LOVE was the theme of the seventh North Cornwall Book Festival held on the campus of St Endellion from Thursday, October 10, to Sunday, October 13.

Many talented authors and poets, some famous and some less well known, spoke at the event, which is part of the year round programme of art, music and literature arranged through Endelienta, the North Cornwall arts and spirituality charity based at St Endellion.

Michael Morpurgo, Deborah Moggach, Tessa Hadley, John Boyne, Philip Reeve and David Nicholls, just a few of the headline writers, attracted large audiences to their presentations and readings as did Raynor Winn author of The Salt Path, Barbara Hosking a nonagenarian and political legend, Professor Paul Fiddes and Professor Sophie Ratcliffe as well as two of the country’s finest poets Imtiaz Dharker and Zaffar Kunial.

Thursday and Friday were devoted to workshops, talks and readings for children who were bussed in from various schools in Cornwall. Children, aged eight to 11, termed ‘Bookworms’ had a marvellous day on Thursday with Cornwall based writer Liz Kessler, poet Matt Windle and they also enjoyed writing sessions with Mazed Tales author Anna Charlton and storyteller Sue Field plus an action-packed talk with jokes, stories and drawing led by Martin Brown, illustrator of the Horrible Histories series and his acclaimed Lesser Spotted Animals. On Friday it was the turn of the ‘Book Surfers’, the 12 to 15 year olds, who enjoyed sessions with John Boyne of The Boy with Striped Pyjamas fame, Liz Kessler whose romantic and poignant Haunt Me won last year’s Kernow Youth Book Award and poet Matt Windle.

Friday afternoon was prizegiving time for school age writers who had won the Young Walter Scott Prize project and winners of this year’s Charles Causley Young Writers Poetry Awards. Prizes were presented by poets David Devanny and Penelope Shuttle.

On Saturday and Sunday it was the turn of the adults, although children also enjoyed attending some of these sessions, especially the one given by Mr Morpurgo in St Endellion Church on Saturday morning, when he gave a captivating presentation of his work to a packed audience. The day began with ‘Cream of Cornish’ when four authors, who were either Cornish or had strong associations with Cornwall, presented and read from their books. Each was introduced by festival artistic director, novelist Patrick Gale and first on stage was Paul Fiddes with his first novel A Unicorn Dies, a whodunnit. Paul is professor of systematic theology in the University of Oxford and a Prebendary of St Endellion. Next was Mary J Oliver with a fascinating biography of her father Jim Neat. Then it was the turn of thriller writer Sean Thomas, who writes under various pseudonyms, including S K Tremayne and Tom Knox, and the session ended with Natasha Carthew with her gritty account of a woman’s punishing quest on Cornwall’s rough fringes. Readers and book lovers were spoiled for choice in which writer to choose to hear with readings and discussion by John Boyne, Raynor Winn, Adharanand Finn and Tracey Thorn.

On Sunday again there was an exciting series of events to whet the appetite including Sophie Ratcliffe, Barbara Hosking, Deborah Moggach, Damien Lewis, Tessa Hadley, Imtiaz Dharker and Zaffar Kunial.

‘A Festivity of Love’ was the title of the specially devised church service held in St Endellion Church on Sunday morning, which again attracted a large congregation. Earlier in the year, writers had been invited to submit poems and pieces of prose, on the theme of love, by Paul Fiddes and Judith Pollinger who produced an anthology of the works, some of which were read during the service. Some of the poets and writers read their own contributions, while others were read by volunteers. Those taking part included Paul, Judith, Jenny Swann, Chris Woods, Jo Heydon, David Foster, Marion Fiddes, Fran Pennington, Sue Foster, Jean Thorman, Maggie Mealy, Pat Hardman and Jill O’Grady. Organist was Jennifer Wood.

As well as readings there was an opportunity for participation in longer sessions including Glenn Waldron on ‘Writing Plays’, Liz Kessler on ‘Writing for Children and Young Adults’, Imogen Taylor on ‘Preparing Your Book and Yourself for Publication’ and Mark Trevethan on ‘Cornish in Three Hours’ for those aspiring to learn the language.

A week before the book festival began St John’s Church in Delabole hosted ‘The Winding World’, a story telling and musical presentation of the true tale of a baby found in the snow in a Cornish cove. It was presented by Annamaria Murphy, a writer with the Kneehigh Theatre Company with the company Bagas Degol.

On Friday evening Gabrielle Ducombe, London based Belgian jazz singer, and her three piece band, gave an exciting performance in St Endellion Church and on Saturday also in the church it was the turn of the great band the Blackheart Orchestra, who delighted the audience.

Last but very much not least were the exhibitions in St Endellion’s newly extended and renovated hall, literally opened only a couple of days before. The idea to invite paintings inspired by books and poetry from writers appearing at the festival, came from Peter Ursem, Endelienta’s development manager, himself an artist and writer. Artists represented included Margo Kirkwood, Richard Sharland, John O’Carroll, Ashley Hanson, Peter Ursem and others.

There was also a series of eight, wood engravings by Hilary Paynter, one of the leading wood engravers in the United Kingdom.

During the long weekend, festival goers had their bodies well-nourished as well as their minds and spirits by excellent homemade lunches and teas. An amazing amount of hard work had gone into making the festival a resounding success, which attracted people from as far afield as the United States. Organisers were David Bishop, Alison Comber, Lisa Cooper, Esther Dudley, David Hudson, Deborah Hilborne, Pippa Hyam, Freddie Kimpton, Michele Laouenan, Jill O’Grady, Catherine Sandbrook, Phil Tizzard, Peter Ursem, Jane Wethered and Ronnie Wood with help and support from many others.