Two amazing journeys

Ever considered a challenge of ultimate endurance? A cycle from one end of the Americas to the other perhaps, or a run from Scotland to Sahara? Meet our two extreme athletes, Mark Beaumont, and Andrew Murray who achieved just those and will join us at Lennoxlove Book Festival to recount their amazing journeys.

Mark Beaumont

The Man Who Cycled the Americas is an epic. Cycling on his own, without any support team around him, Scotsman Mark Beaumont completed an astonishing feat of endurance. From the US’s northwestern tip to Chile and Tierra del Fuego, he cycled 15,000 miles, climbing Mount McKinley in Alaska and Aconcagua in Argentina (the highest peaks in North and South America) en route, and making his way through a series of fascinating adventures and tremendously diverse cultures. With his trademark humour and self-deprecation, Mark tells the story of this extraordinary journey. No doubt his latest adventure, a trip to the Arctic in a rowing boat, will be the inspiration for another book. Perhaps we shall hear a first draft at Lennoxlove. Book tickets to hear Mark Beaumont on Saturday 5th November, 6.00pm.

Andrew Murray

Andrew Murray ran 2,659 miles from John o’ Groats to the Moroccan Sahara Desert to raise cash for charity. In a record-breaking endurance run named Scotland2Sahara, he covered an average of 34.4 miles a day - every day. Thousands joined him. Andrew has also won races in some of the harshest environments on Earth - the Arctic in winter, the jungle, and the plains of Mongolia. He is a GP and a sports and exercise specialist working in Edinburgh as well as an expedition doctor who has looked after some of the world’s toughest athletes. His new book describes his extraordinary double life and has a foreword by Sir Ranulph Fiennes.  Book tickets to hear Andrew Murray on Sunday 6th November, 4.45pm.

Something for the kids

The Knight Frank Family Book Festival is back with a bang over Bonfire Night weekend at Lennoxlove and we believe it’s a bit of a cracker. Suitable for babies through to teenagers, our programme is packed with some very special authors and performers. And new this year is our Family Day Pass offering superb value entry.

Our weekend of events have a distinctly gory, ghoulish and scientific flavour. Here’s a taster of what to enjoy:

• War Horse – Michael Morpurgo will share insights from his fantastic novel which is about to hit our cinema screens in a new blockbuster film from Steven Spielberg (ages 9+)
• You can draw Horrible Histories – learn how to draw all the gory bits from history with Martin Brown, illustrator of the ever popular Horrible Histories series (ages 7+)
• James and the Giant Peach 50th Birthday Party – an hour of splendiferous, gloriumptious, and whizzpopping arts and crafts fun to celebrate this Roald Dahl classic (ages 5-8)
• Fairies, Rodents & Gruffalos - Children’s Laureate Julia Donaldson is back to act out stories and sing songs from some of her best-loved books (ages 5+)
• A Brief History of Time with Adam Hart-Davies – budding scientists will love Adam’s snippets from  his new book ‘The Book of Time: The Secrets of Time, How It Works and How We Measure It’ (ages 8+)
• The Scariest Thing of All - Calling all active imaginations to come and help Debi Gliori draw some Gobblers, Hissters and Giant Woodtrolls and discover how Pip met the Scariest Thing of All ... and survived to tell the tale (ages 4-7)
• Flat Stanley – learn all about the amazing flat boy who can slip under doors, fly like a kite, and, best of all, travel by mail! (ages 7-9)
• Fleshless Skulls and Bulging Eyes - Does Fiddleduster Squint win the prize as the creepiest zombie of all? Or can you do better? Help Ross Collins and Vivian French create a truly scary graphic novel base (ages 9+)
• Sir Charlie Stinky Socks - after a sell-out event at last year’s Festival, author and illustrator Kristina Stephenson brings her hero Sir Charlie Stinky Socks back for another really big adventure (ages 4-8)
• Invisible Fiends - Barry Hutchison will present his creepy, deliciously nightmarish Invisible Fiends series which is guaranteed to make your blood run cold (ages 9-13)
• Bookbug Rhyme Sessions – join East Lothian Libraries for free stories and rhymes for babies and toddlers (babies and under 3’s)
• And lots more…

If that wasn’t enough, we can also promise free arts, crafts, storytelling, and childrens' entertainers galore throughout the weekend. Don’t miss the fun!

For a full listing of family festival events, details of our Family Day Pass, and to book tickets visit our Box Office website. 

Lennoxlove Book Festival Programme 2011 Revealed

After many months of feverish planning, the programme for the third Lennoxlove Book Festival, has been announced, and offers an intriguing double theme: creativity and power.

This year's Book Festival, brings together creative minds such as playwright and artist John Byrne, award-winning writers Claire Tomalin, Michael Frayn and Janice Galloway, musician Barbara Dickson, and acclaimed actors Bill Paterson and Isla Blair. Meanwhile, sharing a fascinating insight from the corridors of power will be Alistair Darling, Sarah Brown and Tam Dalyell. Elsewhere in the programme, celebrated historians Norman Davies and Tom Devine look at the distribution of power in the past, while BBC correspondent Allan Little looks at power gone bad in his talk 'Dictators I have Known'.

