Author visits in 2009

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During 2009 we were delighted to welcome:

Fran Sandham and Jill Dudley

Two very different authors talked about their approach to writing travel books to an audience of 38 at Salisbury Library on January 8th. Fran Sandham worked as an editor for Rough Guides for some time before writing about his experience trekking across Africa in 'Traversa'. Jill Dudley examines the historical and spiritual in her books, for example when covering her visits to religious sites in Turkey and Egypt in her book 'Holy Smoke!'

Alison Weir and Tracy Borman

Such was the demand for this event (over 135 people attended) the library service hired Marlborough Town Hall for the evening. Alison Weir and Tracy Borman gave a presentation called 'The Whore and The Virgin' which drew on their detailed research into the lives of Anne Boleyn and Elizabeth I. Many questions were asked of the authors, and the feedback from the event was universally positive. Alison Weir has recently published 'Katherine Swynford: the story of John of Gaunt and his scandalous duchess', whilst Tracy Borman is the author of 'Henrietta Howard: King’s mistress, Queen’s servant'.

Charlotte Popescu

Charlotte is a local author with a number of published titles to her name, including 'Best hens for you: choosing breeds for the garden'. Over fifty people attended a talk at Calne Library in March about keeping hens.

Lesley Pearse

Lesley Pearse visited Calne Library in May to talk about her latest novel Gypsy.

The audience enjoyed a talk from Lesley, who then answered questions on her books and writing from the audience. Lesley lives between Bristol and Bath, and is President of the Bath and West Wiltshire branch of the NSPCC.

Catrin Collier / Katherine John

Catrin Collier also writes under the name of Katherine John, and has written Quick Reads under both names. In May she came to Calne Library and Erlestoke Prison Library to talk to adults who had taken part in the Six Book Challenge, during Adult Learners Week. She also visited Devizes Library. Most fascinating are Catrin’s tales of her research, which most recently have taken her to Poland and Eastern Europe as she sought to uncover the story of her grandmother who was in Poland as the Second World War began, the basis of the story One Last Summer,.Catrin delivered two interesting talks and answered plenty of questions.

Lyndon Stacey

Lyndon Stacey hails from just over the border in Dorset, and it has been suggested by some that she could be closest to taking Dick Francis’s crown. Certainly she is a fan, and with novels based around the racing and show jumping world, with a healthy dose of crime thrown in, you can see why people think there are similarities. Lyndon talked to an enthralled audience in Westbury Library in June. Starting by reading some of her work, she then spent over an hour answering audience questions about her ideas, approach, and how she writes. Lyndon is author of Murder In Mind.

Katie Fforde

Over fifty people enjoyed a warm talk from author Katie Fforde at Warminster Library in June. Katie also started by reading some of her latest book, Love Letters, though she invited people to feel to drift off, as she herself often does when reading! An interesting talk on her ideas and the time it took to get published followed, as well as a selection of questions. Katie comes from Gloucestershire and is currently Chair of the Romantic Novelists Association.

James Holland

Audiences at Devizes Library and Trowbridge Reference Library enjoyed a passionate talk from James Holland about his detailed research into the events of the Second World War. As well as demonstrating practically the differences between British and Nazi jackets and guns, illustrating keenly how this could impact on ultimate success in a war of attrition, James also talked about how he approaches writing period novels as well as respected history books. Subbed as “Sharpe for the Second World War”, James’s latest novel features Jack Tanner who first appeared in The Odin Mission. The audience were intrigued to handle the guns and jackets, and asked a number of questions. James Holland lives near Salisbury and runs the Second World War Forum in addition to his research and writing.

Last updated: 27 May 2010