Leading UK authors for Ennis Book Club Festival

This is the 6th Ennis Book Club Festival, organised in association with Clare County Library. The 2012 line-up includes two influential English novelists who will discuss their writing in the County Clare town from the 2nd to the 4th of March. Lynne Reid Banks is a bestselling author for children and adults. Her first novel, The L-Shaped Room, was published in 1960 and caused outrage in more conservative quarters for its portrayal of an unmarried mother-to-be who is thrown out by her father and has to live in the L-shaped room of the title. The novel was later adapted for cinema by the legendary Bryan Forbes to great critical acclaim.

Patrick Gale, from a new generation of prolific British novelists, has written fourteen novels, including the bestselling Rough Music and Notes from an Exhibition. His latest novel, A Perfectly Good Man, will be published in March, coinciding with the Ennis Festival. Mr Gale will read from his new novel on Friday 2nd March when the Ennis Book Club Festival is officially opened by the distinguished poet, playwright and broadcaster Vincent Woods.

Lynne Reid Banks and new Irish author Kevin Barry will give public interviews at a major event in Glór theatre on Saturday 3rd March. Short story writer and novelist Kevin Barry was awarded the 2007 Rooney Prise for Literature. Ms Banks will talk about a long and hugely successful writing career including her classic children’s novel The Indian in the Cupboard which has sold nearly six million copies worldwide. Buen Camino tells the story of an Irish father and his 18 year old daughter and their extraordinary 900 kilometre walk across northern Spain along the ancient pilgrim route to the shrine of St. James at Compostella. Irish Times journalist Peter Murtagh & his daughter Natasha are guaranteed to attract huge interest when they relate their story at the Ennis Festival which attracts Book Club members from all over the country. Maureen Gaffney, one of Ireland’s most respected, trusted and well-liked commentators is sure to enthral her audience when she talks about the state we’re in. She has written Flourishing, a gripping, stimulating and inspiring manifesto on how to flourish and why we need to.

The annual Sunday Symposium packs a huge early morning crowd when media consultant Caimin Jones chairs an often noisy, sometimes enlightening and always entertaining debate. This year, the guest panel will discuss the influence of People & Place on the written word. The best part is when the audience mixes it with the panellists who this year include Catriona Crowe from the National Achieves, playwright Michael Harding and award winning novelist and short story writer Cristine Dwyer Hickey.
The 10 Best Books You Should Read recommendation is a festival favourite. This year’s choices are made by Barnardos Director Fergus Finlay and Dr. Pat Donlon former Director of the National Library. The ever popular Shelia Flanagan is doing a public interview, there are several poetry readings, Wonderland Productions present a dramatization of Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray, the Clare Champion short story winners will read from their work and the 2012 Book Club of the Year award will be presented. Tickets for the Ennis Book Club Festival are now available. Booking for all festival events in all venues is through Glor Box Office. To book, ring 065 6843103 or email boxfoffice@glor.ie Further festival information at www.ennisbookclubfestival.com