Marlborough LitFest is excited to announce a new competition for this year, the ‘Love Books’ national competition run in association with English Literature at Bath Spa University, to celebrate a love of reading amongst teenagers and adults.
The inaugural ‘Love Books’ competition invites participants from all over the country to celebrate their love of reading by explaining their choice of favourite book, poem or play. The response can be written (up to 750 words) or a video (no more than four minutes), with the emphasis on what entrants love about their chosen read and why they think others should try it.
The competition will be managed by two Bath Spa students as part of their final year English Project module. Open to three age groups: 13-16; 17-19; and 20+, judges will be looking for creative, passionate and engaging responses to celebrate the entries’ love of reading. The winner in each age group will be given £300; runners-up will each receive £100. The Love Books judges are: Judy Carver (daughter of William Golding), Professor Neil Sammells, deputy vice-vhancellor of Bath Spa University and Jan Williamson (ex-chair of Marlborough LitFest). Entries will close on 24th April, with the winners announced in early June.
For more information on the competition: www.lovebookscompetition.org
Nicola Presley, senior lecturer in English Literature at Bath Spa University, said: “We are delighted to be working with the Marlborough LitFest on this competition and look forward to celebrating reading in all its forms.”
Genevieve Clarke, chair of the Marlborough LitFest, said: “Reading can change attitudes and open up new opportunities at an age. It’s great to be working with students and staff in the English department at Bath Spa University to invite young people and adults to share their response to the books they love. And there are prizes to be won!”
Marlborough LitFest will return for its 11thyear from 24th–27th September 2020, aiming to bring a range of good writing to the historic market town with a broad line-up of authors. Already confirmed for 2020 is Booker Prize winner, Bernardine Evaristo, as LitFest’s 2020 Golding Speaker on Friday, 25th September, talking about her latest book, Girl, Woman, Other.
Planning is well under way for this year’s LitFest programme which will aim to inspire its audience with a breadth of authors and events – featuring new and young writers as well as established names in fiction and non-fiction, children’s authors, workshops and poetry events, in addition to an outreach programme to encourage new audiences.
Festival brochures will be available in late June; the festival box office will open in early July. For more information, visit www.marlboroughlitfest.org