26 September 2011
Million-selling author to appear at Dundee Literary Festival
Bestselling author Victoria Hislop will make a rare public appearance at the upcoming Dundee Literary Festival to mark the publication of her latest novel.
She will provide an exclusive insight into her work and literary life as well as reading extracts from The Thread, which will be launched next month, when she visits Dundee on Friday, 28th October.
The Thread returns to Greece, the setting for her internationally bestselling debut novel The Island. Hislop proved an overnight sensation when The Island was first published in 2005. The book held the number one slot in the Sunday Times paperback chart for eight consecutive weeks and sold more than one million copies. Her second novel, The Return, debuted at number one in the Sunday Times chart.
Hislop’s books combine history, timeless stories of personal discovery and breathtaking characterisation. She will discuss her work as well as answering questions from the audience at this very special event.
Now in its fifth year, the Dundee Literary Festival takes place between Monday, 24th and Sunday, 30th October. This year's Festival is bigger than ever, and sees some of the biggest names from the world of fiction, poetry, journalism and the publishing industry take part in a series of workshops, talks, book signings, and readings. Events will take place at the Dalhousie Building, Old Hawkhill, Dundee.
Alexander McCall Smith, one of the world’s most popular and prolific authors, will spend an hour in conversation with local novelist Jamie Jauncey as they discuss Alexander latest titles and his favourite characters from Botswana, Edinburgh and Pimlico. The event also takes place on Friday, 28th October.
Crime writer Val McDermid, who has sold over 10 million books worldwide and had her books translated into 30 languages, will form a darkly comic double act with the University of Dundee’s forensic anthropologist Professor Sue Black.
Professor Black provides the expert advice McDermid needs to ensure the scientific accuracy of her work, and the duo will discuss their working relationship and how they hope this collaboration may lead to exciting scientific discoveries with the launch of the Million For A Morgue campaign.
Dundee Literary Festival director Anna Day said she was delighted to be able to bring star names such as Victoria Hislop, Alexander McCall Smith and Val McDermid to Dundee, and that sold-out signs would shortly be going up for several of this year’s events.
'We've really managed to bring world class literary talent to Dundee this year and we are very excited about the line up we’ve put together,' she said.
'The festival continues to grow year-on-year, and this year’s events begin on Monday, 24th October with a series of workshops with a team of experienced tutors. From Thursday to Saturday, some of the biggest names in literature will be thrilling the crowds along with an exciting series of salons, workshops and talks designed to appeal to book lovers and inspire the next generation of writers.'
'We really think there is something for everyone with this fantastic array of authors taking part, and anyone considering coming to any of our events, should make sure they get their tickets quick to avoid disappointment.'
Other authors set to appear include Cynthia Rogerson, Andrew Nicoll and Simon Stephenson, while the winner of the 2011 Dundee International Book Prize will be announced on Friday, 28th October.
A series of events with local authors will be held, and 'Wot Comics Taught Me...Dundee Comics Day 2011' will take place on Sunday, 30th October. A stellar line-up of some of the world’s finest comic authors, artists and experts will be taking part.
The full programme can be found at www.literarydundee.co.uk, and tickets are available from Literary Dundee, 5th floor, Tower Building, University of Dundee, tel 01382 384413. Tickets will also be available at Dundee Contemporary Arts from Tuesday, 27th September.
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 |
