The festival will again have an impressive series of events with writers from East Anglia and further afield. Anthony Thwaite, the poet, and his wife Ann, biographer and writer of children's books, will talk about their work. Sarah Bower will return to Debenham to run another writing workshop, Benedict Gummer will talk about his book on the Black Death, and Sheila Hardy will be at a Literary Lunch to talk about her book on historical Suffolk poisonings. David Bedford promises to get everyone to do the “greatest dance ever invented by a zebra,” as well as reading one of his stories for children. Bernardine Evaristo will read her novella about knife crime, chosen as the library's Community Read.
Piper Terrett, who was recently chosen Britain's Green Voice, will be offering tips from her new book: The Frugal Life: How to Spend Less and Live More.
Anthony and Ann Thwaite will appear together on Saturday June 19, at 7.30pm, in St Mary's church. He will be reading from Late Poems, a new book published to celebrate his 80th birthday. She will talk about researching and writing Passageways her own family history, after a career as a biographer and children’s writer.
As one of Philip Larkin's chosen literary executors, Anthony Thwaite edited the Collected Poems, Selected Letters and Further Requirements. His own Collected Poems, drawing on fifty years work, was published in 2007. Suffolk Book League is sponsoring the Thwaites' event.
Historical novelist Sarah Bower returns to run another writing workshop, at the request of last year’s students. This time it will be Tricks of the historical fiction trade: a writing workshop for all abilities. Sarah’s workshops are always popular and there will be only 15 places.
Sheila Hardy is also returning, this time to talk at a Literary Lunch about her new book Arsenic in the Dumplings: a casebook of historic Suffolk poisonings. She says Debenham comes into it.
Benedict Gummer will talk about The Scourging Angel, his book about England around the time of the Black Death. The Daily Telegraph described it as “an elegant and self-assured debut”.
David Bedford promises ‘to read a story guaranteed to make everyone laugh, and get everyone to Do the George Thing, the greatest dance ever invented by a zebra.’ He will be entertaining the village’s primary school children (and anyone else who is keen) at the Leisure Centre on June 18 from 2 - 3pm. David writes all kinds of books for primary and pre-school children, including the international best-seller Big Bear Little Bear, and The Team series about a schoolboy football team and their football-playing robot.
Piper Terrett has a book for our times: The Frugal Life: How to Spend Less and Live More. It grew out of her amusing blog http://frugal-life.spaces.live.com which she began when she gave up her job as a financial journalist to freelance while working on a crime novel and exploring ways to live on less. She was chosen as the Green Voice of Britain by the Energy Saving Trust last October.
Bernardine Evaristo will be discussing her novella about teenage knife crime. Hello Mum was chosen for the village's Community Read by the library, which is sponsoring her event. Bernardine has written several novels, as well as writing for theatre and radio, and is a popular speaker.