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Time flies during Long Weekend
HUNDREDS of book lovers flocked to Scarborough's second literature festival over the weekend to meet some of their favourite writers.
The star names at The Long Weekend included Ian Rankin, Sarah Dunant, Marina Lewycka, Joanne Harris, Simon Armitage, Helen Dunmore, Deborah Moggach, Carol Drinkwater, Louis de Bernieres and James Nash.
Many of the writers appeared at sellout events, which were held at Scarborough Library and Information Centre in Vernon Road and other venues across town.
For children there was a slot with writer Steve Cole while the Animated Objects Theatre Company held workshops on cartoon creations and puppet making.
Organisers now hope there will be a third festival next year, which would further put Scarborough on the literary map.
Lee Taylor, principal officer at Scarborough Library, said: “I feel very pleased and relieved that it has gone so well. I’m incredibly proud of the achievement of the whole team for putting this together and making sure everyone had a fantastic time.
“We’re very hopeful that there will be one next year. Funding permitting, we would love to have a festival annually.
“All of the authors were fantastic, but for me personally Simon Armitage was a stand-out moment. It was one of those events that you didn’t want to end.”
Juliet Pickard, library assistant, said: “It has been absolutely fantastic and I really enjoyed helping out. It was just lovely to see it all working so well after so much hard work. I enjoyed Ian Rankin and the literary lunch with Sarah Dunant.”
Sharon Houghton, library assistant, added: “Events like this put Scarborough on the map. I spoke to crime writer Stephen Booth who goes around the libraries an awful lot and he was amazed at the names we have attracted after just our second year.”
The festival was supported by the Scarborough Evening News, North Yorkshire County Council, Arts Council England, 2008 National Year of Reading, Friends of Scarborough Library, Pindar and BBC Radio York.
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Weather for Scarborough
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 9 C to 14 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: North
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 15 C
Wind Speed: 21 mph
Wind direction: East
