17 October 2011

Sell-out signs predicted for Literary Festival

Strong early ticket sales have led the organisers of the Dundee Literary Festival to predict that 'sold out' signs will soon be going up for several of this year's events.

There has been a surge in interest in appearances from best-selling, internationally renowned, authors such as Alexander McCall Smith, Victoria Hislop and Val McDermid, while tickets have also been selling well for the range of other exciting events featuring other authors, poets and journalists.

Now in its fifth year, the Festival returns for 2011 with a bigger-than-ever programme of workshops, talks, book signings, readings and other events. It will take place from Monday 24th - Sunday 30th October, with a range of events to appeal to anyone with a love for the written word.

Highlights of the 2011 Dundee Literary Festival include:

• Writing History with Fiona Watson and Julie Flavell.
• Writing Fiction with Cynthia Rogerson.
• Dawn Wood - The Scientific Poet.
• Chasing the Story with journalists and authors Andrew Nicoll and Mark Douglas-Home.
• Blue Monday with Nicci French.
• The Soundtrack To A Country with authors of music books, Tom Doyle, Lorraine Wilson and Allan Brown.

'We are delighted with the response we've had so far,' said Festival Director Anna Day. 'There is a huge range of events taking place as part of the Literary Festival, and we are sure that visitors will greatly enjoy them all.

'We aim to ensure that there is something for everyone to enjoy at the Literary Festival, regardless of their age or taste. We are passionate about spreading the word and encouraging a growing number of people to engage with the wonderful and diverse world of literature.

'The message now to book lovers is to get your tickets reserved before it’s too late.'

Neil Forsyth will launch the next instalment in his popular, and hilarious, Bob Servant series, while the Dundee Comics Day will bring some of the biggest names in the genre to Dundee for the one-day conference.

A range of workshops for budding writers will be held, and those with literary ambitions will be able to take further inspiration from the announcement of the winner of the 2011 Dundee International Book Prize, the UK’s biggest prize for unpublished authors.

Tickets can be bought by calling 01382 384413, emailing literarydundee@gmail.com, or by visiting the sales booth at the Overgate Centre, Dundee Contemporary Arts or Literary Dundee, 5th Floor, Tower Building, University of Dundee.

More details about all the events taking place at the Festival can be found at festival website, where tickets can be bought online.

For media enquiries contact:
Grant Hill
Press Officer
University of Dundee
Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384768
E-MAIL: g.hill@dundee.ac.uk
MOBILE: 07854 953277