Saturday 9th July, 3.30pm Malorie Blackman

Free tickets from Beckenham Enquiry Desk

Malorie Blackman was born in 1962. She qualified in Computer Science and followed a successful career in computing before

becoming a writer at the age of 28. Her first published book was Not So Stupid! (1990), a book of short stories. Since then she has

written over 50 books and scripts, and her popularity has steadily grown. In 2007 she collected stories and poems for the book

Unheard Voices, commemorating the bicentenary anniversary of the abolition of the slave trade. He t books are The Stuff of

Nightmares (2007) ,Double Cross (2008) and Boys Don’t Cry (2009). She was awarded an OBE in 2008 and has been described by THE

TIMES newspaper as “a bit of a national treasure”.

r lates

Welcome to Becfest – Beckenham Library’s first literary festival, celebrating performance, books and reading.

The two week festival features the work of many local authors and groups, who will be presenting writing workshops, debates,

talks and much more, covering all topics, for all age groups.

All events are ticketed and can be obtained from the Enquiry Desk at Beckenham Library.

Thursday 7th July, 7pm David Loyn speaks on The History of War Reporting BBC correspondent David Loyn talks about the History of War Reporting, from Billy Russell and Winston Churchill in the 19th century to the present day. As well as providing an overview of what has changed - and remained the same - in the trade David will share some of his own stories about his time in Afghanistan

Friday 8th July, 11am

How To Turn Your Holidays Into Popular Fiction With Kate Nivison Kate Nivison began writing short stories and serials for magazines on her return from 9 years of teaching and raising a family in various parts of Africa. She has since written for radio and TV, published a number of

- as well as take questions. David Loyn is the author of Frontline and Butcher & Bolt: 200 years of Foreign Engagement In Afghanistan

travel-related books, both fiction and non-fiction, and contributes travel features regularly to a variety of national and international publications.

Friday 8th July,6.30pm Conversation with a Diversity Writer - Rosaline Ting Born in Singapore, she migrated to England in 1980. In 2007, her debut play Journeys was performed at Wimbledon Studio and, with Arts Council funding, a performed reading was presented at several other

Saturday 9th July, 11am

Writing Literary Mysteries Chris Bowden Crystal Palace author Christopher Bowden has published two novels: The Blue Book and The Yellow Room. He will talk about them both - and a new one appearing in the autumn.

venues. In 2006/7she won the Polka Theatres (Children) Playgrounding competition. Now a full-time playwright she is completing her first novel and short film scripts. Her prose pieces, a poem and haiku are published in Sydenham Sprouts, an anthology by Kirkdale writers in December 2010

Monday 4th July, 6.30pm

Writers Unlimited Beckenham Bubble Two - 'Independence Day self-publish and be blessed' Presentation, debate and performance

Tuesday 5th July, 2pm Creative Writing Workshop with Zoe Fairbairns Zoe Fairbairns was born in England on 20 December 1948, and educated at the University of St. Andrews, Scotland, and the College of William and Mary, USA. She has worked as a freelance journalist and a creative writing tutor, and is the former poetry editor of Spare Rib. She has also held appointments as Writer in Residence at Bromley Schools (1981-3 and 1985-9), Deakin University, Australia (1983), Sunderland Polytechnic (1983-5) and Surrey County Council (1989).

Monday 27th June, 3pm Short Story Writing Workshop with Karen McLeod

Karen McLeod is a recently retired air hostess. She is a Performance Artist who hosts an experimental cabaret night called MOONA in South London, and is Writer in Residence at the Bookseller Crow bookshop in Crystal Palace.

Her debut novel In Search of the Missing Eyelash was published by Jonathan Cape and won a Betty Trask Award.

Monday 27th June, 6.30pm

Acorn Independent Press invite you to a Murder Mystery Night at Beckenham Library: Inspector McClue & The Champagne Murders Everyone has a part to play in The Champagne Murders, so if you fancy dressing up for a bit of fun (and harmless murder) join us for a night of murderous mayhem.

Your task is to help McClue catch the killer or, of course, avoid being caught.

Wednesday 6th July, Children’s Craft Session 4pm Come along and join in with our “make a book” session

Wednesday 6th July, 6.30pm

Post-war Polish Immigrants – the background to the novel “The Black Madonna of Derby”. A talk by author Joanna Czechowska Joanna Czechowska's parents met at a dance held above the Kardomah Cafe in Derby's Corn Market during the Second World War. Her father was a young Polish RAF pilot, her mother a Derby schoolgirl. Joanna read history at University College London and worked in the magazine industry.

Tuesday 28th June, 2pm Judith Niechcial Lucy Faithfull: Mother to Hundreds Judith’s book, Lucy Faithfull: Mother to Hundreds, is described as ‘a compelling account t of a remarkable woman’. In addition she has published A Particle of Clay: The Biography of Alec Skempton, Civil Engineer (Whittles, 2002), a book about her father. She has an MA in Life Writing from the University of East Anglia and writes articles.

Tuesday 28th June,7pm

Fact & Fiction Imogen Robertson & Hallie Rubenhold

Bestselling authors Imogen Robertson (Instruments of Darkness) and Hallie Rubenhold (The Confessions of Mrs Lightfoot) discuss their latest books and the art of writing and researching historical fiction. The authors will also be available for questions afterwards and to offer tips and advice on writing and getting published.

Saturday 2nd July

Alex Milway & Friends

Wednesday 29th June, 2pm Lyn Stone - Illustrator Make a Book Lyn Stone has worked in a variety of jobs, including as a model-maker for television, a research assistant at the Tower of London, and a librarian. Her main line of work, however, has been that of an artist and illustrator. Her amusing drawings have enlivened the pages of many children's books, from history books to gift books and pop-up books.

Wednesday 29th June, 7pm Beckenham Bubble 1 –The Next Hundred Years Members and former members of the borough’s three collectives read poetry and prose in this Beckenham Bubble. Writers Unlimited, The Beckenham Scribblers and Shortlands Poetry Writers Circle are just three writers groups to emerge from the borough in the last hundred years.

Children’s authors throughout the day including Alex Milway

Gary Northfield

Tamsyn Murray

Thursday 30th June, 6.30pm A Talk by Brian Scovell Born in the Isle of Wight, Brian Scovell had no plans to be a sports writer until a German raid in 1943 left him in hospital for 2 years reading the sport pages of the Daily Herald. Fifteen years later he was appointed the cricket correspondent of the Daily Sketch and managed to survive forty happy and rewarding years with the Sketch and Daily Mail. His books are about Bobby Robson, Trevor Brooking, Dickie Bird and Brian Lara and his memoir "Thank You Hermann Goering - A Life of a Sports Writer".

Friday 1st July, 7pm Ian Bevan: "To the Palace for the Cup!" - From Idea to Publication Charts the process of the production of the book from Ian Bevan’s first wild idea through to them publishing it themselves. Described as “an affectionate history of football at the Crystal Palace from 1861” the book covers 150 years of football at the Crystal Palace from the 20 FA cup finals to the birth of CPFC.

Jim Helmore & Karen Wall

C T Furlong