DISCOVER brings together a host of talent from the worlds of science-fiction, fantasy and horror for one huge weekend of activities. The perfect event for anyone with an interest in the genre, whether you’re a die-hard fan or a casual reader or viewer.
Guests of honours: Peter F Hamilton, Graham Masterton and Jon Courtenay Grimwood.
Snibston Discovery Museum & Century Theatre
Coalville, Leicestershire
Friday 18th- Sunday 20th May
A writer from Nuneaton who has been called “the new Catherine Cookson” will be appearing at libraries in Coalville and Countesthorpe to meet fans, sign books and talk about her new releases.
Though Rosie Goodwin’s first novel was only published in 2004 she has already amassed a large local and nation following, and last month was one of the top 20 most borrowed authors from Leicestershire Libraries.
Rosie Goodwin
She has written sequels to three of Catherine Cookson’s novels, and her brand new book, Whispers, a modern-day ghost story, is published on November 10th, the same day her previous work, wartime drama A Band Of Steel, is published in paperback.
She will visit Coalville Library on Wednesday 26th October and Countesthorpe Library on Monday 21st November, 7- 8pm on both dates. Tickets for both events are £1.50 each and should be booked in advance.
Three acclaimed whodunit authors will be visiting libraries in Leicestershire to talk about their work, meet their readers and even sign a few of their novels over the next few weeks.
Anne Zouroudi, Stephen Booth and Peter James will each be visiting libraries as part of Leicestershire County Council’s Words On The Streets season.
Anne Zouroudi’s books centre around a mild-mannered Greek sleuth called Hermes Diaktoros. They include The Messenger of Athens and The Taint of Midas, and she was shortlisted as a breakthrough author for the ITV Crime Thriller Award in 2008.
Her evening talk takes place at Harborough Library on Thursday 20th October between 7pm and 9pm and tickets cost £2. She will be signing copies of her books after the talk. For more details call 0116 3053627.
Stephen Booth, creator of the acclaimed Ben Cooper detective novels, will be giving his evening talk at Ashby Library the following evening 21st October at 7.15pm, followed by a book signing. Tickets cost £2.50, to book or for more details call 0116 3055917.
Peter James is one of the biggest names Words On The Street has yet managed to attract – a renowned author and film producer whose Roy Grace series, which includes Dead Man’s Grip and Dead Like You, has topped the Sunday Times best seller list. Peter is also the current Chair of the Crime Writers’ Association.
He will also be appearing at Market Harborough Library on Wednesday 2nd November between 7pm and 8pm, followed by a book signing. Tickets cost £3 each, to book or for more details call 0116 3053627.
All these events are expected to be popular, so tickets should be booked early if you would like to attend.
Elite soldier turned bestselling novelist Chris Ryan will be giving a talk and signing copies of his books at Wigston Library in September.
The former SAS Sniper Team Commander and author of several thrilling page-turners will be meeting fans and promoting his new book, Killing For The Company, on Wednesday 7th September 2011.
Chris famously escaped from Iraq while a member of the ill-fated Bravo Two Zero patrol during the Gulf War in 1991, and wrote about his experiences in his most popular work, The One That Got Away.
His escape covered 300 kilometres and was the longest evasion by a lone soldier in British military history.
Since his ordeal, Chris has left the armed forces and has written dozens of popular fiction and non-fiction works, including the Alpha Force series for younger readers, and fitness and survival guides. He also co-created and starred in the TV show, Ultimate Force.
His one hour talk begins at 7.30pm at Wigston Library on Wednesday 7th September. Tickets cost £3 each, and should be booked early as demand for this event is expected to be extremely high. For more information call 0116 3053689 or visit Wigston Library.
Chris Ryan will be available for interview via his publishers, Hodder & Stoughton, prior to the talk. Please contact Eleni Lawrence, Senior Publicity Manager at Hodder & Stoughton, on 020 7873 6174 for more details.
Fans of fiction can look forward to a season of talks and book signings given by renowned authors at libraries in Leicestershire.
Words On The Street’s summer season begins with Gerald Seymour, former ITN news reporter and bestselling author of 27 acclaimed thrillers such as A Line In The Sand, Harry’s Game and The Unknown Soldier.
