Book Festival opens 2nd chapter

Following on from the success of last year’s festival, plans are already underway for the second annual Derby Book Festival.

The festival will be hosted in a number of venues across the city, from the 3rd to the 11th June.

The Derby Book Festival celebrates the joy of books and the pleasure and power of reading. It aims to inspire a new generation of readers with an exciting educational programme. Last year’s festival highlights included Michael Morpurgo, David Nicholls, Sarah Waters, Katie Fforde, Simon Armitage, Penelope Lively and managing director of Waterstones, James Daunt.

A number of Bondholder companies played a key role in organising the event, including Derby City Council, Codemakers, Connect, Archer Hampson, Cathedral Quarter Business Improvement District, Dains, Déda, Derby Telegraph, Derby College, Derby LIVE, Derby Museums, Derby Theatre, Foundation Derbyshire, QUAD, Status Social, University of Derby, WDA Branding, as well as Marketing Derby.

Liz Fothergill, Chair of Derby Book Festival, said: “A major reason for the resounding success of the Festival is due to the wonderful partnership between all the arts and cultural organisations in the city and the huge generosity of local businesses.  Their support was crucial and has helped us to successfully secure funding from Arts Council England.  We look forward to working with them all again to make the second Festival even better.”

Poet Laureate, Carol Ann Duffy and musician John Sampson will open this year’s festival on Friday 3rd June, at Bondholder Derby Cathedral.

To celebrate the launch of the festival, organisers have launched a flash fiction competition. The challenge is to write 50 word story around the theme of secrets.

To enter the competition, or to find out more information about the festival, please visit www.derbybookfestival.co.uk