2011 ESSEX BOOK FESTIVAL

Come join us and many of the county's readers and writers on Thursday 3 March at Chelmsford's main library. We are all set to welcome you to the 2011 Essex Book Festival followed by a whole month of events and authors appearing throughout this large county.

Famous names such as Andrea Levy, Tom Courtenay, David Baddiel, Will Hutton, Barbara Erskine, Julian Stockwin, Simon Heffer, Peter Sissons, Jojo Moyes, Lindsey Davis, Joanna Trollope, Lesley Pearse, Peter Lovesey, Esther Freud and Michael Dobbs and many others will entertain us. Don't miss the chance to see not one but three US authors: Sara Paretsky, Kim Edwards and Sarah Blake.

Showcasing new and growing Essex talent as never before, watch out for rising stars Kimberley Chambers and Matthew Plampin and debut authors Guy Saville, Erin Kelly and Ceri Norman. Many events will be on hot topics as varied as landscape and environment, current affairs, music, English usage, history and biography.

Tickets can be bought by telephone, using a credit card, on 01206 573948 via the Box Office, there is an 80p per ticket charge for online bookings. Tickets will be posted. By post: please complete a booking form (found inside the Festival programme) and send with payment to Essex Book Festival Box Office, Balkerne Gate, Colchester CO1 1PT. There is no processing charge for postal bookings. In person by visiting the Mercury Theatre, Balkerne Gate, Colchester CO1 1PT. The Box Office opens 10am-8pm Monday to Saturday

Questions about events or a general enquiry about the Festival please email: answers.direct@essex.gov.uk or telephone 0845 603 7628