I organise author talks and book launches ranging from intimate gatherings of around 30 guests to large evening events with capacity audiences of more than 300 people.
Recent guest authors I have hosted in Woodbridge have included journalist Robert Peston; novelists Margaret Drabble, Kate Mosse, Victoria Hislop, Sophie Hannah, Alexander McCall Smith and Deborah Moggach; Olympic rowing champion Katherine Grainger; children's writer Michael Morpurgo; comedian and presenter Griff Rhys Jones; historians Max Hastings and Dan Snow; politician Alan Johnson; artist Maggi Hambling; presenter Kate Humble; cookery writers Diana Henry and Sabrina Ghayour; and antiques expert, Judith Miller.
I have also been engaged to host authors 'in conversation' for The Cut Arts Centre in Halesworth, Felixstowe Book Festival, FolkEast, Flipside Festival at Snape Maltings, First Light Festival in Lowestoft, Lavenham Literature Festival and the HighTide Festival in Aldeburgh, and I have organised literary events for local schools and as the Artistic Director for the Suffolk Libraries Bookfest in 2016.
In 2008 I was the Artistic Director for the first Children’s Book Festival in Woodbridge, Suffolk. Responsible for creating and implementing the concept, I devised four days of activities for children of all ages, and their parents. Many sessions were free and all were creatively run to ensure full interaction, participation and engagement throughout the community. Leading authors (including Philip Reeve, Nick Butterworth, Kevin Crossley-Holland and Meg Rosoff) presented at venues throughout the town. Supplementing the headline speakers there were book launches, story playtimes for toddlers, a children’s comedian, storytelling trails around the town led by members of local amateur dramatic groups, and a dogwalking storytime by the river. It was an ambitious and varied programme which was professionally run and well-attended, creating a genuine excitement throughout the town.
