2:15pm

Dani Atkins

At the Village Hall

Dani Atkins, best selling fiction writer whose latest moving novel, A SKY FULL OF STARS was published by Head of Zeus in February 2021. Dani will be in conversation with Leigh Chambers of Cambridge 105 Radio. This event will end with a question and answer session, and a book signing!

Dani Atkins is an award-winning novelist. Her 2013 debut Fractured has been translated into sixteen languages and has sold more than half a million copies since first publication in the UK. Dani is the author of four other bestselling novels, one of which, This Love, won the Romantic Novel of the Year Award in 2018.

Dani lives in a small village in Hertfordshire with her husband, one Siamese cat and a very soppy Border Collie. Follow Dani on twitter @AtkinsDani

A Sky Full of Stars (Head of Zeus, 2021)… A compelling family drama: Alex, Lisa and their young son Connor made a happy little universe. But when Lisa dies suddenly, their universe is destroyed. Alex is shattered by loss, and overwhelmed by the difficulties of being a single father to a six year old boy. Then Alex meets four strangers. Two men and two women, who never met Lisa, but whose lives changed profoundly because she died. As Alex hears their stories, he begins to realise the world may not be as cruel and senseless as it seems.

Dani’s new novel The Wedding Dress is published by Head of Zeus in February 2022.

3:30pm

Alison Bruce

At the Village Hall

Described as one of the most adroit crime fiction practitioners in the UK, BarkwayLitFest are delighted to welcome award winning Alison Bruce to cover for Sophie Hannah, who has had to withdraw from this year’s event.

Alison’s nine crime novels, featuring DC Goodhew, are set in Cambridge and are based upon Alison’s experience of working with 7 police forces including the Metropolitan and Cambridgeshire forces. Her latest novel, The Moment before Impact, is described by Ian Rankin as ‘tense, twisty, terrific!’

Alison was awarded a first in BSc (Hons) in crime and Investigation at Anglia Ruskin University which included subject areas such as: crime scene investigation, mass fatality incidents, fire investigation and forensic anthropology. Alison never underestimates her readers and aims to challenge them with expertly crafted plots, vivid characters and the kind of realism which will put them in the front row of an investigation.

This event will end with a book signing!

5:00pm

Jeffrey Archer

At the Village Hall

Bestselling author with sales of 275 million copies in 97 countries talks about his life and career. Jeffrey is the only author ever to have been a number one bestseller in fiction, short stories, and non-fiction.

His novel Nothing Ventured, the first of the gripping William Warwick books, was published in 2019. Turn a Blind Eye, the third instalment, came out in April 2021:

‘William Warwick, now a Detective Inspector, is tasked with a dangerous new line of work, to go undercover and expose crime of another kind: corruption at the heart of the Metropolitan Police Force. His team is focused on following Detective Jerry Summers, a young officer whose lifestyle appears to exceed his income. But as a personal relationship develops with a member of William’s team, it threatens to compromise the whole investigation’

Jeffrey’s latest novel Over My Dead Body is due for release in October 2021:,
Chairing the event: Leigh Chambers of Cambridge 105 Radio, who will invite questions from the audience at the end.

10:30am

Alison Bruce’s Writing Masterclass

At the Social Club

Have you ever wanted to become a writer? Now’s your chance! Welcome to a Masterclass with bestselling crime author  Alison Bruce!

Alison is a bestselling crime writer and is currently working on the UK’s largest policing professionalism contact. An author with first hand experience, dealing at the coalface of crime. In this masterclass for writers and aspiring writers, Alison will teach participants:

• how to massively increase your chances of success
• how to change incorrect, unhelpful and limiting beliefs
• how to thrive in the face of the psychological and emotional challenges that life as a writer brings with it
• what to do when you feel scared, confused, overwhelmed or stuck – in order to feel better, make progress and solve whatever problem you’re facing
• how to retain full control over your writing dreams and journey, instead of giving your power away to the first agent who shows interest in you
• how to make sure your dreams and your definitions of success and failure, aren’t working against you
• and how to be your best and most powerful ally and advocate, throughout your writing life

10:00am

Tamsyn Murray

At the Village Hall

Best selling author of Completely Cassidy and Tanglewood Animal Park series (published by Usborne), this event will bring smiles to everyone’s face!

Award-winning children’s author, Tamsyn Murray, talks about how she became an author, what her top talent is and reveals some of the crazy things her dog has eaten over the years (photos of pants not included). Focusing on her Tanglewood Animal Park series and the Completely Cassidy books, Tamsyn is guaranteed to get kids giggling.

11:30am

Chris Lloyd’s quiz show

At the Village Hall

Author of bestselling ‘What on Earth Happened’ (published by Bloomsbury, 500,000 copies sold to date!) and ‘Absolutely Everything’, Chris’s books aim to satisfy every child’s curiosity about history, nature, science – and absolutely everything!

Fire up your family’s brain power with our brilliant interactive virtual quiz for ages 8–108, hosted by quizmaster Christopher Lloyd, who is also the editor of the “Britannica All New Children’s Encyclopedia: What We Know and What We Don’t”.

The multiple-choice quiz consists of eight rounds, packed with questions that test both your general knowledge, and your memory and speed at answering. All participants will remain anonymous unless they win a quiz round.

The overall winning team that triumphs in the ninth and final round will be crowned “Britannica Quiz Champions” of The Barkway Literary Festival! They will also receive a free signed copy of the “Britannica All-New Children’s Encyclopedia”, which has 416 colourful pages of mind-boggling facts, data and illustrations, sure to captivate the most digitally dependent of children (and adults!).

Participants will need an internet-enabled tablet or smartphone to participate in the live quiz!

This event will end with a book signing!

1:00pm

Wafa’ Tarnowska

At the Village Hall

Wafa’ Tarnowska invites you to a world of wonderful stories, both real and imagined from the Middle East…

The author of Arabian Nights (Barefoot Books) and Amazing Women of the Middle East (Pikku Publishing) will read one of her fabulous stories in her inimitable style. She’ll talk about her fascinating life, which started in Lebanon, and about what inspires her children’s books. The session will include a Q&A and a competition to win a copy of Wafa’s beautiful book!

Wafa’ Tarnowska was born in Lebanon and lived through the conflict there, leaving finally to study at the University of Melbourne. She has lived in Dubai, Poland and is now settled in Letchworth, where she writes children’s stories, translates for the BBC, and subtitles documentaries, including BAFTA winner ‘For Sama’ (2019). Her life is extraordinary (she should be in her book!) , and her story telling is enchanting.