| Writer friends |
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Philip Carr-Gomm
Writes about sacred sites and landscapes, druids, psychology, nakedness and magic. His The Book of English Magic (with Richard Heygate) was published to acclaim in 2009. I look forward to his A Brief History of Nakedness in 2010 – and especially to the launch party... |
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Tracy Chevalier
Although perhaps best-known for Girl With a Pearl Earring, her other novels, including Burning Bright and Remarkable Creatures, are no less brilliant. |
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Andrew Crofts
‘The king of British ghostwriters’, much quoted by Robert Harris in his novel, The Ghost, who has recently become a successful novelist in his own right. |
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Paul Dickson
Paul is the doyen of books on words, names, slang and a host of other subjects. He holds a Guinness world record for assembling the greatest number of synonyms – for the state of being drunk, the subject of his marvellous 2009 book, Drunk: The Definitive Drinker’s Dictionary. |
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Katie Fforde
Bestselling author of romance and humour based firmly in reality – and one of my co-contestants on University Challenge: The Professionals. Her latest novel is Love Letters . |
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Peter James
Film producer and bestselling crime writer, his Roy Grace series, set in Brighton, just gets better and better. The latest instalment, Dead Tomorrow, was published in 2009. |
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Nicolette Jones
Journalist and award-winning author of the story of Victorian philanthropist Samuel Plimsoll, The Plimsoll Sensation: The Great Campaign to Save Lives at Sea. |
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John Malam
Children’s non-fiction author – who I believe is even more prolific than me! |
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Miriam Moss
An award winning picture book – and short story – writer. |
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William Nicholson
Oscar-nominated screenwriter (for Shadowlands and Gladiator), along with Elizabeth: The Golden Age in 2007, and author of the award-winning children’s fantasy trilogies, Wind on Fire and Noble Warriors. His The Secret Intensity of Everyday Life was published in 2009. |
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Justin Pollard
Historian and author on subjects from Alfred the Great to ancient Alexandria – who also writes the BBC quiz show QI in his spare time. His Secret Britain: The Hidden Bits of Our History was published in 2009. |
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Christopher Priest
Highly acclaimed science-fiction author whose The Prestige was filmed in 2006. |
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Tim Rice
Multi-talented writer, triple Oscar-winning lyricist, humorous, tall, successful – darn, I’ve run out of adjectives… |
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Anne Rooney
My favourite polymath - from Wallace & Gromit and spies to computers and bird flu! |
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Robert Skidelsky
The distinguished economist and author of the definitive biography of John Maynard Keynes, with Keynes: The Return of the Master a timely publication in 2009. |
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Lynne Truss
Author of Eats, Shoot & Leaves, but also many other fine non-fiction books, novels and radio scripts. |
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Christopher Wilson
A schoolfriend of mine who went on to be ‘William Hickey’ on the Daily Express and the author of numerous entertaining royal and other biographies. |
