On March 13th 2012, several organisations including UNISON, the National Federation of Women’s Institutes (NFWI), Voices for the Library, The Library Campaign, Campaign for the Book and the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP) will be holding a joint lobby of Parliament calling on politicians to protect vital library services. In...

This year, 2012, is the big one. Sebastian Coe, for one, thinks so.  It’s Olympic year and as we have seen in Beijing, the Opening Ceremony is probably the biggest stage show in the world seen by millions around the globe.  So just imagine being asked to script it! Frank Cottrell Boyce has spoken in the Liverpool Echo of his excitement at the project (see...

The Bookcrossing phenomenon is coming to the Oswestry Lit Fest! We are planning to release books of all sizes, shapes and kinds onto the streets of Oswestry.  Why?  Why not? Each book will have a Bookcrossing label so that if you should find such a book on a bench or in a cafe or hiding amongst the shelves of a local shop, feel free to take it, read it and tell...

A Lunch with David Nobbs (Creator of Reggie Perrin) Mon 19th, 1 pm at The Walls Restaurant Tickets: £20 (£18 pre-booked before end of Feb) includes The Walls’ lunch. BOOK: 01691 662244 or email mail@bookabookshop.co.uk Creator of one of UK TV’s best loved comic characters, Reggie Perrin, David Nobbs is guest of honour at what promises to be a hugely...

Doing the final preparations now on the programme.   If you’d like to be kept up to date via email, you can subscribe on the right-hand panel, or follow us on Twitter @OswestryLitFest, or check us out on Facebook. More tomorrow. /J

Do you enjoy writing poetry and having a gentle walk in the countryside? Then this is for you! Simon Fletcher will be leading a poetry writers’ day at Pant village hall, near Oswestry, on Saturday 28th January, 10am-4pm. For more information,...

We’re very excited about the upcoming OsLitFest festival – now in it’s 3rd year! I’d like to give a very special mention before we begin this year’s festival to Peter Owen, Wilfred Owen’s nephew and everyone at the Wilfred Owen Association who were so encouraging in our first year – it means a great deal.  Thank you. This...