Guests 2014
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Gavin Esler, Brian Clemens and Nadine Dorries head line-up at Ampthill Literary Festival Broadcaster, non-fiction author and thriller writer Gavin Esler; legendary screenwriter Brian Clemens, and local MP and first-time novelist Nadine Dorries head an all-star line-up for the inaugural Ampthill Literary Festival, to be held over the weekend of 5-6 July 2014. It forms part of the multi-event Ampthill Festival, sponsored by Charles Wells brewery. Ampthill is in the heart of the Mid-Bedfordshire constituency that Nadine Dorries has represented since 2005, though she will be speaking as an author not politician, having recently written her first novel, The Four Streets, based on her formative years in Liverpool. Gavin Esler a well-known news presenter, and has also written well-received political thrillers as well as non-fiction works. Brian Clemens is a TV screenwriter of immense distinction, having created The Professionals and been script editor for The Avengers. Rather than give readings, Brian will appear in conversation with Simon Michael, locally based thriller writer and co-chair of the festival’s organizing committee.
(Left to right) Natasha Desborough, Andrew Crofts, Amy Sparkes and Judi Sutherland. Also a speaker on the main literary event on Saturday 5th July will be Andrew Crofts, acclaimed ghost-writer and accomplished novelist in his own right, author of the political thriller Secrets of the Italian Gardener. In addition to talks and readings from the speakers, there will be a panel Q&A session. To begin the Saturday event, teenage fiction writer Natasha Desborough, who is a former BBC Radio 6 presenter, will give readings from the winners of a children’s writing competition, held as part of the Festival. She will also host a workshop on teenage fiction at the event. The competition has been open to children in two age groups in local schools, and prizes will be awarded for fiction, poetry and non-fiction. Children’s author Amy Sparkes will hold a fun event for young children based on her book Do Not Enter the Monster Zoo, while award-winning poet Judi Sutherland will host a poetry workshop for bards of all ages. On the Sunday, as part of Ampthill Festival’s established Gala Day, a literary marquee will see a range of events aimed at family participation, including talks from local authors. “We are immensely proud to have such a strong line-up for our very first event,” said co-chair of the organizing committee, business author Philip Whiteley. “We’re pleased to have a range of fiction, non-fiction and poetry, and I look forward to chairing our panel discussion. “Through the writing competition our aim is to instil in children a life-long love of reading and of books. Literature helps us make sense of our world, create our most lasting and rewarding entertainments, and helps us engage with others. With social media, more people are connecting with one another through the written form than ever before, and the desire for a good read, and for festivals to celebrate books, is as strong as ever.” Tickets available online and from Waitrose (Ampthill). Workshop tickets available online only.
- The Ampthill Literary Festival forms part of an existing arts festival spanning the weekend, with warm-up events in the preceding weeks. For details of the ‘Beer & Books’ free events in Ampthill pubs, go to: http://www.amplitfest.co.uk For information on the Amprocks gig, Saturday evening Proms and the Gala, go to: http://www.ampthillfestival.co.uk/
Gavin Esler is an award-winning television and radio broadcaster, novelist and journalist. He is the author of five novels and non-fiction books which include The United States of Anger and Lessons from the Top: the Three Universal Stories that all Successful Leaders Tell. His novels include the political thrillers Power Play and A Scandalous Man. The latter was described by Bernard Cornwell as ‘a compelling book; its political sophistication made luminous with wisdom, sympathy and brilliant story-telling. Gavin currently presents Dateline London which goes out weekly on BBC World and the BBC News Channel. Books by Gavin: Lessons from the Top [N/F] (2013) / Power Play (2010) / A Scandalous Man (2008) / United States of Anger (1998) [N/F] / The Blood Brother (1996) / Deep Blue (1993) / Loyalties (1990).
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Brian Clemens 
A relative of Samuel Longhorne Clemens, better known as Mark Twain, Brian Clemens’ achievements as a TV scriptwriter are legendary. The Ampthill resident is perhaps best known as creator of The Professionals, starring Gordon Jackson, and as script editor of The Avengers, but his screenplay work extends to several hundred writing credits. In the words of Guardian profile from 2010 Brian is ‘creator of some of the most enduring and well-loved pieces of entertainment ever made.’
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Nadine Dorries 
Nadine Dorries is a former nurse who has been the Member of Parliament for Mid-Bedfordshire since 2005. Her first novel The Four Streets, was published in April 2014, and is the story of an Irish Catholic community in 1950s Liverpool. Nadine is currently working on the second book in the series, to be published in December 2014.
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Andrew Crofts 
Andrew Crofts is an author and ghostwriter who has published more than 80 books, a dozen of which were Sunday Times number one bestsellers. He drew on his experience in international politics for his 2013 novel Secrets of the Italian Gardener. The best-selling author Robert Harris quotes from Andrew’s seminal book, Ghostwriting throughout the political thriller The Ghost, which became a major movie, directed by Roman Polanski and starring Ewan McGregor. Andrew is on the Management Committee of the Society of Authors. Confessions of a Ghostwriter is published on 14th August 2014 by HarperCollins.Selected Books by Andrew: Secrets of the Italian Gardener (2013) / Sold (One Woman’s Experience of Modern Slavery) – Zana Muhsen and Andrew Crofts [N/F](2010) / Disgraced – Saira Ahmad and Andrew Crofts [N/F] (2009) / The Freelance Writer’s Handbook [N/F] (2007) / The Little Hero: One Boy’s Fight for Freedom [N/F](2006) / The Little Prisoner – Jane Elliot and Andrew Crofts [N/F] (2005) / Ghostwriting [N/F] (2004).
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Natasha Desborough 
The former BBC Radio 6 DJ Natasha Desborough is now a highly acclaimed writer of teenage fiction. She describes herself as ‘right weirdo’, and her first book was memorably entitled Weirdos versus Quimboids, following the fortunes of the frustrated Blossom Uxley-Michaels, who seeks to overcome her unfortunate initials and bid to change the world through music along with her BFF Petrina. Widely described as ‘laugh-out-loud funny’, this breakthrough teenage novel is being followed by a sequel Weirdos versus Bumskulls, due for publication on 22nd May 2014.
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Amy Sparkes 
Amy writes for children of all ages. Her first book, Hodge the Hedgehog, has appeared on CBeebies storytime and her books have been shortlisted for several book awards, including the Roald Dahl Funny Prize and the Booktrust Best Books Awards. Amy is passionate about encouraging imagination in children and is frequently invited into schools. She regularly writes the ‘Children’s Fiction’ pages for the bestselling Writing Magazine and also runs writing courses for aspiring children’s authors. A percentage of royalties from Amy’s books supports baby charities Tommys, ICP Support and Bliss. Books by Amy: Do Not Enter the Monster Zoo (2013) / Gruff’s Guide to the Secret Sea (2012) / Gruff’s Guide to Fairy Tale Land (2011) / Hodge the Hedgehog (2009)
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Judi Sutherland 
Judi Sutherland was made redundant from her job in pharmaceuticals in 2011 and studied for an MA in Creative Writing (Poetry) at Royal Holloway, University of London. She’s had poems published in a number of magazines and has read her work at a several venues and festivals. She has most recently taught “Poetry for the Petrified” in Newbury, Berkshire. She’s also working on a novel. You can read some of Judi’s poetry at her website.
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