The Chiswick Book Festival is a non-profit-making, community event. Last year's Festival raised over £6,195 for three charities related to reading and the work of St Michael & All Angels Church, which hosted the Festival. This year's Festival is supporting the same three charities:
- RNIB Talking Books Service and Books for Children.
- InterAct Reading Service
- The Letterbox Club, part of the Book Trust.
The first Chiswick Book Festival was held in the last weekend of September 2009 , in aid of literacy and reading charities and local arts projects. The speakers included Anthony Horowitz, Michael Frayn, Jacqueline Wilson, Lady Antonia Fraser, as well as Lynn Barber, Christina Odone, Michele Paver, Sir Ian McKellen, Celia Brayfield, David Nichols, Adjoa Andoh, Michael Brandon, Andrew Sachs, Kerry Shale, Sophie Hann, Dan Waddell, Sam Delaney, Tracey Borman, Christie Dickason, Katie Fforde, Olivia Lichtenstein and Matthew Rice.
The venues included St Michael & All Angels Church & Parish Hall; the Tabard Theatre, by Turnham Green station, and Sam's Brasserie & Bar, 11 Barley Mow Passage.
The second Chiswick Book Festival. Make a weekend of it - Friday 17th to Sunday 19th September 2010.
The second Chiswick Book Festival will take place from Friday 17th to Sunday 19th September 2010. You can now read the full programme here and order tickets via the Advance Booking Form here. From September 4th, you will be able to buy tickets in person at Waterstone's in Chiswick High Road.
This year's speakers include Sir Terry Pratchett, Sir Andrew Motion, Val McDermid, Adele Parks, Prue Leith, Michael Wood, Robert McCrum, Claire Tomalin, Allison Pearson, Charlie Higson, Lucy Worsley, Sadie Jones, Noel 'Razor' Smith, Josh Lacey, Katie Cleminson, Anthony McGowan, Annie Sanders, Mavis Cheek, Elizabeth Buchan, Celia Brayfield and Rebecca Frayn.
There are events for most tastes, including a Children's Book Festival, and links with several writing competitions (see below). There will also be a wonderful Crime Fiction Tea with a special cake to mark Agatha Christie's 120th anniversary.
This year's Festival will again be based in St Michael & All Angels Church & Parish Hall, with some events taking place in the Tabard Theatre, Bath Road.
Read the Festival launch press release (click Open).
Once again, we shall have the invaluable support of Waterstone's Chiswick, Midas PR, one of the top firms in the book trade, Savills and other local firms. Chiswick Library is taking part too, promoting books by all the Festival authors. If you would like to be involved in any way, please contact the Festival administrator, Dinah Garrett.
Young Writers' Competition -
What I Read This Summer
This year the Chiswick Book Festival has joined up with ChiswickW4.com to run a Young Writers' Competition. The theme is 'What I Read This Summer', and we invite anyone under 18 to write a sparkling review of a contemporary (21st Century) book. Entries close on September 17th.
Entries have closed for the English Heritage and Chiswick House & Gardens writing competition. The winners will be announced - and the winning entries performed - at the Chiswick Book Festival, on Saturday September 18th.
More coverage below: