ChipLitFest

Novelist Emily Barr offers a masterclass in creating characters that hook your reader from the very first line. 

Clare is co-author of Playwriting: An Artists' and Writers' Companion. Her own plays have been performed all over the world. Her playwriting workshop at ChipLitFest will be invaluable to anyone interested in script writing. 

Jim Bennett is a science historian. He reveals the history of navigation and examines the human need to explore. Part of the Very Short Introductions series.

Mark is a Festival patron and well-established Festival favourite. He returns to ChipLitFest 2017 to interview crime-writing comrade Ian Rankin and host another devilishly difficult ChipLit Quiz.

Never seen in public, Brian Bilston has captured the attention of the poetry world through his verse on Twitter and his book, You Took the Last Bus Home. Join Dr Dylan Miller as he explores Brian's work and the mystery of the man himself. 

Festival patron Fanny Blake held senior roles in fiction publishing before turning author. She is a frequent interviewer at ChipLitFest events and a great advocate of the delights of fiction. 

Sharon won the CWA Dagger in the Library for her whole body of work so she is perfectly placed to pass on must-have advice in her crime writing workshop. She will also be in conversation with Clare Mackintosh - two thriller writers at the top of their game. 

Stephanie's writing includes novels of passion, two guides to coping with cancer and, her latest, a passionate romance with books at its heart. 

Love comics? Learn how to create your own comic strip in a masterclass with cartoonist and writer Neill Cameron.

Fortnum & Mason Cookery Writer of the Year, columnist for The Guardian and New Statesman, Felicity will be at Wild Thyme discussing some perfect dishes for a Sunday morning. 

Parish life can seem mysterious to outsiders, so join Reverend Richard Coles for wonderful insights into the world of the priesthood as he discusses the second volume of his memoirs, detailing his entry into the clergy.

Sue's CV is as varied as it's impressive-producer, DJ, broadcaster, presenter, novelist and ChipLitFest Patron

Part of our extraordinary team of authors working in schools in and around Chipping Norton, Jo also co-curated last year's children's ChipLitFest. 

The British landscape has been continuously occupied by humans for 12,000 years, from the end of the Ice Age to the C21st. The Making of the British Landscape is Nicholas Crane’s masterwork, the distillation of a lifetime of writing and thinking about people and place. 

Running’s health benefits are well-known, but the full extent to which it improves our wellbeing can still prove surprising. Join Vybarr Cregan-Reid for his talk on the full magic of running.

A Faber Academy graduate with a very exciting first novel, We All Begin As Strangers, out this April, Harriet Cummings will be talking with other up and coming authors at the New Voices 2017 panel.

Matthew explores the extraordinary life of Beatrix Potter, one of the world’s bestselling and most cherished authors in Over the Hills and Far Away.

Festival favourite and patron John Dougherty brings us his hilarious debut poetry collection. Expect classroom antics and even a lion! John is also part of our extraordinary team of authors working in schools in and around Chipping Norton.

Journalist and columnist, Ian Dunt, offers a guide to everything you need to know about Britain's exit from the European Union.

Part of our extraordinary team of authors working in schools in and around Chipping Norton, Abi is a great adventurer who has lived with the Kazakh Eagle Hunters in Mongolia.

A short story enthusiast who took up writing to escape angry bees. 

In Nov 2016, Christopher was a tutor at ChipLitFest's all-day Writing Short Stories workshop. 

Poet, author and musician Salena Godden performs work from Fishing in the Aftermath and literary memoir Springfield Road. Do not miss this fantastic spoken word event - part of Salena's LIVEwire tour. 

Best known as the BBC's Arts Editor, Will also spent seven years as a Director at the Tate Galleries and has written two books. 

Martin is co-author of Client Earth which describes how passionate environmental lawyers are advocating for our planet. He is also the chair of Creative Writing at Hull University. 

Bryony Gordon’s Mad Girl was one of the most memorable pieces of writing last year, a raw and brilliant account of mental illness. Join her in conversation with Cathy Rentzenbrink about this insight into life with OCD.

Former journalist Candy’s debut children’s book Tall Story was shortlisted for 13 prizes and nominated for the Carnegie Medal.

Shiver me timbers! Get on board with George as he rows off for a pirate adventure with pizza!

Joe is returning to ChipLitFest as an interviewer for the third year. When he's not in Chipping Norton, Joe is the producer of the Radio 2 Book Club. 

Part of our extraordinary team of authors working in schools in and around Chipping Norton, Swapna is the award-winning author of the Dave Pigeon books. 

What if you had to be evacuated and your pet couldn’t come? Twelve-year-olds Rosy and Tilly find a solution to this WW2 dilemma in Miriam's latest book, The Emergency Zoo. 

Food presenter and author Saira Hamilton leads a cooking demonstration exploring traditional dishes of Bangladesh.

Mick is the Gold Dagger-winning author of the Jackson Lamb series. At Trade Secrets 2017 he will describe how he writes and, in particular, the advice that has helped shaped his career. 

Veronica's latest novel, How To Find Love in a Bookshop, sheds light on the stories that take place between the bookshelves.

Author of Star Wars: The Nest and The Future King series, as well as a film journalist, Tom will be introducing brand new Star Wars characters from the Wild Space book series. 

After winning the Great British Bake Off, Nadiya Hussain wrote a cookbook and a children’s book, and starred in a documentary series. Now she brings her first novel – The Secret Lives of the Amir Sisters – to ChipLitFest.

One of Britain’s most ground-breaking comedic minds, behind BAFTA-winning television from The Thick of It to Alan Partridge, Armando tackles the question of what books he’d bring with him to a deserted island.

Greg Jenner is the historical consultant for BBC’s Horrible Histories, and with A Million Years in a Day he looks at the everyday lives of our ancestors. Join him to see how your family compares to their ancient counterparts.

Part of our extraordinary team of authors working in schools in and around Chipping Norton, Josh has ambitions to live in a castle with battlements. 

Hannah is a recent Creative Writing graduate from City University. Her experience as a debut novelist, The Outside Lands, will be fascinating for aspiring writers at Trade Secrets 2017. 

Part of our extraordinary team of authors working in schools in and around Chipping Norton, Tanya is a Carnegie Medal winning author of over 30 books.

John's latest book, Where Poppies Blow, explores how soldiers in the trenches found solace and hope in nature. The uplifting natural history of the Western Front. 

Following up her best-selling and award-winning thriller I Let You Go, Clare Mackintosh, founder of ChipLitFest, returns with a talk about I See You, another utterly compelling psychological thriller, now out in paperback.

A rising star in the world of YA fiction thanks to three Carnegie-nominated novels, Julie Mayhew will join other writers at the Unbroken Voices panel to look at the challenges and techniques of writing believable young characters.

John is co-founder & publisher of Unbound. He is also a writer for QI and keeper of pigs, sheep & bees. He's at ChipLitFest to talk about the phenomenon of crowd funding as a new way of publishing. 

Having already won the Telegraph’s Harvill Secker award for crime fiction with A Rising Man, Abir Mukherjee’s upcoming A Necessary Evil is keenly anticipated. He’ll be at the New Voices 2017 panel to talk about both books.

Already long-listed for the Man Booker prize with his debut novel, The Many, Wyl Menmuir is a thrilling new talent. Join him and others at the New Voices 2017 panel as he discusses his writing and the weight of newfound expectations.

Join broadcaster Dame Jenni Murray for afternoon tea as she rings in her third decade of presenting Woman’s Hour with her new book about 21 British women who shaped our history. 

Join Tamsyn in Tanglewood Animal Park, where every day is an animal adventure – and you can gain your own Junior Keeper certificate!

Mary-Ann is joining ChipLitFest as an interviewer for the first time this year. She has previously presented her talk on Britain's Secret Treasures and will exchange her thoughts on the British Landscape when in conversation with Nicholas Crane. 

Guy Parker-Rees is the illustrator of Giraffes Can't Dance, Be Brave Little Penguin and Dylan the stripy dog. He'll be in Jaffé & Neale bookshop creating a window display right in front of our eyes!

Richard Passingham, Emeritus Professor at Oxford’s Department of Experimental Psychology, presents a provocative and exciting introduction to cognitive neuroscience. Part of the Very Short Introductions series.

Sarah Phelps’ Agatha Christie adaptations on the BBC have been some of the very best Christmas TV for two years running. Get some insight into just how she manages it at her Writing for the Screen event.

David has written two books about writing as well as novels, music journalism and Emmy-winning TV comedy. Join his comedy writing workshop to learn the rules of jokes. And how to break them. 

If you love dogs – or drawing – Emily Rand will help you understand and draw your own doggy best friend.

As creator of Inspector John Rebus, a bestselling character with a following across the world, Ian Rankin shows no signs of slowing down. Join him in conversation with Mark Billingham about his latest Rebus novel, Rather Be the Devil.

Cathy is the author of award-winning memoir The Last Act of Love and the forthcoming A Manual for Heartache. She returns to ChipLitFest as a Festival interviewer. 

Join Children’s Laureate and renowned illustrator Chris Riddell for a fantastically entertaining workshop where Chris will draw the answers to your questions in his own unique style

From Blackadder to Time Team, Sir Tony Robinson has been a staple of British comedy and culture for years, and now he brings his life story to ChipLitFest with his memoir No Cunning Plan.

Part of our extraordinary team of authors working in schools in and around Chipping Norton, Stewart has previously run workshops for ChipLitFest and this year is returning to work with KS2 children living in residential care. 

Novelist, editor and publisher, Nicholas edits The Best British Short Stories, now in its sixth year. 

In Nov 2016, Nicholas was a tutor at ChipLitFest's all-day Writing Short Stories workshop. 

Comic Writer & Author for Doctor Who, Star Wars, Vikings, Penguins of Madagascar, Adventure Time, The Beano, Sherlock Holmes & more, Cavan will be introducing brand new Star Wars characters from the Wild Space book series. 

The new bee at Bee School isn’t a bee at all – it’s a BEAR! Sneaky Norman, the Bumblebear,  wants to get his paws on some honey! 

The hilarious adventures of schoolboy Luke and his super-powered brother – as told by award-winning author David Solomons.

Travel writer, columnist and author of The January Man, Christopher Somerville talks about the walks that remind him of his father and the simple pleasures of walking. 

Fun, mystery and magic with the daring deeds and close shaves of young knight Sir Charlie Stinky Socks. 

Sit down with Robin Stevens, award-winning children’s crime writer, to talk about her books and come up with your very own mystery.

Part of our extraordinary team of authors working in schools in and around Chipping Norton, Adam is an award-winning author and illustrator.

Keith Stuart’s A Boy Made of Blocks is an arrestingly personal study of the relationship between him and his autistic son. He’ll be at the Unbroken Voices panel, talking with other novelists about child characters.

Part of our extraordinary team of authors working in schools in and around Chipping Norton, Steve is joining us to work with vulnerable young people living in residential care. 

James is the CEO of ClientEarth, the environmental law organisation that uses litigation on behalf of the planet. His extraordinary work is explored in the compelling book, Client Earth.

Joanna Trollope OBE is the author of twenty highly acclaimed bestselling novels. She joins us to introduce her latest, City of Friends.

Jo is a literary agent with a background in acting and scriptwriting. As well as representing several ChipLitFest 2017 authors, Jo will be sharing invaluable tips about how to get your manuscript noticed. 

With My Name is Leon, Kit de Waal showed how powerful a novel with a convincing child character can be. Join Kit and others at the Unbroken Voices panel, discussing writing from the perspective of children and teenagers.

Martyn is the author of 18 novels including the Joe Donovan series. He also writes internationally bestselling thrillers under the name of Tania Carver.

Jane is a novelist, public speaker, columnist and regular interviewer at ChipLitFest. We are delighted to welcome her back, the Festival wouldn't be the same without her. 

Suzie's debut novel, historical fantasy The Book of Bera, has been published by crowd funder Unbound. She joins John Mitchinson to talk about the experience of getting the crowd's approval. 

Now a literary agent, Caroline Wood was a film producer before joining the Felicity Bryan Agency in 2006. Her advice at Trade Secrets 2017 for writers looking for insider information will be invaluable. 

Tristram Wyatt, Senior Research Associate, Oxford’s Department of Zoology, introduces the field of animal behaviour from meerkats to moths. Part of the Very Short Introductions series.