Chipping Norton Literary Festival is bouncing back this month after a two-year absence. As usual, the small town punches above its weight, this year pulling in Booker Prize winner Douglas Stuart just days after the publication of his newest book Young Mungo.
ChipLitFest (21-24 April) always offers plenty of food for thought, so it can be hard to choose from its eclectic menu of events. We’ve delved in to help you out with our top 10 picks:
WRITING TITANS
1. An Evening with Louis de Bernières (6pm, Saturday 23 April) promises to be richly entertaining. Spend it in the company of the well-known author of Captain Corelli’s Mandolin.
2. You might wake up with Justin Webb. Now you can see the Radio 4 Today programme presenter in person on a Sunday lunchtime (1pm, 24 April). He’ll be talking about his memoir, The Gift of a Radio.
3. Monica Ali and Tessa Hadley are two thoughtful fiction writers at the top of their game. They’ll be in conversation about their latest works Love Marriage and Free Love at 2pm on Saturday 23 April.
A WRITE LAUGH
4. Here’s two witty women who are bound to be fun. Nina Stibbe and screenwriter Georgia Pritchett will be discussing their latest works (Nina’s novel One Day I Shall Astonish the World, and Georgia’s memoir My Mess is a Bit of a Life). 8pm, Friday 22 April.
5. Best known as writer and star of the Fast Show, Charlie Higson has now unleashed his first thriller for adults Whatever Gets You Through the Night. He’ll be in conversation with crime writer and stand-up Mark Billingham, at 12 noon on Saturday 23 April.
FESTIVAL SUCCESS STORIES
6. ChipLitFest is known for picking debut authors who become best sellers (Paula Hawkins and Clare Mackintosh, for starters). Two previous ‘New Voices’ Abir Mukherjee, author of an acclaimed series of Raj-era detective stories and Laura Shepherd-Robinson, now enjoying success with her second historical novel, talk about their next chapters as writers. (4pm, Saturday 23 April).
SEE THEM HERE FIRST
7. David Whitehouse’s non-fiction blend of true crime, memoir and reportage, About a Son, is set to break the mould. Come and find out about a true original (12 noon, Saturday 23 April).
QUIRKY
8. Charming Ben Aitken, 34, seeks out the unusual in the everyday. The Marmalade Diaries is an account of what he learned from his friendship with his unlikely lockdown flatmate, Winnie, 84. (4pm, Saturday 23 April).
THOUGHT PROVOKING
9. Professor Lucy Easthope is a world authority on recovering from disaster. She has the wisdom we need now. Her book is When the Dust Settles and her session is at 11am on Sunday 24 April.
10. Can’t We Just Print More Money? Haven’t a clue about how the economy works? With the answers to 10 simple questions, Jack Meaning and Rupal Patel will set you right. 13:15, Saturday 23 April.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
11. Food events! Learn about the cheeses of the British Isles in the entertaining company of cheesemonger Ned Palmer (ticket includes a glass of wine). 8pm on Friday 22 April. Or find out what you can do with the veg from your garden with cook Kathy Slack in a two-course festival lunch. From The Veg Patch at 1pm on Saturday 23 April.
CHILDREN’S CORNER
12. Kicking off the amazing children’s events, packed with drawing and storytelling, is the Wimpy Kid Show, in the Theatre at 10am on Saturday 23 April.
There’s plenty more fiction and non-fiction, and don’t forget the poetry, cookery writers, workshops and children’s festival.
READ OUR INTERVIEW WITH MICK HERRON HERE, also appearing at ChipLitFest http://551.326.mywebsitetransfer.com/writing-gets-me-out-of-bed-in-the-morning-crime-writer-mick-herron-on-selling-a-million-copies-the-big-screen-and-oxford-lit-fest/
READ OUR INTERVIEW WITH CLOVER STROUD HERE, also appearing at ChipLitFest here: http://551.326.mywebsitetransfer.com/you-have-to-keep-going-clover-stroud-talks-grief-circus-sister-nell-gifford-and-new-book-the-red-of-my-blood/
ChipLitFest runs from 21-24 April. Book: www.chiplitfest.com
