'How to Train Your Dragon' author appearing for World Book Day 24 01 2012
The author of the immensely popular 'How to Train Your Dragon' series will be appearing at Polka Theatre, Wimbledon on Wednesday 29th February, as part of World Book Day. This is a schools event, and not open to the public. For more information, contact the Bookfest office on 020 8877 5747.
You can order the original 'How to Train Your Dragon' below.
Novelist and cultural commentator joins BookFest 24 01 2012
We are very excited to announce Ahdaf Soueif will join the BookFest team as a guest programmer for 2012. Ahdaf is a political and cultural commentator for The Guardian. Her new book, Cairo, My City, Our Revolution, has just been published. You can order it below.
We also have two other guest porgrammers for 2012 - Polka Theatre's Artistic Director Jonathan Lloyd and Atlantic Books CEO Toby Mundy.
Plans for the next festival are already underway 07 11 2011
Thanks very much to everyone who came to BookFest 2011. It was a roaring success - by far the biggest yet.
Plans are already in place for BookFest 2012, and we can now confirm the dates - 6th - 14th October 2012.
In the meantime, there are events going on all year round, particularly in our busy Education Programme. We are always looking for your support as we aim to give free books to schools. You can donate to Wimbledon BookFest's Education Programme right here. You can make a one-off contribution, or set up a monthly plan. Any amount is greatly appreciated.
Acclaimed writer appears at Bishopsford Arts College 16 10 2011
Alex Wheatle MBE appeared at Bishopsford Arts College in October as part of Wimbledon BookFest, where he sang 'Uprising' from Brixton Rock. He went down a storm, and here is a video of the event...
'In the Flesh' poet to open for poet laureate 28 09 2011
The rising star in poetry will be returning to BookFest on Wed 5 October to introduce the Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy on National Poetry Day. Adam was recently appointed Lecturer in Poetry Writing at Manchester Metropolitan University and received The Somerset Maughan award this year for his collection, In The Flesh. Adam was at Southside House forBookfest 2010.
The journalist and presenter of ‘The Book Programme' on Radio 4 will also be interviewing the novelist Robert Harris on Sunday 9 October in The Big Tent on Wimbledon Common. Harris, himself a former journalist and TV broadcaster, was a close adviser and confidante to Tony Blair. His novel 'The Ghost' was generally accepted to to be based on the Blairs, and was turned into a film directed by Roman Polanski. In 'The Fear Index', Harris's first contemporary novel since then, he turns to the world of high finance and hedge funds.
James Naughtie interviewed Salman Rushdie at Bookfest 2010.
Tobermory and the gang are as popular as ever 28 09 2011
The demand to sing those favourite Wimbledon tunes has been so high that we’ve programmed another event. It will take place on Sun 9 October at 2pm in the Big Tent on Wimbledon Common. The event will feature storytelling and a singalong.
All of our children's events have no sold out, so book for this extra event now before the Wombles disappear back into their burrow! Head to ourbooking page to grab your tickets!
Acclaimed comedian to host near-legendary BookFest event 20 09 2011
BookFest's Literary Pub quiz now has a host in place. Paul Sinha is a qualified GP and international stand up comic of many years standing, having performed in all major comedy clubs in the UK, as well as China, Auckland, Singapore, the Middle East, South Africa, Netherlands and Germany.
Paul’s second full length solo show Saint or Sinhaem> received widespread critical acclaim at the 2006 Edinburgh Fringe Festival and was nominated for the if.comedy award (formerly the Perrier).
Since then Paul has been in great demand, whether on TV shows such as Edinburgh and Beyond, World Stands up, Comedy Shuffle and Comedy Cuts, on Radio 4′s Loose Endsem> and The Now Show, or his numerous contributions to Radio 5 Live and Talksport, as well as having recorded for Shane Warne’s Ashes podcasts.
Paul is a keen quiz contestant himself, having appeared, amongst other things, as a contestant on Mastermind. He is rated as the UK's 20th best quizzer.
The Literary Pub quiz is now sold out, but you might get to smell the action if you stand on the Ridgway with a flask of tea.
