Artist Grayson Perry

Great excitement growing in the county as we look ahead to the annual Essex Book Festival  to be launched on MONDAY 29 FEBRUARY 2016.  Winner of the 2003 Turner Prize, Grayson Perry will be there to launch our Book Festival at Anglia Ruskin University in Chelmsford, the town (now city) where he was born.  Following the launch, more than 100 writers and artists will be descending on Essex throughout March. Now is the time to book tickets, which are selling rapidly. We have the chance of seeing and listening to some of the UK's best loved authors, artists, politicians, journalists and historians appearing at venues throughout the county at more than 40 events.

Festival highlights include appearances by novelist Louis de Bernieres, ex-Minister Vince Cable, Orange Prize Winning novelist Helen Dunmore and many, many more well-known writers and performers.

Tomorrow, as a Patron of the Festival, I will be talking about this great happening on our monthly Book Club programme at the Phoenix 98fm studio in Brentwood.  So much to include  during the session as we also have another wonderful Essex artist on the show - James (Jim) Merriott who is the guest of presenter Michelle Ward. 

 Hopefully, too, the Phoenix 98fm studio will welcome the EBF Director, Ros Green in March who will be offering her thoughts on this year's Book Festival. To book tickets, please contact the Mercury Theatre in Colchester  01206 573948/mercurytheatre.co.uk and check out the website www.essexbookfestival.org.uk which will give all details. Programmes can be found at most libraries in Essex.  Look forward to seeing you there.