Gerald will be talking about his journalistic career – during which he covered the Great Train Robbery and the Munich Olympics – and about his highly successful novels, including his brand new book, A Deniable Death, at Oadby Library next week.
“After being holed-up indoors writing all the time, it’s a strange and humbling thing for a writer to meet his readers,” said Gerald, 69, “and I do especially enjoy these intimate gatherings where I can get to know them better.”
The talk will be held at at Oadby Library on Thursday 18th August between 7:30pm and 8.30pm, after which Gerald will be signing copies of his books. Tickets cost £2.50 per person and can be bought from Oadby Library or by calling 0116 305 3628. Demand is expected to be high for this event, so pre-booking is advised.
Coming soon: former SAS soldier turned action-writer Chris Ryan and crime novelist John Connolly will be visiting libraries in Leicestershire in September as part of Words On The Street, with more to come in October.
Words On The Street is organised by Leicestershire County Council and is returning to local libraries after a successful run of events earlier this year. For more information please contact John Martin on 0116 305 3813 or visit www.leics.gov.uk/wordsonthestreet
Fans of fiction can look forward to the return of Words On The Street, Leicestershire libraries’ series of talks and book signings given by renowned authors.
Kicking off the summer/autumn season will be Gerald Seymour, former TV news correspondent and bestselling author of 27 acclaimed and popular thrillers such as A Line In The Sand, Harry’s Game and The Unknown Soldier.
Gerald will be interviewed about his journalistic career, during which he covered the Great Train Robbery and the Munich Olympics, and about his highly successful novels, all of which are set in the world’s trouble spots – including his brand new book, A Deniable Death.
The event will be held at at Oadby Library on Thursday 18th August from 7:30pm- 8.30, after which Gerald will be signing copies of his books . Tickets cost £2.50 per person and can be bought from Oadby library or by calling 0116 305 3628. Demand is expected to be high for this event, so pre-booking is advised.
For information on the Words on the Street events please contact John Martin on 0116 305 3813 or visit www.leics.gov.uk/wordsonthestreet
Circus Stars events will also be coming to Oadby and Wigston libraries in August, as the Summer Reading Challenge continues.
Over 9,000 children across Leicestershire have already signed up to this year’s Summer Reading Challenge – Circus Stars – which encourages continued reading, learning and fun during school holidays.
Special circus skills workshops at libraries will be coming to the Oadby and Wigston area, where children can have a go at spinning plates, juggling and other circus activities.
These free workshops take place at Oadby Library on Friday August 5th in the morning and Wigston Library on Tuesday 16th August in the afternoon. Pre-booking is essential.
For more information on any of these events please call Oadby library on 0116 3053628 or Wigston Library on 0116 3053689, or visit www.leics.gov.uk/oadbywigston_libraries
A novelist will give a talk on her successful sleuth series, and a library worker will trim his lengthy locks for charity this month at Market Harborough Library.
Anne Zouroudi, author of the Greek Detective series will be dropping in to the library as part of the County Council’s Words On The Street series, which sees successful writers visiting Leicestershire’s libaries to talk about their work.
Anne’s books centre around a mild-mannered Greek sleuth called Hermes Diaktoros. They include The Messenger of Athens and The Taint of Midas, and she was shortlisted as a breakthrough author for the ITV Crime Thriller Award in 2008.
Her evening talk takes place on Wednesday 20th July between 7pm and 9pm and tickets cost £2. She will be signing copies of her books after the talk. Advance booking is recommended for this event.
Also at the library in July, library worker Stephen Smith, or ‘Ging’ as he is better known due to his amazing long red locks, is having his hair and beard shaved off to raise money for Leicester-based charity The Laura Centre.
Stephen Smith aka 'Ging'
Anyone is welcome to come along on the day to watch and support the event, which takes place on Saturday July 2nd at 10.30am, and donations can be made by visiting Market Harborough Library during normal opening hours.
There will also be the regular free healthy lifestyle check on Friday July 1st between 10.00am until 1.00pm. These checks, which are run by Harborough District Council’s Active Together team include tests on blood pressure, muscle mass and metabolic age. No appointment necessary; just drop in to the library on the day.
And parents and carers should know that as well as the regular Wriggly Readers sessions in libraries around the Harborough area, July also sees the start of the Summer Reading Challenge, the theme of which for this year is Circus Stars.
