Rentzenbrink named guest director of Oswestry LitFest

Authors Damian Barr, Sathnam Sanghera and Nina Stibbe are among those appearing at The Oswestry LitFest's Long Lit Weekend in March, with Cathy Rentzenbrink, author and contributing editor of The Bookseller, guest directing it.

The festival has released its programme today, (14th January), featuring Ruby Wax, Blue Peter's Janet Ellis, Juno Dawson and Louise O'Neill among other stars.

Carrie Morris, festival director, said: "We’re delighted to be welcoming Damian Barr, Sathnam Sanghera and Nina Stibbe for a panel on memoir and Cathy’s editor Francesca Main and agent Jo Unwin will join her to discuss how the author, agent and editor relationship really works. Jo will also be running a session on how to turn your book idea into a perfect pitch. There’s also a Kids' Lit Day with a flurry of story-telling events."

The festival will run from 17th-20th March 2016 and will welcome a host of authors, performers, storytellers and illustrators to venues across the town. It will feature events including a YA panel featuring Juno Dawson, Non Pratt, Louise O'Neill and chaired by The Bookseller's children's editor Charlotte Eyre.

Now in its seventh year, The Oswestry LitFest, was established when local businessman, John Waine of The Best Of Oswestry, inspired by reading a short book, Wilfred Owen: Poet and Soldier (Gliddon Books) by Helen McPhail, created a festival to bring the best authors and storytellers to Oswestry.

The festival's organising team includes Carrie and Tim Morris from The Bookseller Industry Awards' independent bookshop of the year Booka Bookshop, Heather Rodenhurst and Teresa Eccleston (Oswestry Library), Louise Chadwick, Helen Willows and Pam Parish from Authors Inspire.