INTERNATIONALLY renowned horror writer Ramsey Campbell will be a star guest of the first online literary festival to be organised by a UK newspaper.
The Wirral-based author, whose work inspired his American counterpart Stephen King, will be one of the big names featured in LiveRead.
Run by the Daily Post from March 15-19, the festival will be a celebration of Liverpool writers and writing – both amateur and professional.
Campbell, 64, will be one of several major names to take part in a live online interview – answering readers’ questions on his books, the writing process and his own reading habits.
“I’m delighted to be involved with the Daily Post’s LiveRead festival,” he says.
“It was always my morning paper, since I’ve lived here all my life.
“I’ve been setting tales of terror in contemporary Liverpool for 45 years now, and I look forward to the feedback from readers.”
LiveRead will also feature a performance by Neil Caple, former Brookside actor and star of Funny Money, currently playing at the Royal Court, and book readings by a range of local authors.
Daily Post columnist and best- selling author Jane Costello will take part in a live discussion about what it takes to get your manuscript published, while Wirral-based literary consultancy Bubblecow will run a week-long surgery for amateur writers.
There will also be a serialised story, which unravels according to readers’ votes, and a live book group focusing on novels by playwright Willy Russell and five-time Booker Prize nominee Beryl Bainbridge.
Visitors to the LiveRead site during the festival will be able to download a trail of Liverpool’s literary links, which they can follow around the city.
They will also be invited to vote for Liverpool’s favourite book.
And there will be a chance for Daily Post readers to get directly involved in the festival – either by submitting their own short stories or by taking photographs of scenes from their favourite books.
LIVEREAD runs on the Daily Post website from March 15-19. Further details and information on how to get involved at www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liveread
