LEADING Cumbrian authors and top UK broadcast journalists will share the stage at the first ever Kirkgate Book Festival in Cockermouth later this month.
The one-day event takes place at the Kirkgate Arts and Heritage Centre on Saturday, March 25, with tickets available for three sessions during the day and an evening special featuring well-known broadcaster and journalist Jonathan Blake.
Jonathan, currently political correspondent with the BBC, will be in conversation with Marion Bowman, former Chair of Kirkgate Arts and Heritage and one time presenter, producer and commissioner of current affairs programmes for Channel 4 and ITV.
Marion will be on hand throughout the day to interview all the authors about their recent works, enable them to share extracts from their books and facilitate Q&A sessions with the audience.
With a central theme showcasing Cumbrian authors, the new event will have three main categories: ‘Historical and Local Roots’, ‘Young People and The Lakeland Book Award’, and ‘Crime and Detective’, followed by the Jonathan Blake evening special.
The Historical and Local Roots category will run from 10.30am to 12pm, and feature Paul Eastham discussing his new book ‘Secrets of the Lost Kingdom’, Christine Raafat discussing her book ‘The Will to Success’, and Chris Wadsworth on her memoir ‘Life Class: Memoir of an Accidental Gallerist’, all books about or set in Cumbria.
The Young People and The Lakeland Book Award category will run from 1pm to 2.15pm, and feature Millie Hardy-Sims on her fantasy book ‘The Chronicles of Alfara: The Lights of the North: Book 1’, and Laura Noakes on her novel ‘Cosima Unfortunate Steals a Star’.
Nick Taylor, English teacher and Key Stage 3 Lead at Cockermouth School will be presenting the Young People’s Category.
In addition, broadcaster and writer Fiona Armstrong will be joining Marion to discuss the Lakeland Book of the Year Award, which celebrates top quality writing inspired by the Lake District and boasts Grace Dent, Rory Stewart and James Rebanks amongst its previous winners.
The Crime and Detective category will run from 3pm to 4pm, and feature Harry Navinsky on his book ‘The Duty’, and Ruth Sutton on her book ‘Collateral Damage’.
Marion said: “There's a growing roster of great books about or set in Cumbria or by Cumbria-based writers. From crime to history, from fantasy to landscape, there'll be something for everyone at this new cultural event in Cockermouth.
“Bringing writers and readers together is always enjoyable and we're expecting a real festival atmosphere, so local book lovers definitely shouldn't miss it.”
Tickets cost £5 for each category (refreshments available all day), and for those who buy a ticket for each category during the day, free entry to the Jonathan Blake special (6pm to 7pm) is granted.
Cockermouth’s New Bookshop will have a stall at the festival from which it will sell books from each of the authors, and there will be an opportunity for book signing at the Kirkgate after each category.
Doors will be open from 10am till 7pm. For tickets, visit thekirkgate.ticketsolve.com.
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