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Until the 5th of May in 1980, the Special Air Service (SAS) were relatively unknown. But the Iranian Embassy Siege catapulted this elite regiment to become the most famous special forces unit in the world. Rusty Firmin was part of the crack team that liberated the hostages from the Iranian Embassy and you have chance to meet him and ask questions at the Surrey Heath Literary Festival. I remember watching the assault on the BBC news. I must have b … Read More

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The name is largely unfamiliar in the West although it rolls fairly easily off the tongue, yet the history of Russia’s Vladimirka road cuts through the soul of this nation with the searing accuracy of a surgical tool. It was famously painted in 1892 by Isaak Levitan, whose canvas depicts a hushed, un-peopled territory that almost looks tranquil. But don’t be fooled! Beneath the rutted tracks and dense vegetation are the bones of dead people. They … Read More

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In brief, here’s the good and the bad.

• Every event ran as planned
• Every event drew high praise from their audiences
• Most authors are hoping for an invitation to next year’s Festival
• Strong demand from the audience for a 2012 Festival
• Impressive expertise shown by everyone in Camberley Theatre
• Hayley Long’s talk to students at Collingwood College went down a storm
• Over 300 short stories submitted by local children to the short story competition, and the prize giving event was a joyous occasion.
• Success of the Big Read Debate of Nigel Farndale’s The Blasphemer due to stimulating contribution from the panel.
• Terrific support from bookseller Waterstones throughout the Festival
• Pent up demand for a regular writer’s workshop
• Great to have support from our MP Michael Gove, at the prize giving ceremony and the Big Read Debate.
• Juliette Foster’s ‘in conversation’ sessions with the authors added a professionalism and intellectual gravitas to the event, which the audience and authors enjoyed and appreciated.

I won’t say bad – here’s the not so good:

• Audience numbers weren’t as high as expected or needed
• We didn’t get the scheduling of the events quite right
• We probably need a couple of bigger names in any future festival, and publicity for the events need to start much earlier.

Finally, it’s a pleasure to thank the contributions of the team of organisers: Trish and Steph from the Camberley Theatre, Pippa and Helen from Watersones, Kay and Louise from Surrey Libraries, and not forgetting Lesley from author’s agents Pollinger Limited. Massive thanks to Juliette Foster for reading four books for the festival, one for the Big Read Debate Panel, and three for hosting the ’in conversation with Juliette talks’. We also received help from Craig of Creative Presentations in Bagshot. Without all their help, there’d never have been a festival.

Ooops: mustn’t neglect to thank Paul Deach for all the superb publicity in the Surrey Heath Residents Weblog, and coverage in the Camberley News & Mail.

Mary’s workshop had almost 40 people last night, many of whom said that they’d like to attend regular workshop events to improve their writing. Reports indicate that the workshop was enjoyed by all.

Now this is what I’d call a result.

Vampire stories, like the movie genre they’ve spawned, are a bit like marmite: you either like them or hate them. Personally I don’t mind the spread but I do draw the line at bloodsuckers. Maybe my prejudice was shaped by Christopher Lee, whose brilliant depiction of the elegant Count Dracula in the Hammer horror films always scared the living daylights out of me. How I survived those memories of fangs embedded in jugulars is a bit of a mystery. … Read More

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At the end of last week the selection committee reviewed the shortlist, from which we selected the winners of the children’s short story competition. Over 150 entries were received, showing the amazing creativity, and writing talent of the children in our Borough. Children do seem to like to write dark stories, no doubt influenced by Harry Potter adventures.

At the prize giving event, a number of the stories will be read out. This will be followed by our MP Michael Gove, Secretary of State for Education, presenting prizes to our winners in these categories.

• Overall Winner
• 2nd place in the younger category
• 3rd Place in the younger category
• 2nd place in the older category
• 3rd Place in the older category
• Waterstones Special Recognition Award
• Surrey County Libraries Special Recognition Award

Don’t think we could ask for more in the way of festival promotion. There’s an advert outside, a window display, and plenty of information on their What’s On wall behind the counter.

You’ll be able to get authors to sign any books you’ve bought after their talks at the Festival. Waterstones will also have all the Festival books in the Camberley Theatre Foyer, along with book plates that you can insert into your book at a later date.

Jeremy Poolman’s talk about his latest book – The Road of Bones – is an adventure travelogue into the heart of Russia. In the Guardian’s My Travels series, Jeremy tells of his experiences travelling through Russia. BBC TV News presenter Juliette Foster introduces Jeremy, inviting you to listen to the anecdotes he collected on an epic journey along of Russia’s greatest road.

Talk description: Jeremy’s latest book The Road of Bones – A Journey to the Dark Heart of Russia is a travelogue of his journey along the Vladimirka Road which starts in Moscow’s Red Square and ends in Siberia. Jeremy was inspired to find out more about the road because his friend’s great grand parents were sent to a Russian Gulag. He also saw a painting entitled Vladimirka Road by Isaak Levitan at the National Gallery in London and determined to travel along the road himself

For over 200 years, the route of the Vladimirka Road has been at the centre ofRussia’s history, having witnessed everything from the first human footsteps to the rise of Putin and his oil-rich oligarchy. Tsars, wars, famine and wealth: all have crossed and travelled this road, but no-one has ever told its story.