The Liverpool Literary Festival will welcome fantastic local authors, including burglar for hire Jenny Radcliffe, and author of Locks, Ashleigh Nugent, to the University of Liverpool this October.
Now in its eighth year, this well-established festival, taking place between Friday 6 and Sunday 8 October, will feature a range of inspirational discussions with an exceptional line up of authors.
Security expert and Scouser Jenny Radcliffe, who started her career in Liverpool, will discuss her latest book – People Hacker – Confessions of a Burglar for Hire on Saturday 7 October at 7pm.
Jenny Radcliffe
Jenny said: “The best way to describe what I do is that I break in to people’s houses or businesses – but because they’ve asked me to! This means I can then see what the weaknesses are in any security systems and help them fix anything that could be breached by criminals.
“Most security breaches happen because of human error or psychological manipulation – so things like people leaving door open or staff allowing somebody into a building because they’ve got a fake but convincing cover story.
“That’s why I’m also known as ‘The People Hacker’ because I manipulate people to get access to information, homes or businesses that they think are secure. I then share what I’ve learned to make sure it’s less likely to happen again.”
Jenny was a “HQ Hunter” in the popular TV show HUNTED on Channel 4. She regularly speaks on a variety of national TV and radio shows such as This Morning to give advice on home security and combatting scams.
Jenny added: “I ‘m really looking forward to sharing my story at the Liverpool Literary Festival next month – it’s great to be doing an event back at home. I started my career in Liverpool and studied English at the University of Liverpool so I’m particularly looking forward to being back at my old stomping ground for what will be a great weekend.”
On Saturday 7 October at 1pm, Ashleigh Nugent, who grew up in Rainhill and now lives on the Wirral, will discuss his novel Locks, about his experience of being arrested as a 17 year-old while on holiday in Jamaica.
Ashleigh Nugent
Ashleigh is a writer, poet, rapper, actor and workshop facilitator in prisons and schools. His work, through his charity RiseUp CiC, aims to empower individuals to better their circumstances, prospects and wellbeing. Ashleigh’s one-man-show won a bursary from Live Theatre, Newcastle and has received rave audience reviews following showings in theatres and prisons in Liverpool and throughout the UK.
Ashleigh said: “I’ll be talking about my experiences as a mixed-race boy growing in a suburb of Liverpool, being the black boy in my village and the white boy in a Jamaican prison, how I decided to pursue my dream and become a writer at the age of 21 and going to college and university after leaving school with no qualifications.
“I’ve not been to the Liverpool Literary Festival before and I can’t wait to tell my story on home turf and hopefully inspire a new generation of writers.”
Both Jenny and Ashley have landed deals to turn their books into TV series next year and so the Literary Festival certainly won’t be the last you hear from them.
Joining Jenny and Ashley at the festival is Liverpool-born Aidan Cottrell-Boyce, who will be discussing his debut novel, The End of Nightwork on Sunday 8 October at 1pm.
Described by The Guardian as a novel “rich in provocative and timely ideas” this will be a discussion not to be missed.
Aidan Cottrell Boyce
Former film critic for The Independent, Liverpool local Anthony Quinn will also be making two appearances at the Literary Festival: On Friday 6 October at 6.30pm in Conversation with award winning author Jonathan Coe, and on Sunday 8 October at 5.30pm with former Everton and Tranmere footballer Pat Nevin.
Festival Director, Professor Greg Lynall said: “We’re really pleased to have such an incredible line up of local authors on our programme for the festival this October.
“The Liverpool Literary Festival is now a major highlight of the city’s cultural calendar and we’re really pleased to be able to showcase local talent.
“Make sure you have a look at our fabulous Festival line up for this year and get your tickets booked.”
The Liverpool Literary Festival takes place 6-8 October at the Victoria Gallery & Museum on Brownlow Hill. To find out more, view the full line-up and reserve your tickets, please visit https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/literary-festival/events/
You can buy tickets for individual events at the festival, day passes and weekend passes. All festival passes will include reserved seating in the lecture theatre, a free drink at the Waterhouse Café, plus a host of other exclusive VIP benefits. Click here to book a festival pass.