Thursday, February 26, 2009

Emirates Airlines International Festival of Literature

I can't help it. I am so excited about this despite all the controversy that has raged around it. I have very strong views about this but I will keep them to myself. Discretion being the better part of valour. I love living here but I have found Dubai to be a literary desert (yes, pun intended). I am sure there are other writers around but I haven't found them. Hopefully this will pull them out of the sand!

Today I will be attending a discussion on literary prizes and their impact, Peter James talking about Crime and Penny Vincenzi in conversation. I hate the fact that many of the ones I would like see overlap the others! I need Hermione's times twisting thing from Harry Potter.

Needless to say I will report back fully.

I am hoping that on Saturday they will have the promised discussion on censorship with Margaret Atwood attending by video link - of course this means I will miss part of Philippa Greggory but.....

p.s. the radio 2 interview went well. dd actually overcame her nerves and spoke :-)

9 comments:

Jan Jones said...

Enjoy yourself, Liz. Penny Vincenzi is great. Did you see her at the RNA September meeting last year?

Phillipa said...

Have a fabulous time Liz. P x

Jenny Beattie said...

OH I'M SO JEALOUS. I hope you have a fabulous time Liz.

Anonymous said...

You lucky thing. I'm a fan of Peter James; just bought the latest Roy Grace novel.

Deborah Carr (Debs) said...

You're going to have such a brilliant time, I can't wait to read all about it.

Annie Wicking said...

I'm glad everything is going well for you. I just wish I could have hear you on Radio 2.

best wishes,
Annie

Laura Essendine said...

I'd love to see Penny live as I've read everything she's ever written. I'm waiting ten years until I've forgotten the stories then I'm going to give them another go. Windfall is my favourite.

I saw Margaret Atwood speak at the London Book Fair a couple of years back and she was so interesting and so funny. Joanna Trollope was there too and it was just like having coffee with a best friend and 400 other people.

Have fun.

Laura Essendine
The Accidental Guru Blog

Flowerpot said...

sounds good liz = do report back!

Fiona Mackenzie. Writer said...

Margaret Atwood? Even if only by video link, she is such an iconic writer. You lucky thing. Do send news.