The second Sidmouth Sun, Sea and Books Literary Festival , at Kennaway House,has got a packed programme lined up with some 'Big Name' speakers on 10th and 11th June.
Best-selling authors include Dame Penelope Lively; Simon Weston (whose writing experiences were inspred by the Falklands War); Veronica Henry (top women's fiction writer); Nicholas Evans (The Horse Whisperer); and the renowned thriller writers Robert Goddard whose To The Ends of The Earth is out in paperback just in time for the festival.
Kate Hamer, Costa Prize nominee,will talk about her acclaimed first novel Girl in the Red Coat.
Journalist Con Coughlin, who writes on foreign affairs for the Daily Telegraph, will also be there.
Sidmouth based Jane Corry whose psychological thriller My Husband's Wife is out in Penguin in August, will lead a workshop on How to write a short story.
This year, the festival is also running a How To Get Published day for aspiring writers. Editors from Penguin and Pam Macmillan will be giving one-to-one advice while Endeavour publishers will be available to discuss getting your work into print.Budding writers can get one-to-one feedback on their work at this special session.
In addition, there will be a poetry competition, Why I love Sidmouth ,hosted by Paragon Books at Sidmouth Library,with a a special event featuring Mantie Lister, the former Exeter bard and Matt Harvey, the Totnes poet.
Sidmouth has a rich literary heritage. Over the years it has inspired writers such as Jane Austen, Beatrix Potter, RD Delderfield and many others. The Sidmouth Literary Festival aims to keep this tradition going.
When? Friday 10 and Saturday 11 June 2016
Where? Kennaway House, Sidmouth, Devon EX10 8ND
Who? Penelope Lively, Veronica Henry, Robert Goodard, Juliet Barker, Con Coughlin, Nicholas Evans .
Commissioning editors from Penguin Viking and Pan Macmillan at a special session for new writers seeking to get published.
Website? Sidmouth Literary Festival
Twitter? @sidmouthlitfest
Facebook? https://www.facebook.com/Sidmouthlitfest/
Festival Director? 2016 - David Lloyd
Who has appeared at past festivals? In 2015 - Ann Widdicombe, Terry Waite, Fay Weldon, Helen Lederer
Established? 2015
If you are involved in this festival you can update or change details via the organisers page . Authors can list here.