Calendar: London

Reading London in fiction and fact

Saturday 11 October 2008

The conference is an afternoon aimed mainly at readers' groups, taking 19th century London as a theme, with fiction and non-fiction authors discussing their different approaches in researching and writing about it.

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Secret Life of the Universe

Monday 20th October 2008

In The Secret Life of the Universe: The Quest for the Soul of Science Amy Corzine explores the theory of an invisible force that links human beings together and moves the universe.

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Fran Sandham Event

Thursday 24th October 2008

Fran Sandham was an editor at Rough Guides for several years, and worked in bookselling and in the voluntary sector before that. Fran will discuss his new book Traversa: A solo walk across Africa, an account of his solo 3,000-mile trek from the Skeleton Coast to the Indian Ocean at Zanzibar - the first time in history anyone has crossed Africa solo entirely on foot by this route.

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Jed Mercurio

18 October 2008

Jed Mercurio discusses the writing process and the adaptation of book into film script.

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Sade Adeniran Event

15 October 2008

Local author Sade Adeniran gives a reading from her new novel Imagine this and takes questions from the floor. Winner of the Commonwealth Writers Prize, Imagine this is a poignant story of one girl's journey to adulthood.

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Amanda Brookfield

Monday 13th October 2008

Bestselling author, Amanda Brookfield, will talk about her latest novel, Life Begins, and her life in writing as well as taking questions.

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Meg Cabot public signing

Top teen and now tween author, Meg Cabot, will be talking about her 2 new books AIRHEAD and ALLIE FINKLE: THE NEW GIRL and giving an exclusive sneaky peak at the 10th, and final, installment of THE PRINCESS DIARIES! http://www.waterstones.com/waterstonesweb/displayDetailEvent.do?searchType=1&author=Meg|Cabot

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Children's Book Show

Poetry and picture book readings by Kit Wright and Posy Simmonds
see www.childrensbookshow.com

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Children's Book Show Tour

Poetry and Picture Book readings by Michael Rosen, the Children's Laureate and India's top children's writer Anushka Ravishankar
see www.childrensbookshow.com

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D J Taylor on Bright Young People

September to December 2008

D J Taylor is available for library events and to speak to reading groups about his book.

A remarkable history of the 'lost generation' of the 1920s - parties, scandal, Jazz, clashing generations and the dark legacy of war.

http://www.djtaylorwriter.co.uk/

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Tim Parks on The Fighter

September to December 2008

Tim Parks is available for library events and to speak to reading groups about his book.

A dazzling collection of essays from one of Britain's outstanding novelists.

http://www.timparks.com/

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Dannie Abse on The Presence

September to December 2008

Dannie Abse is available for library events and to speak to reading groups about his book.

A distinguished poet's moving memoir of his wife who died in a car accident in 2005. Winner of the Wales Book of the Year

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Caryl Phillips on Foreigners: Three English Lives

Oct - Nov 2008

Caryl Phillips is available for library events and to speak to reading groups about his book.

http://www.carylphillips.com/

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Hallie Rubenhold on Lady Worsley's Whim

November 2008 to March 2009

Hallie Rubenhold is available for library events and to speak to reading groups about her book.

http://www.hallierubenhold.com/

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Guy Browning on Maps of My Life

October 2008 - January 2009

Guy Browning is available for library events and to talk to reading groups about his book.

http://www.randomhouse.co.uk/catalog/book.htm?command=Search&db=main.txt&eqisbndata=0224082728

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Nigella Lawson on Nigella Christmas

October 2008

Nigella Lawson is available for library events and to speak to reading groups about her book.

http://www.nigella.com/

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Tom Cox on Bring Me the Head of Sergio

September 2008 - January 2009

Tom Cox is available for library events and to speak to reading groups about his book.

http://www.tom-cox.com/

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Thomas Wright on Oscar's Books

Depends on availability

Thomas Wright is available for library events and to speak to reading groups about his book.

http://www.randomhouse.co.uk/catalog/book.htm?command=Search&db=main.txt&eqisbndata=0701180617

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Michael Holroyd on A Strange and Eventful History

September 2008 - June 2009

Michael Holroyd is available for library events and to speak to reading groups about his book.

http://www.randomhouse.co.uk/catalog/book.htm?command=Search&db=main.txt&eqisbndata=0701179872

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Book Festival

3rd November - 8th November 08

London Boro' Havering is on the borders of East London and Essex. This will be our second festival - we would like authors for events in all our libraries with audiences of 30-80. Other larger venues also a possibility.

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D.J. MacHale - author of the bestselling Pendragon series - is visiting the UK

Week commencing 15th September 2008

D.J. MacHale, author of the New York Times bestselling series Pendragon, will be visiting the UK and available for library/school events for children in Years 5, 6 and 7 - small or large groups of up to 100 children.

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What on Earth Happened? -Christopher Lloyd

October 2008 to January 2009

The Complete Story of the Planet, Life and People from the Big Bang to the Present Day
Christopher Lloyd tells our story from the very beginning of time to the present day, taking giant narrative leaps across millennia and continents. Christopher is based in Kent and is available for events in London and the South East for 50+
www.bloomsbury.com/christopherlloyd

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Kate Colquhoun - Taste

April - September 2009

Kate Colquhoun is an energetic and enthusiastic personality, passionate and hugely well informed about the history of food. Kate is available for library events for audiences of 40 +

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William Leith - Bits of Me Are Falling Apart

September 2008 to January 2009

William is available for events in London and the South East for audiences of 50+.
www.bloomsbury.com/williamleith

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James Delingpole - Coward on the Beach paperback

August to December 2008

The first in a dashing new series starring Dick Coward. He is the author of various novels including Fin and Thinly Disguised Autobiography.
James is available all year around for audiences of 60+
www.bloomsbury.com/jamesdellingpole

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Oona King - House Music

July to December 2008

Oona is available for festival appearances throughout the year (ideally weekends) for 100+. She is based in London.

