The fabulous ‘flying authors’

As part of the day of celebration of libraries on Saturday 5th February, several locally-based author and poets will be taking part in a ‘Flying Authors’ tour.

These brave souls will be stretched to the limit in their mission to visit as many Gloucestershire libraries as possible in a single day, entertaining library users along the way with stories, poems and songs!

They will also be collecting books from each library, chosen for them by library users, to highlight the range of information and entertainment available in our libraries, and will be meeting at the end of the day at Stroud Library to compare notes.

See their flight schedules for the day below (all landing times are approximate and may vary due to air traffic). A list of other events taking place throughout the day can be viewed here.

Meet the ‘flying authors’

John Dougherty and Cindy Jefferies

 

John Dougherty is a children’s author, and creator of the popular ‘Jack Slater Monster Investigator’ and ‘Zeus’ book series. He is also a poet and songwriter.

John’s flight schedule:

Minchinhampton Library – 9:30

Tuffley Library – 10:15

Matson Library – 10:45

Brockworth Library – 11:15

Hesters Way Library – 11:50

Micheldean Library – 12:45

Cinderford Library – 1:15

Lydney Library – 1:55

Hucclecote Library – 3:15

Cindy Jefferies is a prolific children’s author, and creator of the popular ‘Fame School’ series. 

Cindy’s flight schedule:

Lechlade Library – 9:30

Fairford Library – 10.05

Cirencester Library – 10.50

Tetbury Library – 11.35

Nailsworth Library – 12.15

Quedgley Library – 13.05

Gloucester Library – 13.45

Longlevens Library – 14.20

Churchdown Library – 14.50

John Dougherty and Cindy Jefferies

Marcus Moore is a writer and performance poet who has written for the BBC, performs at and regularly hosts poetry slams including at the Cheltenham Literature Festival, and was BBC Gloucestershire’s Reading and Writing Ambassador in 2008.

Marcus’ flight schedule:

Up Hatherley Library – 9:30

Prestbury Library – 10:30

Bishops Cleeve Library –  11.30

Cheltenham Library – 12:30

Tewkesbury  Library – 2:00

Katie Fforde is a bestselling author, and founder of the Katie Fforde Bursary for writers who have yet to secure a publishing contract. She has served as both committee member and chair of the Romantic Novelists’ Association.

Katie’s flight schedule:

Dursley Library – 9:00

Berkeley Library – 10:30

Stonehouse Library – 12:00

Stroud Library – 1:40

Sue Limb is perhaps best known for her long-running weekly Guardian feature, ‘Dulcie Domum’, and is also a popular author of fiction for children, teens and adults, and a writer for television and radio.

Sue’s flight schedule:

Wotton-under-Edge Library – 11:00

Stroud Library – 1:20

Philippa Roberts is a Gloucestershire-based independent publisher and poet.

Philippa’s flight schedule:

Newnham Library – 11:30

Coleford Library – 1:00

Jane Bailey is the author of four novels, and is a commitee member for the Cheltenham Literature Festival.

Jane’s flight schedule:

Winchcombe Library – 11:45

Jane will also be offering a creative writing workshop at Charlton Kings Library at 2:00.

More ‘flying authors’ are expected to join the squadron. Keep checking for updates!

John Dougherty and Cindy Jefferies

Many thanks to Kim Davenport at Gloucestershire Airport and Tiger Airways for their help with these photos.