Authors and poets set to return to Stoke Newington after success of first festival

ORGANISERS of the very first Stoke Newington Literary Festival in June have announced next year’s dates for the diary.

A host of published authors, writers and poets will once again descend on the bookshops and venues of Stoke Newington between Friday 3 and Sunday 5 June 2011.

This year saw the likes columnist and election candidate Suzanne Moore, politician Tony Benn and comedians Shappi Khorsandi and Stewart Lee talk about their work.

So bookworms will be waiting excitedly to hear about the next programme of speakers and events, which is currently being compiled.

Liz Vater, festival founder and director, said: “Response this year from visitors and authors alike was incredible. We knew straight away that we wanted to make the festival an annual event. Next year we’ll be focusing on developing the festival further to include an exciting children’s programme, to continue the debate on multiculturalism we started in our first year and a more diverse array of both writers and visitors.”

Events will again take place in the recently refurbished Stoke Newington Town Hall Assembly Rooms, Stoke Newington Library and in pubs and other venues across the area.

Residents are invited to register their interest via the festival website for advance notice of ticket sales and priority booking.

And organisers will also be looking for volunteers to help with preparation and stewarding over the weekend.

For more information, go to www.stokenewingtonliteraryfestival.com.