In the ‘Top Ten’ of which authors are selling the most tickets, at the time of writing two are very local to us. I cannot tell you how happy this makes me.
Stephanie Austin, based in Ashburton, is currently the second bestselling author (behind Lady Anne Glenconner, and in front of Roger McGough) and Torquay’s own Lesley Pearse also makes the current top ten!
Both are going to be great events and show there is just as much interest in local writers as the so called ‘Big names’. Stephenie’s crime novel’s all set in Devon, continue to grow in popularity and I am not surprised so many people want to learn what it was like starting her writing career later in life, and how she continues to develop.
Lesley Pearse is a ‘name’ and probably the biggest selling author to live in Torbay, after Agatha Christie. Her thirty-plus books have always made the UK top ten including this year. However, her life is just as interesting and I can guarantee if you book for her, you are in for a treat. She is a talented lady, but also one that does not suffer fools! I think it would be a great Friday night to hear here at 18:30 (after an early dinner), have a break for a drink in the theatre bar, and then settle in for a really funny Friday night with Helen Lederer afterwards.
Do also take a look at some of our other free events, all of which feature local talent, and I promise I am going to do more with local writers in 2027.
