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The festival boom

21.05.07

The literary festival scene is undergoing a boom akin to that in the music industry, notes the Independent. "Gordon Brown believes they are a sign of a new seriousness in Britain. Publishers believe they raise their writers' profiles in a notoriously overcrowded market. And, most importantly, readers flock to them in ever-growing numbers with inquiring minds and open wallets."

The expansion also reflects the increasing demand on authors, from heavyweights to obscure debutants, to get on the publicity treadmill and push their wares. Events can attract anything from 50 to 2,000 enthusiasts, and can increase a book's sales by as much as a quarter.

Liam Browne, who organises the literature element of the Brighton Festival and is programme director of the Dublin Writers' Festival, said: "Publishers will now often require an author to make a certain number of appearances to publicise the book. There is more pressure than ever on writers to perform. But it is part of an exciting and positive development. I think people want to engage more directly with writers beyond traditional media."

Independent

literary festival

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