2014 witnessed the inaugural Ampthill Literary Festival celebrating local and famous writers with talks, readings and a panel discussion. It was staged as part of the Ampthill Festival, alongside AmpRocks, Proms in the Park and Gala Day. Back for a third time in 2016 with a new moniker, Ampthill Litfest, Director, Simon Michael and his team, have upped the standard even further during two days of events with a classy author list. The theme this year is Celebrating the Best of British.
Saturday 16th July is devoted to British crime writers and comedy writing. Plus in breakout workshops, new authors have an opportunity to get feedback from established writers, a publisher and an agent, and young authors can work with a professional crime writer, theatre dramatist, poet and graphic artist to produce a competition piece. Sunday 17th July features screenwriting, with panels of writers, directors, producers and actors for TV shows (Emmerdale and Coronation Street and Hollyoaks), plus feature film directors from the UK and Hollywood. There will be food concessions, bookstalls, author signings, a beer and wine tent and an art exhibition round off a complete weekend of literary and film entertainment.
When? 16th July 2016 - 17th July 2016
Where? Connolly Hall, Redborne Upper School, Ampthill, Bedfordshire, UK
Who? SATURDAY 16th JULY: Barry Cryer (left), Steven Berkoff, Francesca Martinez, Mark Billingham, Chris Brookmyre, Martyn Waites, Hugh Fraser, RC Bridgestock, AD Garrett, Simon Michael, Robert Daws, David Headley, Matthew Smith, Stephen Bywater, Tracy Buchanan, Judi Sutherland, Piers Black-Hawkins and Julian Sedgewick.
SUNDAY 17th JULY: Steven Berkoff, Graham Baker, Robert Lumsden, James Rouse, Torbin Betts, Bill Smedley, Caroline Mitchell, Ian Bevitt, Samantha Doland-De Vaux, Lucy Dixon, Eugene McGing, Leon Butler, Simon Bosanquet and Robert Daws.
Website? http://www.ampthillfestival.co.uk/literary
Twitter? @AmpLitFest
Facebook? Ampthill Litfest
Festival Director? 2016 - Simon Michael. [email protected]
Past Festivals? Established In 2014 -
2015: Jenny Eclair, Barry Norman, John Challis, Alanna Collen, Lisa Williamson, Bobbie Darbyshire, John Emsley. 2014: Gavin Esler, Brian Clemens, Andrew Crofts, Natasha Desborough, Amy Sparkes, Judi Sutherland and Nadine Dorries.
2014 - Gavin Esler,, Brian Clemens, Nadine Dorries, Andrew Crofts, Natasha Desborough, Amy Sparkes and Judi Sutherland. (Author biographies available on the Ampthill Literary Festival Website).
If you are involved in this festival you can update or change details via the organisers page . Authors can list here.