Faces of BookFest

Gianna Moncorps (Media Team)

What’s been a standout moment for you while working at the BookFest?

I’ve been reporting from all the talks and events and creating social media clips. For me, the best moment has been speaking to Mike Berners-Lee because I’ve been citing him in my own work at uni. Or meeting Elif Shafak, who is my mum’s favourite author!

Has anything surprised you about working behind the scenes?

Honestly, just how personable and great it was to meet the authors themselves. I feel like it’s easy to lose that connection between someone’s work and who they are, so it’s great meeting people who are the creators of these amazing works that moved many people.

If you could invite a guest here to speak, dead or alive, who would you choose?

I’m a really big Edgar Allan Poe fan. I think that would be a really interesting one, not only in relation to his work, but also his past and life which was always kind of riddled. Getting these personal insights that we don’t really know would be interesting.

 

John Stone (Event photographer)

You’ve been working at the Bookfest since it began – what’s been your favourite event?

That’s a difficult one. There have been all sorts, like Prime Ministers – former Prime Minister of New Zealand Jacinda Ardern just recently. I enjoy listening to Max Hastings; he’s a brilliant historian. And of course, the shame is I never get to see the whole event because I’m in one event and then I go to another one.

What do you like about being behind the scenes?

I like the camaraderie of the team. I see people and I meet friends who come to the festival as well. But every year, there they are again. I think the community thing really, you get to meet loads of different people.

What do you look for when you take photos?

When I’m taking a photo of the crowd, I’m trying to get a reaction. When the audience love a speaker, and they’re laughing, that’s nice; that gives that feeling. And out here on the hub, getting people enjoying themselves, that’s always a good one.

 

Emily (steward)

If you had to describe Bookfest in three words, what would they be?

Busy, colourful and creative.

What’s been your favourite part of working behind the scenes?

Probably all of the snacks and cake that people have been bringing in! I’ve been really enjoying that and everyone’s really lovely for doing so.

What’s been your favourite book that’s come out this year?

Anything by Elif Shafak. I’m going to her talk later, I’m very excited. She’s speaking about The Forty Rules of Love but honestly, any book by her recently? I’ve been loving it.

 

 

Liz Hughes (Author Management & Board Member)

What is your role at the festival?

I’ve worked at the festival for the last 17 years. I used to do the programming and looking after the trustees and the friends – it was really Fiona and I in the office on our own most of the time, for quite a long time – and about 7 years ago I gave it up when I had grandchildren. I was very grateful and they said they wouldn’t mind me coming back and working during the festival.

You’ve seen BookFest grow from the very beginning, how would you say it has developed?

I’ve always loved the festival – I worked in publishing, I love reading. It is my end of working career best job ever to find this, because I’ve always done events, I’ve worked in publishing, so it was a lovely kind of fit of the bill.

I think on the whole festival-going has become really successful. It’s become the way in which authors publicise their book, and strangely enough most of the authors seem to love doing festivals – because all this is a very solitary event, writing a book. And I think it’s been very good for them all, you know, getting out on the road.

 

Watch out for more in the faces of BookFest series!