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The Last Fighting Tommy- Richard Van Emden

July to December 2008

Richard Van Emden is available all year around for audiences of 60+
www.bloomsbury.com/harrypatch

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Esther Freud - Love Falls

June to December 2008

Love Falls is a mesmerising coming-of-age tale set in sun-drenched Siena over one summer and vividly bringing to life all the excitement and awkwardness of adolescence and first love. Esther is available for library events and major festival events.

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Richard Reynolds - Guerrilla Gardening

July to December 2008

When Richard Reynolds began gardening secretly outside his council block in south London, he had no idea he was part of a global movement committed to combating the urban forces of litter, pollution, vandalism and, worst of all, apathy about public spaces.

Richard is available for library events and talks to reading groups.

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Kate Summerscale - The Suspicions of Mr Whicher

April to December 2008

'The Suspicions of Mr Whicher' is a true story that inspired a generation of writers such as Wilkie Collins, Charles Dickens and Arthur Conan Doyle. The book is a gripping account of the case unfolding, and has all the hallmarks of the classic murder mystery - a body; a detective; a country house steeped in secrets.

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Free proof plus author available

August to December 2008

Random House are looking for reading groups who would be interested in reading a debut novel due out in August. We are looking for groups who would be happy to provide feedback for us to use on our reading group site.

The talented author Jennie Rooney is available to visit Greater London reading groups to answer questions and discuss the book.

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Samson Kambalu - The Jive Talker

July to December 2008

In this utterly original, often subversive book, Samson Kambalu writes of his childhood in a country few are able to pinpoint on a map.

Samson is available for library events and talks to reading groups.

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Mohammed Hanif - A Case of Exploding Mangoes

June to September 2008

A superb debut novel centred around the assassination of the Pakistani dictator General Zia. Mohammed is available for library events and talks to reading groups.

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Larry Elliott & Dan Atkinson - The Gods That Failed: How Blind Faith in Markets Cost Us Our Future

June to December 2008

An incredibly timely book about how the credit crunch has come about from the economic editors of the Guardian and the Mail on Sunday. These writers are available for library events and talks to reading groups.

Continue reading Larry Elliott & Dan Atkinson - The Gods That Failed: How Blind Faith in Markets Cost Us Our Future

Sarah Wise - The Blackest Streets

June to December 2008

A brilliant new book about the seedy side of Victorian London by one of our most talented young historians. Sarah is available for library events and talks to reading groups.

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E. Foley & B. Coates - Homework for Grown-ups

August to September 2008

Quirky but practical, nostalgic yet timely, a brilliantly informative and entertaining book of old-school knowledge for grown-ups, complete with test papers. Both these writers are available for library events and talks to reading groups.

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Jenny Rooney - Inside the Whale

August to December 2008

Inside the Whale marks the arrival of a blazing new talent: fizzing with ecclectic characters and poignant imagery, Jenny Rooney's heart-wrenchign debut novel is a story to relish, and a book you'll want to recommend with passion to everyone you know.

Jenny is available for library events and talks to reading groups.

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Sulaiman Addonia - The Consequences of Love

July to December 2008

A gifted young storyteller presents an eye-opening and moving tale of forbidden love in Saudi Arabia. Sulaiman is available for library events and talks to reading groups.

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Carolyn Steel - Hungry City

June to December 2008

A passionate, important and visionary book about how our cities are fed, and how this affects our lives and our planet. Carolyn is available for library events and talks to reading groups.

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Eva Hoffman - Illuminations

June to December 2008

In this fiercely lyrical novel, Hoffman explores the place and force of art in a world riven with violence.

Eva is available for library events and talks to reading groups.

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Michael Holroyd - A Strange and Eventful History

August to September 2008

A major literary event from 'one of the greatest biographers of our age': Michael Holroyd's stunning biography is an epic yet intimate portrait of two theatrical dynasties that moves from the Victorian stage to the modern age

Michael is available for library events and talks to reading groups.

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John Fuller - Song & Dance

July 2008

A sense of playfulness allied to impeccable formal skill runs through this lively new collection of light verse and occasional poems from one of our most inventive and graceful poets.

John is available for library events and talks to reading groups.

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Jeremy Whittle - Bad Blood

June to December 2008

Jeremy Whittle used to love cycling. Now he's not so sure. This is his insider's story of ten years following the Tour de France, and of how a sport has been corrupted by commercialism, scandal and drugs.

Jeremy is available for library events and talks to reading groups.

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Christopher Lloyd - What on Earth Happened?

October 2008

The Complete Story of the Planet, Life and People from the Big Bang to the Present Day. Christopher Lloyd tells our story from the very beginning of time to the present day, taking giant narrative leaps across millennia and continents. Christopher is available for library events for 50+

For more information, click on continue reading.

Continue reading Christopher Lloyd - What on Earth Happened?

Tim Harris on Sport

January to December 2008

Tim is available for library events and talks to reading groups about his book. For more information, click on continue reading.

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Melissa Benn on One of Us

January to December 2008

Melissa is available for library events and talks to reading groups about her novel. For more information, click on continue reading.

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Sadie Jones on The Outcast

Any date throughout 2008

Sadie is available to promote her novel in libraries and reading groups. For more information, click on continue reading.

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Xiaolu Guo on 20 Fragments of a Ravenous Youth

Any date throughout 2008

Orange Prize shortlisted author of A Concise Chinese-English Dictionary for Lovers, Xiaolu is available to promote her novel in libraries and reading groups. For more information, click on continue reading.

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