On Saturday the 18th the West Cork Literary Festival will came to a close. One of the highlights of the Irish literary calendar each year this celebration of books and reading sees Bantry play host to some of the biggest names in writing. Susan was down for the week long festival, soaking up the culture and ocean air, talking with many of the speakers in attendance, working tirelessly to put a special West Cork Literary Festival show together.
One of the highlights of the week was celebrated author and National Book Awards 2014 UK Author of the Year, David Nicholls. He spoke to a packed room at the Maritime Hotel about his latest hit, ‘Us’, and how he became a writer.
After making a name for himself as a screenwriter David released his debut novel, ‘Starter For Ten’, to a great reception in 2004. After a successful movie adaptation, with James McAvoy in the leading role, David followed up on ‘Starter For Ten’ with ‘One Day’. Published in 2009 this novel was met with critical and popular success and found its way onto the silver screen in 2011.
Last year David released probably his best work yet. Telling the story of Douglas Petersen ‘Us’ crafts a great tale around his attempts to save his marriage and reconnect with his son on one final family holiday. Building on the success of his other works ‘Us’ was longlisted for the Man Booker Prize and secured David the title of 2014 UK Author of the Year.
Join Susan as she talks with David about his books, his life as a writer, and what exactly brought him to where he is now.
Our journeys and travels play a great role in shaping the people we become. Though our foundations are laid at home our interactions with other people and explorations of the world do much to shape our tastes, attitudes, and styles. For some of us traveling and exploring become the keystone to our lives and we spend the rest of our days wandering new paths, learning with each new footstep.
Acclaimed author Anthony Sattin is one of the lucky few who has made his living through travel and the inexorable pull of the wider world. Fascinated by Africa and the Middle East, especially Egypt, Anthony decided to make his life here after studying literature and creative writing at college. Enamoured by the world around him he began to write about these regions, their history, and what it was like to live there.
This blossomed into a thriving and celebrated career spanning newspapers, books, radio, and television. His latest work chronicled the early life of a fellow Briton who fell in love with the Middle East and North Africa; T. E. Lawrence. Best known as Lawrence of Arabia this enigmatic Welshman led a fascinating life before forging his lasting legacy during the First World War. In ‘Young Lawrence’ Anthony explores the life of this famous adventurer and what drove him to explore and excavate the Middle East.
Anthony spoke in Bantry Library about this latest work and the skills needed to become a travel writer. Starting off this installment of ‘Talking Books’ Susan talks with Anthony about his life, his adventures, his travels, and his writings. What do you need to become a great travel writer?
Tonight's music to read to
Opening this week's show is Danny Norbury's melodic 'This Night Is for You and for Me' taken from his album 'Light in August'. 'The Stars that Fell over that Night' by Fabrizio Paterlini, from his 'Morning Sketches' album, eases us through the end of part one with 'The Lover of Beirut', from Anouar Brahem's 'The Astounding Eyes of Rita', bringing the show to a close.
