The Chiswick Book Festival has revealed the line up for the ever-popular Local Authors’ Showcase, which opens the Festival each year. It takes place at the George IV pub in Chiswick High Road on Wednesday 10 September, hosted by the Festival’s programme director Jo James. Speaking for just two minutes each, the writers will include the award-winning children’s author and former star of West End musicals, Robert Tregoning; former Observer Magazine assistant editor Emma Cook on her debut novel, You Can’t Hurt Me; Tabard Theatre director Nick Bromley on life with David Garrick at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane; and local historian James Marshall on The Great West Road: A Centenary History.
Memoirs and biographies, from Drury Lane and drag to the SIS and Edward de Bono
Nick Bromley of the Theatre at the Tabard has written Cakes and Ale honouring the life, times and legacy of Robert Baddeley – cook, valet and actor member of David Garrick’s company at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane and original director of the Drury Lane Theatrical Fund. Edward de Bono was a household name, travelling the globe, bringing his lateral thinking techniques to schools, corporations, and leaders in crisis: Sarah Tucker’s book Love Laterally has contributions from Tony Blair and de Bono’s family, friends and colleagues. Christopher Stobart traces his family history back to the Austro-Hungarian Empire and the dark days of pre-war Austria: in Fragments of A Life he recounts his journeys in publishing and financial journalism to Africa, South America and remote parts of Russia, Central Asia and China, at a time of great social and political change and unrest. Dean Atta has played many roles in his life, from choirboy to drag act, grandson to mentor, poet to lover: in Person Unlimited, he explores his wins and losses, shame and pride, pain and joy. Lindsay Swan was a partner with Sylvia Holder in a PR consultancy, before becoming Head of PR and Comms for one of the Prince’s charities and a trustee of the Venkat Trust: their book Accidental Lives tells how they travelled the world and set up a charity in India. The late Joan Langrish was Stranded in France at the start of World War II but found her way back to England to join the Secret Intelligence Service: her publisher son David Crane is launching her autobiography, written with Sally Mercer, this month.
Fiction from Baroque opera and comic crime to Chiswick, Lagos and Lahore
Jon Elkon’s first two novels were published by Andre Deutsch in the last century: his latest, Ragazzo, is an eccentric, comedic tragedy about two millionaires in the 19th century hoping to revive Baroque opera. After three decades working in entertainment and lifestyle journalism, C.R. Westbrook’s first novel Troublemaker is a dark comedy thriller about a showbiz reporter on a news website, who fears her murky past may have come back to haunt her when her life is destroyed by a new colleague. Former Observer Magazine assistant editor Emma Cook’s debut novel, You Can’t Hurt Me, is a psychological thriller about a journalist who takes on a job of a lifetime: ghostwriting the memoir of a celebrity neuroscientist, whose research is overshadowed by rumours surrounding the shocking death of his wife Eva. Geraldine Taylor’s mystery crime novel A Particular Attachment is about a Chiswick psychotherapist who must become an amateur sleuth to find out the truth about the death of her patient. Aisha Hassan’s debut novel When The Fireflies Dance was inspired by a true story, and is described as a mesmerising novel of love, family, resilience and redemption which will appeal to fans of modern classics The Kite Runner and The Beekeeper of Aleppo. Keith Richards spent over 30 years working in developing markets across Africa, including Guinness Nigeria, and his deep engagement with the community earned him several chieftaincy titles: his debut novel, Which of Your Sons?, reflects this wealth of experience.
Non-fiction from populism, personal growth and light to the Great West Road
A member of the Local History team at Hounslow Council’s Library Service for 32 years, James Marshall has an unrivalled knowledge of this part of West London: The Great West Road: A Centenary History is packed with illustrations and tells the road’s story, from the earliest discussions about whether it should be built at all, to the present day. Finance executive Paul Summerville‘s Reclaiming Populism: How Economic Fairness Can Win Back Disenchanted Voters defies mainstream theories of why populism continues to take hold in so much of the world: he and co-author Eric Protzer say factors such as economic inequality don’t tell the whole story. Deliberate Coaching: Unlock your best self, One goal at a time by Javier Rosales and Jose E. Gonzattioffers a roadmap for personal growth and professional development, with captivating storytelling and insightful analysis. Stories with Light, designed by graphic artist Jane Davies, is a cabinet of curiosities: a colourfully illustrated collection of facts, anecdotes and ideas about light and how we use it, arranged into three sections: Light, Lighting, and Illumination. Richard Harper’s Displacement brings to life the powerful story of three literary giants who faced hatred with the written word: Stefan Zweig, Joseph Roth, and Walter Benjamin created masterpieces while fleeing Nazi persecution. He reveals how they maintained their creative spirit in the darkest times, offering insights that resonate powerfully with today’s refugee experiences.
Children’s books from a tiger on a train to cats and a rock family band
On an extraordinary journey to the sea, a tiger boards the train, along with a jungle of other animals – all without dad even looking up from his phone! There’s A Tiger On The Train is written by debut author, local school librarian Mariesa Dulak, and illustrated by award-winner Rebecca Cobb: Mariesa’s next book is The Silver Shadow. From Robert Tregoning, the Indie Picture Book Award Winner 2024 and former West End star of Matilda The Musical, comes The Rock Family Band: Dad is a rock guitarist, Pops is the singer, Liv is the drummer, Bo is keyboardist and Nan and the dog are in the band too. But the youngest child, Sam is a flautist who likes peace, quiet and classical music… Ludo and Lulu Go To Town is a beautifully illustrated, award-winning children’s book by A.R. Wallace, taking young readers on a whimsical journey through local landmarks like Ravenscourt Park and Shepherd’s Bush, into the heart of London, with Lulu behind the wheel of her little green car. Jonny and the Mystery of the Sun Disc, by Italian fashion lecturer Melania Giofre, follows Jonny, a young boy whose life changes when elements from his dreams start appearing in real life. Guided by the God of Dreams, Master Morpheus, he must retrieve a magical Sun Disc to save both the dream world and the waking world from a looming curse plotted by the sorcerer Circe.
Notes to editors:
The Chiswick Book Festival has always highlighted and promoted local authors. The Observer wrote: “Chiswick may be Britain’s most literary location” following the first edition of the Festival’s online archive, The Chiswick Timeline of Writers and Books. This now lists almost 500 authors who have lived in Chiswick W4 and written a book. They include two winners of the Nobel prize for literature, one Booker prize winner, two Oscar winners, a poet laureate – and several writers from our Local Authors Showcase over recent years.
The 17th Chiswick Book Festival will take place from10-15 September. For tickets, programme details and updates, visit the festival’s web site.