Acclaimed, award-winning writer Mavis Cheek has been secured for a special date in Carlisle on Thursday 2 October.
The much loved author, who has been entertaining readers for twenty years, will be reading from some of her 13 novels and talking about her life as a writer at Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery at 7.30pm.
One of many National Year of Reading events being organised by the county council’s library services, getting the world renowned writer to Cumbria is the result of a successful bid to the nationwide Reader Meets Writer initiative.
In total, the Reader Meets Writer programme, created by Reading Partners, will see 71 high profile author events across the UK, including Iain Banks in Gateshead, Alexander McCall Smith in Warwickshire and Hanif Kureshi in Leicester.
Mavis Cheek was born in Wimbledon and worked as a journalist and travel writer before turning to fiction. Her novels include 'Getting Back Brahms', Mrs Fytton's Country Life', and 'Yesterday's Houses'. Her most recent book, 'Amenable Women', was described by the The Times newspaper as 'a brilliantly funny, warm, intelligent read.'
At Tullie House next Thursday she will read from and talk about her work, answer questions, and be available for signing copies of her books which will be on sale.
Helen Towers is leading the county council's work on National Year of Reading. She said:
"This is a great coup for Cumbria and we are delighted that our bid for Mavis Cheek to come to the county was successful.
"The event is sure to be a highlight of the many varied activities and events that are taking place throughout the county to celebrate the National Year of Reading."
Tickets for the event are £3, including a glass of wine, and are available now from Tullie House, telephone (01228) 618718.
For further information on the National Year of Reading, go to http://www.yearofreading.org.uk/ (external link)
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Please note: Cumbria County Council's media team telephone numbers have now changed.
Media enquiries to Alison Lister, Media Officer on 01228 226335
Notes
The Reading Partnership is a consortium led by the Reading Agency, and involving nine publishers –Bloomsbury, Faber, Hachette Livre, Harper Collins, Harlequin Mills and Boon, Little Brown, Pan, McMillan, Penguin and Random House.
The aim is to transform the way public libraries and adult publishes work together. The hope is to bring about a big shift in the way major publishing houses think so that library audiences uniquely placed in towns and cities across the county - are automatically part of publishers’ marketing and publishing plans.
The National Year of Reading focuses on celebration, participation, diversity and inclusion and focuses on promoting the benefits of reading both for purpose and for pleasure.