Robert Harris tops the bill at Festival of Words, to raise funds for Newbury’s Old Library Campaign
LOCAL bestselling author Robert Harris tops the bill when the Corn Exchange hosts its first one-day literary festival, Festival of Words, to raise funds for The Old Library Campaign.
The line-up of events taking place on Saturday, September 27, from 11.30am, include two talks taking to the stage featuring a panel of best-selling authors, a writers meet-up, the biggest quiz yet and more.
All proceeds from ticket sales will go towards the Old Library Campaign to transform the Old Library into a new arts hub.
Join Newbury Writers Brunch Club at 11.30am to kick off the fundraising Festival of Words. Tickets priced £5 includes tea/coffee/juice and freshly baked patisserie.
Cosy Crime, 1pm, £13.75.
In the genteel world of cosy crime, murder is rarely messy - at least, not on the carpet…
A delightfully devious panel will dive into a world of sharp-eyed amateurs, village gossip networks, and the occasional suspicious teacup. Authors Ian Moore (Death & Croissants), Alice Bell (Grave Expectations), and Katy Watson (A Very Lively Murder) reveal how they plot the perfect crime without spilling a drop of Earl Grey.
Keeping them all in line (or trying to) is Frankie Pellatt, co-host of The Labours of Hercule and Read and Buried podcasts.
Larry Hayes: The Nightmares of Finnegan Quick, 2pm, £3.25
By night, Finn has horrible nightmares, by day, they come TRUE!b With years of children’s event experience, Laugh Out Loud Book Award winner, Larry Hayes, knows better than anyone the appeal of a spooky story. Join him for a spine-tingling event with plenty of BOO moments to keep you on the edge of your seat!
Writing Spies in the Shadow of Bond, 3pm, £13.75.
From the very beginning of fiction, writers have plundered the world of spies, but for decades one spy dominated them all...
Now though, espionage fiction is changing. Spies aren’t superheroes deploying magical gadgets. They’re flawed humans, doing a difficult but necessary job the hard way. The three bestselling authors on this panel have written spies operating in every kind of setting – from the historical to a future dystopia.
Join Ava Glass, dubbed 'the new queen of spy fiction' by the Guardian; Greg Mosse, Jack Jewers and Jane Thynne for this fascinating dive into the shadowy world of espionage, where truth is often stranger than fiction.
Great Big Quiz, hosted by Adam Roche and Frankie Pellatt, 5pm, £10.
Adam Roche and Frankie Pellatt are the hosts of The Labours of Hercule podcast dedicated to the beloved television series Agatha Christie's Poirot. Since launching three years ago, the podcast has amassed a huge loyal international following, which has led them to top podcast charts all over the world.
So round up your friends, grab a drink from the bar, and get ready to show off your knowledge at this special theatre, film, TV and literature quiz night!
An Audience with Robert Harris: Conclave - From Page to Screen, 7.30pm, £16.25, in partnership with Hungerford Bookshop.
Few writers capture both the sweep of history and the pulse of suspense like Robert Harris.
From ancient Rome to modern corridors of power, his bestselling novels have gripped millions and inspired such acclaimed adaptations as Fatherland, The Ghost, and most recently Conclave.
Robert will offer a glimpse into his writing process and the art of turning tension into drama.
Expect a conversation filled with behind-the-scenes insight, and seize this rare opportunity to not only put your own questions to the master himself, but to also engage in a special post-conversation signing.
Talking to Robert Harris will be film historian and writer, Adam Roche.
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