The Cheltenham Literary Fesitival is in full swing. Like many similar events around the World established writers, agents and publishers are welcome to smile while nodding, smirk while signing hardback copies, and laugh all the way to their banks. Luckily, some venues welcome local authors to some of the events, and not just as fee-paying spectators. Although I come from Cheltenham and have played the piano on the same piano stool as Vladimir Ashkenazy just ater he vacated it, I now live in Chester. Luckily the Chester Lit Fest does welcome local authors and I’ve read excerpts of my Escaping Reality book as part of such festivities.
My nephew Ben Bamber is also a writer, but sadly, remains in Cheltenham, which for some inexplicable reason, does not welcome local authors to participate in the festival unless they are a top author already. Catch 22 in action. Check out Ben’s website for details here.
