The first ever Guernsey Literary Festival will take place from May 12-15, 2011. This year’s  festival will feature writers inspired by the isle of Guernsey itself. (The island of Gurersey is located in the English Channel off the coast of Normandy, France.)

Just some of the speakers and performers that Guernsey will be welcoming are:

Annie Barrows –  Annie is well established by her popular series of children’s books, Ivy and Bean, but best known worldwide for her completion of the book started by her aunt, the late Mary Ann Shaffer. We’re talking none other than the wildly successful, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society.

Olivia Chaney – A gifted virtuoso, this talented folk-singer will conjure dark-eyed sailors, damsels in distress and rakish knights from an Indian harmonium and steel-string guitar. Expect to be charmed, moved and entertained by a performer and musician of unusual depth and passion.

Tim Binding – A former editor at Penguin Books, Tim Binding, has written several novels including Island Madness, set in occupied Guernsey during World War II.  He has written comedy and drama for the BBC and recently published his first children’s novel, Sylvie and the Songman.

Mary Horlock – Her debut novel, The Book of Lies, will be published by Canongate in March 2011. She lives in London with her partner and their two children.