I'm just sorting out the line up for the bigger better Elmbridge Festival this year and have been asked to bring in one or two literary crowd pullers. I'm aware my idea of a crowd puller might not be the rest of Surrey's.

Who would you cross London, or even the UK, to see on a dark, cold October night?
The talks and readings will be in Surrey. Who would you make the journey for? (We're talking about literary stars here, not rock and film stars...)

Thanks

Cherys

Is it short fiction specific again?

I'd travel a really long way to see Ali Smith. And she's a short fiction writer if that's what you're after.

A L Kennedy is probably good value for money.

Jackie Kay is terrific.

Sorry - no - not short fic specific this time.

Jackie Kay, Ali Smith, AL Kennedy - all good ideas. Wonder if the good burghers of Surrey have ever heard of them, though...
I've been asked to approach Alison Weir whose work I don't know at all. And for the kids - Jacqueline Wilson. But will also slip in requests for Anthony Horovitz and Andy Stanton, who would bring in crowds round here if they could be persuaded to do the gig. (More salubrious venue than last year, for those in the know!)

I would travel miles for Colette.

Miles and miles and miles.

Anne Fine would be a great one for kids.

Kate Atkinson or Sarah Waters.

She's in Paris, Sapph at Pere Lachaise, (which I'm sure you know.) Not sure she does many appearances these days though...

Ah Kate Atkinson or sarah Walters. Dream team. I love Kate Atkinson. That's a brilliant idea, Saturday. She can only say no. Or yes...

Helen Dunmore is very good at festivals. I agree with all your other choices too.

Anne Fine. I'm sure I heard extreme comments about her but can't remember which way they went. She's either lovely or hellish...She's certainly commercial.

Another vote for Sarah Waters - I saw her recently at a RSL do and she was fab.

I've always found Germaine Greer quite entertaining - though not a novelist, she's written quite a lot of literary criticism, etc. so could be an interesting sparring partner with the right person.

For kids, what about Michael Morpurgo?

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I gather David Mitchell has a pretty passionate following, too.

Jon Ronson is funny and has a middle class appeal.Do you want it too heavy weight, do you? Or do you? I was thinking of some writers of women's fiction. Elizabeth Buchan; Joanna Trollope. Brian Patten and Roger McGough can still do it, too.