Events also cover feats of endurance and the great outdoors, with talks by recent Arctic expeditionist and cyclist Mark Beaumont, endurance-runner Andrew Murray, and wild forager and TV gardener Alys Fowler, while popular broadcasters Adam Hart-Davies and James Naughtie promise to entertain the crowds.

McInroy & Wood, one of Scotland’s leading personal investment managers and another of Haddington’s success stories, is the lead sponsor again for the Book Festival.

Michael Morpurgo, Author of 'War Horse'

And for the family…

The Knight Frank Family Book Festival, is returning strong as ever, with events by the hugely popular Julia Donaldson, War Horse author Michael Morpurgo, Kristina Stephenson and Nick Sharratt, and a party for the 50th anniversary of Roald Dahl's James and the Giant Peach. This year, Family Day Passes will be available for the first time, offering admission to certain children’s events throughout the day for two adults and up to three children for £22.

Are you brave enough…

For those of strong heart, there are sessions on 'crime capital' Baltimore by a real life homicide detective, an expose of the recent phone hacking scandal by MPs Chris Bryant and Michael Moore and Guardian journalist Dan Sabbagh, and for younger readers, Horrible Histories artist Martin Brown, horror writer Barry Hutchison and a graphic novel workshop by Ross Collins and Vivien French. For the first time, Lennoxlove also introduces a series of 'how to' practical events on getting published and e-publishing, writing for children, and the art of persuasion.

A unique Scottish Festival

Lennoxlove Book Festival runs from 4th - 6th November 2011 and takes place in four venues within the house and grounds of beautiful Lennoxlove House in Haddington, East Lothian, Scotland. As well as the ticketed events, there is a well-stocked bookshop, a licensed cafe bar and a wealth of things to see and do throughout the weekend, including lots of free children's activities provided by East Lothian Libraries, free circus skills sessions, a display by Loretto School Pipes and Drums and, to mark Guy Fawkes weekend, a spectacular fireworks display on the opening night. The Festival is made more accessible by a regular free shuttle bus service from Haddington, whilst car parking this year has been improved and a small parking charge introduced.

The Book Festival enjoys the support of East Lothian Council and EventScotland, as well as Queen Margaret University, full service law firm Anderson Strathern, the National Libraries of Scotland, and local companies Lafarge and Vino, who have joined as new sponsors this year.

How to book

The Lennoxlove Book Festival Box Office is now open. Visit our website for full programme information and booking details. Or call the box office on 0844 357 7611.

Media enquiries

For a copy of the full press release or for any media enquiries please contact info@lennoxlovebookfestival.com or call 01620 829 800.

Who would you like to see at the Lennoxlove Book Festival this year?

A festival programme to suit all tastes

Only a week to go until programme launch and the excitement is mounting here at the Festival Office. We are just bursting to tell you all about this year’s line-up! It’s a goody, even if we do say so ourselves. We’ve gone to great lengths to make sure there is something for everyone, and all ages to enjoy so here’s a few hints about what you can expect:

History lovers

Prepare to be taken on a journey - through the life of a great Victorian perhaps, or the global wanderings of the Scots, or even some now-vanished Kingdoms.

Political movers and shakers

Be assured of a great line-up of characters from the world of British politics, who will be offering frank insights into the hottest political stories both past and present – one of them very much in the headlines this week.

Actors, entertainers, and presenters

Some well kent faces from the worlds of singing, acting, and TV presenting will be joining us to beguile us with their tales of a life well-lived within the entertainment industry.

Sport and travel

Two fairly incongruous topics you might think but you’ll find out why not when we disclose our very exciting speakers. And we are delighted to hear that one of them has just made it back home safely from their latest big, cold, adventure!

Gardening, food, drink and nature

We can guarantee that after listening to these delightful presenters that you’ll never look at the great outdoors or your wine rack in quite the same way again.

And for the younger ones

Our Family Festival is back and kindly sponsored this year by Knight Frank. Don’t miss a fantastic line-up of authors from near and afar ready to entertain little readers from babies right through to teens. But watch out for terrible creatures with terrible claws!

The 2011 Lennoxlove Book Festival programme launches on 15th September. Become a Friend to receive advance notice of the programme and priority booking.

Become a Friend and enjoy priority ticket booking

Become a Friend of Lennoxlove Book Festival and you will receive a range of benefits that draw you into the heart of this distinctive literary event:

• be the first to receive the events programme
• exclusive opportunity to book tickets in advance of the launch of the 2011 Festival to the general public (15th September 2011)
• receive an invitation to the Opening Party of the 2011 Festival, and other Friends events that may be arranged
• enjoy a special 10% discount on all books bought from Lennoxlove Book Festival bookshop
• receive our email newsletter which keeps you posted on developments and other special offers throughout the year

10% off bookshop prices

The Friends scheme is an annual subscription, which you can join for as little as £12 (single) or £18 per couple (Joint). It makes a great gift for friends or family.

To join please download the membership form from our website, fill it in and return it to us at the address provided. We will then send you a 2011 membership card.

By becoming a Friend of Lennoxlove Book Festival, you help us continue to bring some of the very best writers and performers to the heart of East Lothian.