Local Authors' Showcase to Open Chiswick Book Festival
Expanded programme includes talks about wartime resistance and propaganda
A selection of the local writers taking part. Picture: Chiswick Book Festival
August 25, 2025
The Chiswick Book Festival will open its 17th edition with the Local Authors’ Showcase, a well-established event that celebrates the literary talent of West London. Taking place on Wednesday 10 September at the George IV pub on Chiswick High Road, the evening will be hosted by the Festival’s programme director, Jo James. Each author will speak for just two minutes, offering audiences a rapid-fire introduction to a wide range of new books and perspectives.
Among the contributors is children’s author and former West End performer Robert Tregoning, who will present his latest picture book. Emma Cook, a former assistant editor at the Observer Magazine, will introduce her debut psychological thriller, while Tabard Theatre director Nick Bromley will share insights from his book on David Garrick and the Theatre Royal Drury Lane. Local historian James Marshall will discuss his centenary history of the Great West Road.
The evening will feature memoirs and biographies that span theatre, intelligence services, and international journalism. Nick Bromley’s book honours actor Robert Baddeley, while Sarah Tucker’s biography of Edward de Bono includes reflections from Tony Blair and de Bono’s colleagues.
hristopher Stobart recounts his family’s journey from pre-war Austria to global publishing, and Dean Atta explores identity and transformation in his memoir. David Crane will launch the autobiography of his late mother, Joan Langrish, who escaped wartime France and joined the Secret Intelligence Service.
Fiction writers will also take the stage, including Jon Elkon with a tragicomic tale set in the world of Baroque opera, and C.R. Westbrook with a dark comedy thriller rooted in entertainment journalism. Emma Cook’s novel follows a journalist ghostwriting for a celebrity neuroscientist, while Geraldine Taylor’s mystery centres on a Chiswick psychotherapist turned amateur sleuth. Aisha Hassan’s debut novel draws on true events to explore themes of love and resilience, and Keith Richards offers a story shaped by decades of experience in African markets.
Non-fiction contributions will include James Marshall’s richly illustrated history of the Great West Road, Paul Summerville’s analysis of populism and economic fairness, and Javier Rosales and Jose E. Gonzatti’s guide to personal development. Jane Davies presents a visual exploration of light and illumination, and Richard Harper examines the creative resilience of exiled writers under Nazi persecution.
Children’s literature will be well represented, with Mariesa Dulak’s debut about a tiger on a train, Robert Tregoning’s musical family adventure, and A.R. Wallace’s whimsical journey through London landmarks. Melania Giofre’s illustrated fantasy follows a young boy navigating dreams and reality to save both worlds from a looming curse.
The Local Authors’ Showcase continues the Festival’s commitment to highlighting writers with ties to Chiswick, many of whom feature in the Chiswick Timeline of Writers and Books. This archive now lists nearly 500 authors who have lived in W4 and written a book, including Nobel and Booker Prize winners, Oscar recipients, and poet laureates. The Chiswick Book Festival runs from 10 to 15 September.
For programme details and to buy tickets, visit the festival's web site.
Like Reading Articles Like This? Help Us Produce More This site remains committed to providing local community news and public interest journalism. Articles such as the one above are integral to what we do. We aim to feature as much as possible on local societies, charities based in the area, fundraising efforts by residents, community-based initiatives and even helping people find missing pets. We’ve always done that and won’t be changing, in fact we’d like to do more. However, the readership that these stories generates is often below that needed to cover the cost of producing them. Our financial resources are limited and the local media environment is intensely competitive so there is a constraint on what we can do. We are therefore asking our readers to consider offering financial support to these efforts. Any money given will help support community and public interest news and the expansion of our coverage in this area. A suggested monthly payment is £8 but we would be grateful for any amount for instance if you think this site offers the equivalent value of a subscription to a daily printed newspaper you may wish to consider £20 per month. If neither of these amounts is suitable for you then contact info@neighbournet.com and we can set up an alternative. All payments are made through a secure web site. One-off donations are also appreciated. Choose The Amount You Wish To Contribute. If you do support us in this way we’d be interested to hear what kind of articles you would like to see more of on the site – send your suggestions to the editor. For businesses we offer the chance to be a corporate sponsor of community content on the site. For £30 plus VAT per month you will be the designated sponsor of at least one article a month with your logo appearing if supplied. If there is a specific community group or initiative you’d like to support we can make sure your sponsorship is featured on related content for a one off payment of £50 plus VAT. All payments are made through a secure web site. |