Events
2017
-
Annual Lecture
Highgate Literary and Scientific Institute, 11 South Grove, London, N6 6BS -
Glory and the truth of historical fiction
A talk at Catholic writers guild.
Delfino, 121 Mount St, London W1
2016
-
Kensington Day Centre
‘Making It Up: Can Fiction Reveal The Truth Of History?’
Rachel is giving the Annual Lecture in aid of Friends of Kensington Day Centre.
- 7.00pm — Drinks and Canapes
- 7.45pm — Lecture and Book Signing of ‘Glory’
-
Sherborne Literary Festival
Susie Dent (Countdown) in conversation with Rachel (Patron of the Sherborne Literary Festival), about her book Modern Tribes: The Secret Languages of Britain.
Digby Hall, Sherborne -
Windsor Festival
‘Is there anything writers shouldn’t write about?’
Rachel, Gillian Slovo, Alastair Niven (all former Presidents of English PEN) and Jonathan Heawood (CEO of IMPRESS) in discussion about freedom and censorship.
Guildhall High Street, Windsor -
Oxford Literary Society
RB Speaks at Oxford Literary Society.
Oxford Literary Society -
Emirates Airline Festival of Literature
RB will be appearing at the Festival.
-
A commemoration of the evacuation of Gallipoli
RB in conversation with the Rev.Peter Wolton about her novel Glory.
- 6:30pm — Commemorative Service
- 7:00pm — Drinks
- 7:30pm — Talk
2015
-
Barnes Literary Society
Rachel talks about the inspiration for her novel ‘Glory,’ and the move from the reality of her grandfather’s death at Gallipoli to the creation of a novel.
-
Balloon Debate
Rachel joins Kate Adie and Lord Fellowes in a ‘Balloon Debate’ in aid of R.A.B.I.
Melbury House, Dorset
2014
-
Taunton Literary Festival
Rachel talks about her latest novel ‘Glory’.
Brendan Books, Taunton -
Gibraltar International Literary Festival
‘Schools’.
T.B.C.
2013
-
Gibraltar International Literary Festival
‘Glory’: The Challenge of Writing about War
King's Chapel -
Gibraltar International Literary Festival
Rachel is attending the Festival.
-
Maria and the Admiral
Rachel gives the Sir Leslie Bowes Lecture to the Anglo-Chilean society. She will talk about the real life characters Maria Graham and Admiral Cochrane, behind her latest novel Maria and the Admiral, set primarily in England and Chile in 1822.
For more details see Anglo Chilean Society.
Cervantes Institute, 102 Eaton Square, London SW1W 9AN -
Leeds Book Awards
I was very excited to win the Leeds Book Award in the 9-11 category for Poppy’s Hero. Some 420 children from the 52 schools who participated celebrated with me in Pudsey Civic Hall. Huge thanks to Deborah Moody and her team of fellow librarians who organised the event. The winner was voted for by the children themselves which made it extra special.
If you want to learn more see Leeds Book Awards
-
Maria and the Admiral
Publication by Orion Books of the paperback edition of Maria and the Admiral.
-
The West Country Writers’ Association
As President, Rachel will attend the 62nd Writers’ Weekend.
The Palace Hotel, Torquay -
Love and the Hero: Love in Fiction
RB discusses the Romantic Hero in fiction with reference to her latest novel Maria and the Admiral.
Emirates Airline Festival of Literature -
Who Needs a Woman’s Prize for Fiction?
RB is a panelist for this discussion.
Emirates Airline Festival of Literature -
Researching to Write
RB is also a panelist for this discussion.
Emirates Airline Festival of Literature -
Education Day
RB attends Al Ameen school to talk about her children’s novels Poppy’s Hero and Poppy’s Angel.
Emirates Airline Festival of Literature -
Emirates Airline Festival of Literature
Rachel attends this International Festival in Dubai UAE.
-
Sherborne Literary Society
Rachel addresses the Sherborne Literary Society on the occasion of their first AGM on ‘Writing for adults and children’.
-
Poppy’s Angel
Times Educational supplement webchat with teachers about her new book for children.
-
Poppy’s Angel
Publication by Frances Lincoln Children’s Books of Rachel’s latest novel for children.
2012
-
Sherborne Literary Festival
Rachel is a panelist in a debate on ‘The impact of Technology on the written word’ chaired by Peter Hobday.
Old School Room, Sherborne School -
Henley Literary Festival
Rachel talks to Alistair Horne about her latest book Maria and the Admiral.
The Quince Tree, Henley -
Maria and the Admiral
Publication by Orion books of Maria and the Admiral.
-
West Country Writers Association Annual Lunch
As president Rachel attends lunch at the West Country Writers Association at their 61st Congress.
Bailbrook Hotel, Bath -
Poppy’s Hero
Publication by Frances Lincoln Children’s Books of Poppy’s Hero.
-
OBE
Rachel was delighted to be awarded the OBE.
The commendation read ‘Author, Vice-President of English PEN, for services to Literature’.
2011
-
Kennaway House Readers and Writers Festival
RB speaks about her work.