'The Book Programme' presenter interviews Tomalin and Harris 20 09 2011
On our opening night, Saturday 1 October, James will be at King’s College School interviewing Claire Tomalin about her much awaited Dickens’ biography. Claire's biography is timed for the 2012 bi-centenary of Dickens’ birth and is one of the most anticipated books of 2011. Claire’s biography of Samuel Pepys won the Whitbread Prize in 2002.
The journalist and presenter of ‘The Book Programme' on Radio 4 will also be interviewing the novelist Robert Harris on Sunday 9 October in The Big Tent on Wimbledon Common. Harris, himself a former journalist and TV broadcaster, was a close adviser and confidante to Tony Blair. His novel 'The Ghost' was generally accepted to to be based on the Blairs, and was turned into a film directed by Roman Polanski. In 'The Fear Index', Harris's first contemporary novel since then, he turns to the world of high finance and hedge funds.
James Naughtie interviewed Salman Rushdie at Bookfest 2010.
More Gruffalo at hmvCurzon due to overwhelming demand 20 09 2011
On Saturday 01 October and Sunday 2nd October, Wimbledon BookFest and hmvCurzon CineKids are hosting screenings of 'The Gruffalo' at 10.30 am. These shows have now both sold out, but hmvCurzon have added a second screening on both days at 10.45 am. The Gruffalo will be there to greet you at the cinema on both days from 10am. Following the film, there will be a workshop where children can make their own storybooks. To book your tickets, go to the hmvCurzon website.
Big decisions taking place this week 13 09 2011
This week sees the judges of the Wimbledon BookFest Young Writers' Competition decide who should win. Our team includes writers, teachers and directors. Michael Crompton, Julian Butler, Jim Carrington, Jennifer Cox, Tina Ingram, Jonathan Lloyd and Gemma Malley will battle it out to see whose short stories should take home the prizes. This year's theme is 'The Great Escape', and the prize giving at Polka Theatre will be hosted by Frank Cottrell Boyce. Frank's novels include 'Millions' and 'Cosmic' as well as his new book 'Citty Chitty Bang Bang Rides Again'.
Literary Pub Quiz and Ahdaf Soueif tickets no longer available 28 09 2011
Tickets for BookFest are selling faster than ever. All the family/children's events are now sold out, but another Wombles date has been added. The enormously popular Literary Pub Quiz at the Swan pub has already sold out, as has Ahdaf Soueif's 'The Arab Spring'. There is a waiting list for Ahdaf Soueif, so call the Box Office on 020 8545 8342 if you would like to come. In the meantime, there are plenty of other events still for sale, but with the increasing popularity of Bookfest, booking is strongly advised to avoid disappointment.
Jennifer Kloester brings Heyer to BookFest 27 08 2011
Devoted readers and bloggers including celebrity Stephen Fry refer to Georgette Heyer as their 'guilty secret'. Historians admire her work for its meticulous research into the social life, fashion and language of the
Regency period. For military experts, Heyer's description of the Battle
of Waterloo is textbook and was used at Sandhurst for its concise reports of
battle movements. Georgette has been called a weaver of delightful fairytales, (A.S. Byatt), a Jane Austen 'wannabe', and the perfect cure for flu.
Dr. Jennifer Kloester, author of the new biography of Georgette Heyer and
the acknowledged expert on Heyer's Regency World, first came to Wimbledon
in
2008 on the trail of the intensely private Heyer family, plus all the
local
colour she could unearth. Her reassessment of the 'Queen of Regency
Romance' was then in the making, as she followed in the footsteps of the
attractive redheaded daughter of George Heyer, a Master at King's College
School, who was to become and remain, a best-selling publishing phenomena
from the moment her literary career took off when she was just nineteen
with
the publication of her first novel Black Moth in 1921.
For over ninety years Georgette Heyer's books have been continuously
borrowed, rebound, reprinted and re-editioned.
Should critics attempt to dismiss Heyer's novels as dated 'chic lit', Jennifer Kloester's book provides lively ammunition to refute such a
charge, gathered as it is from Heyer's meticulous research of the Regency period.
Jennifer's new biography of Georgette Heyer, Biography of a Bestseller, is published worldwide on 6th October. The Wimbledon Society has kept a watchful
eye on the progress of Jennifer's manuscript throughout the publishing
process. In at the birth, so to speak, we have great pleasure in hosting the launch of Biography of a Bestseller for Bookfest. The event is a 'must' for Wimbledonians. Monday 3 October 7.30 pm Collyer Hall, King's College School. Tickets
£8.
