Budleigh Salterton Literary Festival features inspiring talks, readings and conversations with talented authors, scientists, playwrights, historians, broadcasters, economists, comedians and rising literary stars.

Taking place from 17thto 20th September, the festival will host a diverse selection of critically acclaimed, award-winning authors who are set to descend on the East Devon seaside town for the festival’s seventh consecutive year.
Appearing on Thursday afternoon will be celebrated children’s author and artist, Judith Kerr, creator of iconic books such as The Tiger Who Came to Tea and the Mog series. Also making an appearance on Thursday afternoon will be British comedian and writer Helen Lederer who will discuss her debut novel Losing It , and her colourful career.

Returning to the festival line-up is double Man Booker Prize winner and long-standing Honorary Festival President, Dame Hilary Mantel DBE, who will give an account of the literature that has shaped her life and writing.

On the Friday, biographers Ruth Scurr and Rachel Holmes will discuss their biographies of 17th century English gentleman John Aubrey and radical feminist Eleanor Marx.

Artist and textile designer Kaffe Fassett will share his love of colour and bold patterns, whilst former cricketer turned cricket commentator David 'Bumble' Lloyd will talk about his forthcoming memoir and thoughts on the game.

Friday evening closes with an exciting event that celebrates the BBC's television adaptations of Winston Graham's much loved Poldark. His son Andrew Graham will discuss the process of bringing the characters, stories and rugged Cornish Coast to life with the series scriptwriter Debbie Horsfield. There's also a rumour that members of the cast will join this event.

Saturday will see Tracey Thorn, solo artist and one half of English musical duo Everything but the Girl, in conversation about her recent release Naked at the Albert Hall and also on Saturday is British dramatist David Hare who will be making a special appearance at the Festival to talk about his life writing for theatre, film and television.

British-Chinese writer and Radio presenter Xinran will be talking about her thoughts on China and her eye-opening new book Buy Me The Sky: the Remarkable Truth of China's One-Child Generation.

Robert Douglas-Fairhurst will celebrate the 150th anniversary of Alice in Wonderland and explore what makes Lewis Carroll's magical tale so unique and distinctive.

Dame Margaret Drabble will discuss her latest novel, The Pure Gold Baby and her thoughts on storytelling and great literature, whilst Man Booker Prize winner Ben Okri will wax lyrical about creativity, transformation and his first new novel in seven years, The Age of Magic.

Bringing the festival to a close on Sunday afternoon will be much loved author Sarah Waters who will read and talk about her latest novel, The Paying Guests.

http://www.budlitfest.org.uk/