YOUR MANUSCRIPT and THE PUBLISHERS
– the inside story from insider CAROLINE TAGGART

Presented in association with FOOTSTEPS Writers’ Group

What do you do with your manuscript, that piece of writing that you have worked on so hard and long, and would like to see published, for others to read? Do you put it away in a drawer, share it at writing groups, or do you send copies of it to every magazine and publisher in the land, and hope to be spotted by talent scouts?

Editor of the newly–published Writer’s Market UK and experienced publisher in her own right, Caroline Taggart specialises in helping authors who are not (yet!) published to get their words in the right order and their work to the right places.

THE GLOBAL WARMING SURVIVAL KIT
– how to deal with extreme weather, with BRIAN CLEGG

Climate change is upon us but it’s not the end of the world. In fact, the world is sure to go on. The doubt is about human beings going on.

But we must not give up.

In his latest book, science writer, broadcaster, Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, and one of the world’s great explainers, Brian Clegg suggests what we might do to survive. Act now, blink later!

BARRY DAVIES – on Interesting, Very Interesting,
in conversation with Adver editor Dave King

Sportsmen and women have an important job to do but so do those who comment on or describe their actions to a huge listening and viewing audience on radio and television.

It’s a tricky job, sounding both relaxed and excited, ordinary but well-informed, impartial and interesting.

Only the best athletes win and only a few commentators succeed and become the voice we want to hear on big sporting occasions.

The voice of Barry Davies is one of those. He has guided audiences through some of the most compelling moments in sport over the past 40 years, including 10 World Cup football finals, many Match of the Days, 10 Olympic Games, numerous Winter Olympics, and even the Boat Race. In his new autobiography, he looks back at everything from the Hand of God to crooked judges and commentary cock-ups. It’s interesting, very interesting, behind the scenes in the commentators’ box!

TIM SMIT – on the Eden Project, and other visions!

Do you ever read books outside your own sphere of activity? Have you had a dream that you wanted to make real? How do you make your dreams come true? How do you inspire, or infect, people with your longings? Would you believe that good decisions can be made at night, by wine light?

There is a man who does, and who makes some dreams come true!

Anyone who has visited the Eden Project or the Lost Gardens of Heligan will have experienced not only the wonder and splendour of the natural world but also the part that human beings can play in helping us appreciate its value, majesty, and beauty.

Tim Smit CBE has had a hand, a mind, and a dream in all this. Erstwhile rock music composer and producer, he is the kind of person who can believe that a rocky old mining pit can be turned into a cradle of life, and that sustainability is about good business practice and citizenship values for the future. For these reasons, he has been the subject of the BBC’s This is Your Life programme and Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs; and has written books too!

JOHN PILGER – on writing, filming, and speaking out,
in conversation with Luke Holland, and with you!

What is the role of the reporter? What do you think of ‘investigative journalism’? Apart from your immediate loved ones, what do you care about in the world? Is ‘over there’ too far away for you? What is the difference between films and books? How can we make things better? Is there any hope for human beings, to be kind and caring?

These are all tricky questions but which, maybe, hold no fear for John Pilger, who has been tackling them head on for most of his working life. His films have appeared on national mainstream television and his books have titles like Tell Me No Lies and Freedom Next Time. He is two-times winner of British Journalist of the Year, as well as International Reporter of the Year, and winner of the UN Media Peace Prize. He will talk about his work, and answer questions.

Also a documentary film-maker who dares to ask tricky questions and look at the underbelly of everyday life, Luke Holland is known for his work for television on matters both local and gobal.