Bookfest Box Office, 0208 545 8342.
Click here for Georgette Heyer’s advice for novelists, from Jennifer Kloester’s forthcoming biography
Paul Sinha is among this year's side-splitters 11 08 2011 We are proud to announce the line up for this year's Comedy on the Common in the Big Tent this October. On Friday, 7th October, Rob Deering will headline, with Pat Cahill and Pippa Evans in support. Matt Green will host. On Saturday, 8th October, Paul Sinha will headline, with Marcel Lucont and Joe Lycett providing support. Both events start at 8pm, and a glass of wine or a beer are included in the £15 ticket price. You can book ticketshere. After the success of last year's comedy night, which sold out in a few days, early booking is strongly advised.
Bookfest writer sells a million of his classic book 19 07 2011 Hodder celebrated a million sales of David Nicholl's 'One Day' with an advance screening of the forthcoming film starring Anne Hathaway.
The film is released on 24 August 2011 and the screenplay was also written by David Nicholls. Bookshops and festivals who supported David's book in the early days of publication were thanked at the event for helping the book become the major international seller it is today. David wowed the audience last year on Penny Vincenzi's Girls' Night Out panel at Cannizaro House Hotel. Penny's guests this year are Sky News presenter Kay Burley and the writer Tasmina Perry.
Bookfest favourite launch Fleming sequel at BookFest 19 07 2011 The popular children's writer will be launching 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Rides Again', the follow up to Ian Fleming's classic and well-loved novel, at BookFest. The book comes out on 7 October and Frank will be doing a special event at Wimbledon Bookfest in the Big Tent. This event will be open to Merton junior schools and wlil be followed by the Young Writers' prize giving for this year's competition, 'The Great Escape'.
Special prize giving at Merton Civic Centre 19 07 2011 As part of the centenary commemoration of William Golding's birth, Faber are publishing an anniversary edition of 'Lord of the Flies'. All secondary school winners of our Young Writers' Competition will be given a special anniversary edition at a prize giving which will be held at Merton Civic Centre. This year's theme was 'The Great Escape' and was open to all Merton schools. The judging panel includes TV scriptwriter Michael Crompton, Jonathan Lloyd, artistic director of Polka Theatre, as well as Bloomsbury writers Gemma Malley and Jim Carrington.
Rugby player to appear at Bookfest 19 07 2011 Brian Moore will be doing a special one off BookFest event this November, following the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand. The Wimbledon based Moore won the William Hill prize for Sports Book of the Year for his memoir 'Beware of the Dog', published by Simon and Schuster. Brian will be in conversation with sports broadcaster John Inverdale. The date and venue will be posted here on the site shortly.
Henry Winkler visits Wimbledon 19 07 2011 Henry Winkler made a welcome return to New Wimbledon Theatre this summer as part of 'My Way' learning campaign with First News children's newspaper. 20 schools and 800 children from schools across the Borough came to hear his motivational talk on tackling learning challenge at New Wimbledon Theatre. Winkler, himself a dyslexic, struggled at school but went on to be a successful Hollywod actor and is best known for his role as 'The Fonz' in 'Happy Days'. His career has had something of a renaissance since he starred in panto as Captain Hook in New Wimbledon Theatre a few years ago and he is again filming TV series and movies. He is also the co-author of the Hank Zipzer series of books published by Walker books.
Write a short story for bookFest! 19 07 2011
Now’s your chance to put pen to paper on a theme so
close to many. This year’s writing competition is themed
‘The Seven Deadly Sins’. Interpret it as you like, but it
must be short. Write in 200 words or less on any one
or combination of the Seven Deadly Sins – sloth, pride,
gluttony, lust, wrath, envy and greed.
The shortlist will be drawn up by Jenny Lee, playwright and Attic Theatre impresario, and Sue Pandit, Former Dean of The London College of Printing, and Tony Kane, editor of Time & Leisure Magazine.
Email entries to shortstory@wimbledonbookfest.org
Deadline for submissions is Friday 10 September. An entry fee of £5 is in place to cover administation costs.
The top stories wil be invited to read their entries at a special Let the Public Decide! event on Friday 7 October in The Big Tent on Wimbledon Common.
