the chichester literary quiz 2016

Everything and everyone are ready …

The scoring librarians are lined up and raring to go …

Diana’s wearing her lucky doggy pin.

Peter’s mike is working …

And for once, the author team is actually behaving …

Candy Gourlay SHINE

Jeff Norton METAWARS

Ali Sparkes CAR-JACKED

Jamie Thomson DARK LORD: THE TEENAGE YEARS

Photo  courtesy  of    Kathy  Evans  

WAITAMINUTE!

That’s not Jeff Norton, author of METAWARS

Twitter goes mad!

But the show must go on.

Debut author Kathryn Evans (MORE OF ME) is allowed to join the author team.

Authors start by signing a gazillion certificates, petitions, injunctions, and restraining orders.

Jamie discovers that Ali is avoiding wheat and sugar and promptly offers her biscuits.

Ali threatens Jamie with decapitation.

Photo  by  David  Percival  

Quizmaster: No notebooks or phones on the table!

Authors: What about a raven? QM: Oh. Okay. Authors: What about a small coffin filled with elf ears and the leg bone of a shrunken man? QM: Right.

At last, the quiz begins. It’s a show down between the best readers …

Of the best schools in Chichester…

The children just keep winning.

But it’s a close run thing!

Meanwhile, the authors struggle to answer questions about their own books. Again.

Finally. A break to sign autographs

… try on elf ears

… take selfies …

… and recruit minions.

The Dark Lord is pleased by the enthusiastic response.

Winners are announced.

Here comes

the trophy!

And the overall winner is Chichester High School!

Librarians and authors enjoy some levity …

Until the Dark Lord gets a little too excited.

The librarians banish him to the car park where he challenges the debut author to a duel.

But she turns out to be a skilled swordswoman and they decide to fight another day.

It was such FUN!

Fond thanks to the children and

the Lit Quiz team …

ESPECIALLY

Peter ‘Hard Act to Follow’ Bone

Probably the Best Quizmaster in the World.

Photographs & Text by Candy Gourlay www.candygourlay.com