FABER LAUNCHES LITERARY FESTIVAL

What a great idea.This report from The Bookseller.

Faber is launching a new touring literature festival in collaboration with The Reading Agency to showcase its authors based in the north of England.

From 7th to 9th September, the Northern Exposure festival will host a series of events with Faber writers Sarah Hall, Mick Jackson, Andrew Martin and poet Daljit Nagra, in conversation with Faber author and editor Richard Kelly. It will visit Blackburn Central Library, Sunderland Central Library and Dewsbury Library, and will include workshops, panel discussions and readings to inspire and promote reading and writing in the north.

Faber has been considering launching a small festival for some time, and according to publicity director Rachel Alexander, The Reading Agency was a natural partner. "It's a very exciting time to be working with libraries and the community of readers that they foster," she said. "The Reading Agency has been invaluable in terms of developing the relationship between libraries and publishers."

Tom Palmer of The Reading Agency said that libraries in the north of England are "some of the best at creating word-of-mouth for books". He added: "We are sure that this festival will do the same: in this case linking authors and readers from a region of the UK to help spread the word about great books."