Tony Parsons headlining Flamstead Book Festival

Best-selling author Tony Parsons is headlining the first Flamstead Book Festival next Saturday, June 7.

Books in the Belfry – to help raise much-needed funds to restore medieval wall paintings in St Leonard’s Church – will also feature top children’s writers Jonathan Stroud, Dawn Finch and Pete Johnson, all of whom have local connections.

Dawn, who lives in St Albans and once worked as a guide at the Cathedral, is promising to dress up as a monk on the day as her book Brotherhood of Shades is about the adventures of a secret monastic order.

The line-up also includes a session on sports writing on the eve of the World Cup with former Premier League and Luton Town footballer Steve Claridge and ex-referee Mark Halsey who hails from Welwyn.

Biographer Clare Mulley will talk about her extraordinary story of Britain’s first female spy in the Second World War, The Spy Who Loved, and there will be a Gardeners’ Question Time with a twist.

In addition, there will be writing workshops for children and a session on how to publish your own book.

Tony Parsons, best known for his novel Man and Boy, is moving in a new direction with the publication this month of his first crime thriller The Murder Bag which is currently topping the hardback fiction charts.

He will be explaining why he created Max Wolfe, a coffee-loving, dog-walking detective.

For information on all the day’s events and how to buy tickets go to www.flamsteadbookfestival.com There will also be a chance to buy books and get them signed by all the authors on the day.