Author events: which would you recommend?

[Cheboludo]

Over the last few years I've started attending more author events / readings. I always really enjoy them even if I haven't read anything by the author. The only local bookshop that organises these events is crime specialist so I've mainly seen crime writers. Does anyone else attend these events? I'd like to go to more book festivals - has anyone been to the festivals and can recommend eg Hay / Edinburgh / Harrogate (crime festival)?

My recommendations would be: Jon Ronson. I recently saw him giving his Frank Story talk about his time in the Frank Sidebottom band. I booked the tickets thinking there was a showing of the Frank film so almost didn't go when I realised it was just a talk. It was great, almost like really good stand up but very moving at times. Ronson came across as very likeable and interesting, willing to put himself into awkward or strange situations for the sake of a story.

James Ellroy: he strode onstage and grabbed the audience by the throat with his opening monologue. He's charismatic but intimidating and clearly doesn't suffer fools gladly.

Lee Child: his story of how he started writing is fantastic, if credibility stretching. He was charming, funny and humble. Plus, he looks far more like Reacher than Tom Cruise.

Attica Locke: forthright and quick-witted, incredibly charming and with an interesting back story (civil rights campaigner parents, disillusioned ex-screenwriter).

John Connolly: self-deprecating and really witty. Incredibly generous to fellow writers (he'll invite other writers who've turned up to see him to share the stage at an event).

Who should I look out for? Anyone I should avoid?

Val McDermid, Jeanette Winterson, Jackie Kay and Armistead Maupin are my absolute all time faves. Frank Cottell Boyce v good too. Agree re Connolly, hes very engaging and prepared to talk for hours. China Mieville and Steve Mosby v good. Biggest disappointment was Charlaine Harris.

Oh, your list is great. My husband has seen Val McD & Steve Mosby & liked them both very much. I couldn't get to see Frank Cottrell Boyce last time he was here but I'd imagine he's really interesting and funny.

I saw Dave Eggers give a very short talk a few years ago but, unfortunately, the queue for his event the next day was so long I didn't get in.

I always really enjoy Mark Kermode events, but I really disliked his book "It's only a movie".

I'd love to see Jonathan Coe, Sophie Hannah, jasper Fforde, Jeffrey Eugenides, Malcolm Gladwell and John Irving (amongst many others)

I live very close to Edinburgh so go to a good few events every August as well as trying to make it along to any stand alone events in between.

I generally see Ian Rankin every year, he often does an "in conversation with..." another writer my favourite event being the one he did with Neil Gaiman.

Other writers I've seen and loved at Edinburgh are Christopher Brookmyre, Linn Anderson, Iain Banks, Vic Reeves, Dave Gorman, Mark Thomas, Allan Guthrie, Julia Donald'son (more for DS but I loved it just the same!), Lionel Shriver, Kate Atkinson, Margaret Atwood, and my most favourite, Chuck Palanuik.

If you are closer to a festival go to that one if it would mean a decent bit of travelling to get to one come to Edinburgh. The city is amazing in August as the fringe is also on and there are literally thousand of shows to keep you entertained. I think the 2014 programme is released in June.