Queen’s Park in north-west London is holding its first Book Festival this Saturday June 11th.

A one-day literary extravaganza and showcase for local talent which features best-selling novelist Sebastian Faulks, actor Robert Webb from TV comedy Peep Show, and the show’s co-writer Sam Bain and producer Robert Popper. The Festival also stars legendary musician Edwyn Collins with his biographer and wife Grace Maxwell

Other acts include: Natalie Haynes, Philip Hensher, Christina Hopkinson, Maggie Gee, Tim Lott, Polly Williams, Alex Bellos, Geraint Anderson, Anthony McGowan, and Monique Roffey

There will be a chance to book-swap, help compose a story, join an oral history project, learn illustration … with lots for children.

What sort of Festival is it going to be? About 30 authors, all either local or with strong local connections, are signed up – taking part in discussions and conversations in one of two tents – a main 200 seat tent and the smaller 50 seat, QWERTY tent. Author events are covered by the all-day inclusive ticket. There are also many free events for adults and children (see details below).
Some author events will no doubt prove to be even more popular than others. Please be prepared to queue (max 30 mins) because space is limited. It’s impossible to know how many people to expect for each event and hopefully everyone will be able to see something they want to.
We’re asking audiences to vacate tents at the end of each event in order to give as many people as possible a chance to experience the Festival.
Refreshments will be available at the park café and elsewhere, but why not bring a picnic and make a day of it? Some local restaurants are also doing deals on presentation of your ticket.

Where can I buy tickets? All-day wristband tickets £5 in advance (£6 on the day in the Park) and programmes for the Book Festival are on sale now only at Queen’s Park Books on Salusbury Road. 020 7625 1008.

HERE’S THE TIMETABLE FOR THE DAY (SCROLL DOWN FOR AUTHOR DETAILS):

MAIN TENT (200 seats)
11.00 Philip Hensher
12.00 Maggie Gee & Monique Roffey
13.00 Geraint Anderson & Alex Preston
14.00 Sebastian Faulks
15.00 Natalie Haynes
16.00 Robert Webb, Sam Bain & Robert Popper from Peep Show
17.00 Polly Williams, Christina Hopkinson & Tasmina Perry
18.00 Edwyn Collins & Grace Maxwell

QWERTY TENT (50 seats)
11.00 Daljit Nagra; Karen Rydings; Priya Basil
12.00 Anthony McGowan
13.00 Noel Holland
14.00 Pui Fan Lee
15.00 Alex Bellos
16.00 Anthony Gardner; Chioma Okereke; Simonetta Wenkert; Rosa Rankin-Gee
17.00 Mihir Bose, Amol Rajan & Marcus Berkmann
18.00 Jane Robins & Ali Knight

For children…
(all free except 14.00-15.00 with Pui Fan Lee)
Thanks to the staff of Kilburn Library for running many of these events

11.30-12.00 Storytelling for under 6s in the yurt
12.00-14.00 Mini book-making for 5-10s
13.30 Story circle for all ages in the yurt with Caroline Robinson
14.00-15.00 2-6s session with Pui Fan Lee in the Qwerty tent (entry wristband needed for parent/carer)
14.00-15.00 Manga cartoon-drawing workshop for 10s upward, with Sonoko Obuchi
14.15-16.00 Limericks, word games for all ages with author Lou Kuenzler
14.30-15.00 Storytelling for 5-7s in the yurt
15.00-15.30 Storytelling for 8-10s in the yurt
15.30-16.30 A second session of Manga cartoon-drawing
16.00 Story circle for all ages in the yurt with Caroline Robinson
16.00-18.00 A second session of mini book-making for 5-10s

Parents or carers must please stay with children during activities
There’s also a Quiz (with a small prize) – pick it up in the park or the library, to test the local knowledge of under 11s
And there’ll be more…

Events for everyone … all day (and all free)

Kilburn Library – join up, say hello, find out what’s going on
Save our Six (Brent Libraries) – visit them to find out about their campaign and add to our chain novel
Kilburn Amnesty Group – join them at their “cakes and conscience” table to support their writing campaign
Queen’s Park Books – on hand with the latest books from our line-up of authors, ready for signing
Brondesbury Poetry Group – have a go at their “collage poetry”
Crazy Baker Sophie Grey is on hand with a delicious range of sandwiches, salads, croissants, cakes and gingerbread men
Book Swap – no money needed, just exchange one book for another and find out about Kensal to Kilburn Transition Town
St Anne’s Church – quizzes and literary cakes and cookies
Local School writing competition results

In the morning
12.00- 13.30 Join author Shah Husain for discussion about books and advice for writers
Discuss local history – and share your memories- with Bruce Fursman and Gill Hallifax
In the afternoon
14.00- 16.00 Join artist Maria Vlotides to create some “pavement poetry” and hear about her recent street art project
15.00- 17.00 Artist and comic-creator Karrie Fransman will introduce you to the world of comic drawing and invite you to have a go
16.30 onwards Find out about book jacket design with Ed Dovey and have a go yourself

All events in the park. Tickets /info from: Queen’s Park Books, Salusbury Road, 020 7625 1008

Gina Newson This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

More info: qpark.org.uk/bookfestival