatre.

Twitter: @gfordbookfest

Facebook: facebook.com/guildfordbookfestival

WHSmith is the official bookseller at the 2014 Guildford Book Festival.