LiveRead 2011

Books Just a couple of days to go until the start of LiveRead 2011, Liverpool Daily Post & Echo's online literature festival which runs from March 3-5, 2011. Their press release offers a taste of what we can look forward to. Doctor Who fans should keep their eyes peeled:

WILLY RUSSELL has added his name to the list of major writers supporting the Liverpool Daily Post’s online literature festival.

The Blood Brothers creator will be giving a rare video interview on his life and work that will be featured in this week’s three-day event.

LiveRead is a celebration of Liverpool writing and writers, hosted on a dedicated section of the newspapers’ websites.

Whiston-born Russell said: “I’m delighted to once again be involved with the innovative LiveRead festival.

“I think it’s a terrific initiative – one which I’m sure will go from strength to strength.”

A playwright, screenwriter and novelist, Russell’s works for the stage include John, Paul, George, Ringo . . . and Bert, Educating Rita, Blood Brothers, Stags and Hens and Shirley Valentine, most of which have since been made into films.
His reworked musical, Our Day Out, enjoyed a second successful run at Liverpool’s Royal Court Theatre and is tipped for the West End.

A live-streamed book group discussion about Russell’s 2000 novel, The Wrong Boy, was a highlight of the inaugural LiveRead festival last year.

This year’s discussion will be based on Wirral writer Kevin Sampson’s Awaydays, the story of two teenagers drawn into football hooliganism that was made into a film in 2009.

World-renowned science fiction writer Stephen Baxter, a former pupil of St Edwards School, in West Derby, will be answering readers’ questions in a live online interview.

As will Ormskirk-based screenwriter John Fay, who started his career on Liverpool-based soap opera Brookside, and is currently working on the new series of Doctor Who spin-off, Torchwood.

Local authors Jane Costello, Jon Mayhew and Marc Gee will be reading from their latest books, while writer Cyan Dorman will be working overnight to create each episode of a brand new serialised story, Monsterocity, according to readers’ votes.

There will also be daily book giveaways, podcasts of music inspired by literature and photo galleries of illustrations.

Ebooks of poetry and short stories by Daily Post readers are also available to download free of charge.

So John Fay is in it from Doctor Who.

There is already plenty to look at on the LifeRead websites both at the Daily Post and Liverpool Echo. Good luck everyone.