Get ready for Litfest11 – the best ten days of the year! The Litfest programme has arrived hot off the press – and a PDF is avaialable now from the litfest web site (1.7MB)

The long-running writing event’s headline guest this year is Jon Ronson, the author, Guardian columnist and documentary filmmaker whose book Men Who Stare At Goats was made into a feature film with Kevin Spacey, George Clooney and Ewan McGregor. His most recent book, The Psychpath Test, is a fascinating investigation into a world of madness, as the trailer above reveals. Find out more about his work on www.jonronson.com

Carol Birch, the Lancaster author shortlisted for this year’s Man
Booker prize

Also appearing will be Lancaster novelist Carol Birch, shortlisted for this year’s Man Booker prize for her 11th novel Jamrach’s Menagerie, now a Richard and Judy Book Club Autumn list pick. Carol shares the bill with Jo Baker. Sarah Hall is also making a welcome return.

Hugh Lupton and Nick Hennessey will take you right to the heart of Sherwood Forest with the tales of Robin Hood, whilst Tim Ralphs asks: would you dare play Scrabble with the Devil?

Melvin Burgess, Adèle Geras and Gareth Thompson and other children’s authors ask: how far can you go writing fiction for children? How do pictures affect words?

Add to this poetry, short fiction, a new series of Classics and more, and you’ve got the top 10 days of the literature year. Oh, and why not accept an invitation to a Readers’ Party – have a glass of wine, chat about books, and go home with a gift!

• Book your tickets online or call our Box Office at Lancaster Visitor Information Centre on 01524 582394. Find out more on the lifest website – where you can read about all our events as well as booking online.

The Programme At A Glance


An Evening with Jon Ronson
The author of The Men Who Stare at Goats takes us through The Psychopath Test, his new book exploring the heart of the madness industry.
Live at LICA, Lancaster University, Friday 14th October, 7.30pm

Polly Samson, photographed by
Charlie Hopkinson. ©

Polly Samson and Deborah Kay Davies
Part of the Great Short Fiction day.
2.00pm Saturday 15th October at The Storey. £7.50/£6.00 concs.

Rachel Trezise and Alan Beard
Part of the Great Short Fiction day.
3.30pm Saturday 15th October at the Storey. £7.50/£6.00 concs

Sue Gee and Graham Mort
Part of the Great Short Fiction day. 6.00pm, Saturday 15th October at The Storey. £7.50/ £6 concs.

Simon Robson and Anne Donovan
Part of the Great Short Fiction day.
7.30pm, Saturday 15th October at The Storey. £7.50/ £6 conc

• The Flax Walks Launch
Sunday 16th October at The Storey. Free

Tim Ralphs

Storytelling double bill with Tim Ralphs and Jo Blake
Storytelling double bill with Tim Ralphs and Jo Blake.
Monday 17th October 7.30pm. Tickets £7.50/ £6 concs

Festival Readers Party
Reader’s Party with Zosia Wand.
7.30pm, Tuesday 18th October at The Storey.

Jo Baker and Carol Birch
7.30pm, Wednesday 19th October at The Storey. £7.50/£6.00 concs

An Evening with Sarah Hall
7.30pm, Thursday 20th October at The Storey. £7.50/£6 concs

Lunchtime Classic: HP Lovecraft read by David McWilliam
David Williams, Lunchtime Classic.
1.30pm, Friday 21st October at The Storey. £4/£2 concs.

TheLiberty Tree – Tales of Robin Hood and the English Radicals by Hugh Lupton andNick Hennessey
7.00pm, Friday 21st October at The Storey. £7.50/£6.00 concs.

Helen Mort and Paul Batchelor
Part of the Great Poetry Day.
2.30pm, Saturday 22nd October at The Storey. £7.50/ £6 concs

Jen Hadfield

Jen Hadfield and Kei Miller
Part of the Great Poetry Day.
3.30pm, Saturday 22nd October at The Storey. £7.50/ £6 concs.

Jacob Polley and Philip Gross
Part of the Great Poetry Day. 6.00pm,
Saturday 22nd October at The Storey. £7.50/ £6 concs

Jean McNeil and Peter Sansom
Part of the Great Poetry Day.
7.30pm, Saturday 22nd October at The Storey. £7.50/ £6 concs

Words and Pictures
Gareth Thompson and a mystery guest discuss illustrated children’s literature.
1.30pm Sunday 23rd October at The Storey. £7.50/£6.00 concs.

Paul Magrs

Pushing Boundaries
Celia Rees, Melvin Burgess, Paul Magrs and Adele Geras give their thoughts on children’s fiction.
Sunday 23rd October 3.30pm at The Storey. £7.50/£6.00 concs.