BOOK lovers can look forward to some top literary names – as well as some homegrown local talent – at the 2011 Essex Book Festival.

Taking place in March, this will be the event’s 12th year and the line-up features a combination of top international and local authors, newspaper columnists and poets.

Comedian David Baddiel will be discussing his fourth novel, the Death of Eli Gold, while Andrea Levy, author of the best-selling, Small Island, will also be visiting.

Will Hutton, of the Guardian, the Daily Telegraph’s Simon Heffer and Observer columnist Elizabeth Day will be joined by the Times’ literary supplement editor, Peter Stothard.

Local authors include Patricia Burns, whose novel, Follow Your Dreams, is set in Fifites Southend, festival patron Barbara Erskine and our own Tom King – who’ll be discussing his new book the Crouch: An Essex River’s Tale.

Also on the bill is Billericay poet Victor Tapner, who will be reading from his latest collection, Flatlands, which explores East Anglia’s rich pre-history, from the Stone Age up to the Roman invasion.

It’s the first time Victor’s been involved with the festival and he says he’s pleased to be involved with the event.

“I’m looking forward to it,” he says. “I’ll mainly be reading from Flatlands.

“While it’s not meant to be in any sense a local book – it’s meant to look at a long period of pre-history – the setting is local in the sense that it’s this particular eastern region.”

Victor did showcase pieces of the collection when he did a reading at the Essex Poetry Festival this year and he says there was a resonance to reading the work locally. He explains: “I felt people were interested. I think there is an extra connection when the writer and the audience are local, and when your subject matter also has a strong connection.”

He says it’s encouraging the festival is going ahead, despite the savage cuts the arts have faced.

He says: “My thoughts on book and literary festivals in general is that they can’t be anything but a good thing, particularly in a more electronic age where we’ve taken a step back from the page.

“I think this sort of festival keeps literature in the community, so I think they can only be for the good.

“It says a lot for the times as well that these events, literary events, which are not the easiest to stage at any time, are still being held in an age of austerity.

“It’s good to see the festival can be sustained in this way and attract the big names.”

What’s on and where

Basildon Michael Dobbs, Wickford Library, March 9, 2pm. Old Enemies is part of the Harry Jones thriller series. Dobbs was previously chief of staff and later deputy chairman for the Conservative party and wrote a column for the Mail on Sunday.

Ken Porter, Laindon Library, March 23, 2pm. Local history of Laindon.

Victor Tapner, Billericay Library, March 24, 8pm. The poet will be reading from Flatlands which delves into East Anglia’s pre-history.

Thurrock Jean Fullerton, Corringham Library, March 4, 7.30pm. She will Talk about how she brings the East End to life.

Sarah Moss, Blackshots Library, March 25, 7.30pm. Night Waking – a chilling thriller.

Rochford Karen Bowman, Hockley Library, March 15, 7.30pm. The Essex author will be reading from Essex Girls which picks up on various figures from history who could make a claim to be Essex girls.

Tom King, Hullbridge Library March 17, 2pm. The Crouch: An Essex river’s tale. King is chief features writer for the Basildon Echo.

Erin Kelly, Rayleigh Library March 30 7.30pm. Poison Tree is a psychological thriller. Kelly is originally from Essex and has previously been published in a number of newspapers and magazines.

Castle Point Matthew Plampin, Canvey Library, March 31, 7.30pm. The Devil’s Acre. The Essex writer’s debut the Street Philosopher was picked as one of Waterstone’s Young Voices.

Bernardine Kennedy, Hadleigh Library, March 16, 2pm. The Essex novelist will tell how she researches for her novels.