Kennaway House, Sidmouth, Devon -
Digby Stuart Lecture
RB delivers the annual Digby Stuart Lecture.
Digby Stuart College, Roehampton University, Roehampton Lane, London SW15 5PH -
Chipping Campden Literary Festival
RB speaks about her writing at the Chipping Campden Literary Festival.
Town Hall, Chipping Campden -
West Country Writers Association Annual Lunch
As president RB attends lunch and addresses the West Country Writers Association at their 60th Congress.
Elfordleigh Hotel, Plymouth, Devon -
High Sheriff Award
Rachel receives an Award from the High Sheriff of Greater London, Ranjit Mathrani, for ‘community service and outstanding contribution in relation to the criminal justice system’.
-
Fact & fiction in all its forms
Rachel Billington in discussion with Hilary Spurling.
Al Baraha 2, InterContinental Hotel, Dubai -
Writing for Children: what difference does language make?
Rachel Billington in discussion with Abir Ballan.
Al Khaimah, InterContinental Hotel, Dubai -
Emirates Airline Festival of Literature
Rachel will be attending the Festival in Dubai UAE and speaking at the following events.
Emirates Airline Festival of Literature -
The Space Between
Paperback re-issue by Orion Books of The Space Between
-
One Summer
Paperback re-issue by Orion Books of One Summer.
-
The Missing Boy
Paperback publication by Orion Books of The Missing Boy.
-
Sentenced
Rachel Billington (Inside Time) chairs a discussion between Wilbert Rideau, American author (In One of Justice) and former death row inmate and Erwin James, the acclaimed British prison writer (A Life Inside) and journalist.
PEN members £5, non-members £8
Free Word, 60 Farringdon Road, London EC1R 3GA
020 7324 257 or www.freewordonline.com
2010
-
Bridport Literary Festival
Bull's Head Hotel, Bridport, Dorset -
Wells Festival of Literature
Book Group Event. Presentation of The Missing Boy and presentation and discussion of Lies and Loyalties. Chair Hilary Cain.
Bishop's Palace, Wells, Somerset -
The Lukan Fund
A ‘Literary’ family, twenty novels and a prison newspaper: Rachel Billington talks about her life and work. In aid of St.Luke’s Church, Wincanton.
St.Lukes's Church, Wincanton, Somerset -
Hampstead and Highgate Literary Festival
Rachel Billington talks to Bridget Galton.
Ivy House, London NW11 7SX -
Amnesty International Imprisoned Writers series
Edinburgh International Book Festival
Peppers Theatre -
Edinburgh International Book Festival
Highland Park Spiegeltent, Edinburgh -
Ways with Words Literary Festival
Dartington Hall, Devon -
The Missing Boy
Rachel Billington in conversation with Peter Stanford to celebrate Orion Books’ publication of The Missing Boy.
Waterstone's 39-41 Notting Hill Gate, London W11 3JQ -
The Missing Boy
Orion Books’ publication of The Missing Boy.
‘Rachel Billington has written a tense and emotional novel about the day-to-day existence of a contemporary family living through their worst nightmare. Anguish and hope move across the pages until the final breath-taking denouement.’
‘The disappearance of a teenage boy tears a family apart in this poignant, highly topical and searching story’.
-
West Country Writers Association Annual Lunch
RB attends as President of the West Country Writers Association
The Mercure White Hart Hotel, Salisbury -
The Sunday Times Oxford Literary Festival
‘Writing Fiction’
Rachel Billington talks about her latest published novel Lies and Loyalties, and her new novel The Missing Boy, to be published in May this year. She will also discuss her writing for prisoners in the prison newspaper ‘Inside Time’ and their wiriting in ‘Inside Poetry’ published in 2009.
Christ Church College, Oxford
2009
-
The Longford Lecture
Rachel Billington chairs the eighth in the series of lectures in memory of her father, Lord Longford. www.longfordtrust.org
‘War is easy – peace is the difficult prize.’
Sir Hugh Orde, President of the Association of Chief Police Officers of England, Wales and Northern Ireland talks about ‘An Alternative Approach to Resolving Unsolved Murders’.
Assembly Hall of Church House, Westminster, London -
The Poyntington Lecture
‘Growing up as a Writer in the Longford Family’.
The Gryphon Conference Centre, Bristol Road, Sherborne, Dorset -
BBC Radio 3 The Verb
RB interview with readings from Inside Poetry.
-
Inside Poetry
Launch of Inside Poetry at Daunts Bookshop, Holland Park, London. The book is a collection of poetry written by men and women in prison. It is edited by RB and has a foreword by Andrew Motion and endorsements from Boris Johnson, Michael Palin and author/prisoner Razor Smith.
Daunts Bookshop, Holland Park, London -
Making Conversation
RB has written the Preface to the reissue of Making Conversation, by Christine Longford. She will be at Persephone Books at lunch to talk about her aunt’s novel, first published in 1931, and her own latest work, Lies and Loyalties.
Persephone Books, 59 Lamb’s Conduit Street, London WC1N 3NB