The story of the West Kent Book Fair....

Once upon a time, long, long ago.... actually it was on my recent holiday in Cornwall I was fortunate enough to stumble across a traditional evenings entertainment at a farm nearby where we stayed. Actually it was a farm shop and restaurant with the best home cooked food you could imagine but that's not the point of the story! In fact stories is the point of the story. One rainy night, for there were many on this particular trip, we went to see some storytellers, who told some traditional children's tales and some stories from Cornish folk lore. The few who had bothered to show up for this free entertainment, sat on hay stacks in a barn as two crooked and weathered looking old men (Mike and Dave to their mates, pictured) built up their tales, got to the guts of the story and delivered the finale, in one case complete with magicians fire (at least that's what I think it was) shooting out of his finger ends. I was so impressed that I googled them when I got back and found them on the Society of Storytellers web site and I've only gone and booked them for the West Kent Book Fair on Sunday October 26th haven't I. So at this years event, for the paltry 50 pence entrance fee, you'll have a choice of books from around 25 different book sellers from all over the SE, you'll be able to listen to and take part in an open mic poetry session, bring the kids along to childrens story time, take part in literary quizzes, listen to publishing advice, have books signed by up and coming local writers, play the world's first literary board game and now, (pause for breath) enjoy the ancient, almost forgotten art of storytelling which has been around far longer than even the written word. Come on what else are you doing that day?! I bet you can hardly wait! Put the X-box away, turn off the TV and get yourselves along there....