ORGANISERS of the Essex Book Festival proudly announced this week that award winning crime writer Mike ‘The Ripster’ Ripley will be the new patron of the Festival for 2008. He takes over from Frances Wheen (both pictured here) The 2007 Festival involved 64 writers appearing at 50 venues across Essex, making it one of the biggest, if not the biggest, county literary festival going. Crime highlights in 2007 were: P D James, Colin Dexter, Barbara Nadel, Nicci French, Lindsey Davis and Andrew Taylor.
Mike, as all readers of Shots knows, is behind the ‘Getting Away With Murder’ column, which is the internet’s only gossip column dedicated to crime fiction. And for those of you who don’t know who he is Mike is the author of the 'Angel' series of comedy crime thrillers and as well as being acknowledged as “England’s funniest crime writer” (The Times), he is a respected critic of crime fiction, reviewing for the Daily Telegraph, The Birmingham Post and The Good Book Guide. (Is that enough, Mike?) Being an Essex man he has been an active supporter of the Festival. He presented the very popular Morse evening featuring Colin Dexter and Ted Childs for the 2007 Festival and also took part in the launch event at Witham Library with P.D. James.
Mike said: “I am absolutely delighted, and honoured, to be the Patron of the 2008 Festival. I simply cannot think of another county-wide festival which is done on the scale and with the enthusiasm that we do it in Essex. It is also a Festival which is not afraid to innovate and present books and reading in new ways to new audiences. Anything which puts writers and readers together is a good thing in my book!’
County Councillor Iris Pummell, Cabinet Member for Community Services, said: “We are very proud to have Mike on board. He is already coming up with some fantastic ideas for the Festival next year and his enthusiasm will certainly reap rewards. A lot of hard work and commitment goes into creating the line-up for the Festival and I am sure his input will help to make next year’s event even bigger and better.”
The Essex Book Fair will run from March – April 2008. More details can be obtained from Kate Tindle on 01245 430094
1 comment:
As a former Essex man in my youth - all I can say is Pip Pip Ripster
Ali
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