Jim Parks
Book festivals may never be the same again as media guru Jim Parks takes the reins at Guildford. Emily Horton discovers why
Games geek turned media marketing man Jim Parks is set to turn the book world topsy- turvy as he launches into his first Guildford Book Festival this month. The new creative director has already
lined up the likes of Jennifer Saunders, Ian Botham, Sebastian Faulks, Joanna Trollope and Kate Mosse for this year’s event, but this is just the beginning of his ambitious plans for future festivals.
“I want to bring the great and the good of the publishing industry to Guildford to benefit the town,” he tells me excitedly.
His appointment came amid controversy when the University of Surrey cut its sponsorship from £22,000 to £1,500 and his predecessor Glenis Pycraft made an abrupt departure.
“I joined with a lot of work to be done in a very short space of time, as well as a few budget challenges, but I can now sit here very happily and think of the wonderful group of authors coming to Guildford,” he enthuses at the Bar des Arts on Millbrook, one of the many town venues hosting the festival’s events.
In the five months since his appointment, Jim has juggled the diaries of more than 100 speakers and organised a programme of 60 public events over 10 days from October 17-27.
Parks, who is married to best-selling author Adele, is certainly well-placed to take charge, with contacts and experience from nearly 20 years of working in the video games, film, music and publishing industries.
His big break in the entertainment world came when he moved to Guildford as a 21-year-old. He spent his one day off a week volunteering at the former Virgin Games Centre on North Street, which
led to a job at Nintendo. Having established a flair for events and marketing, he took up a Marketing Directorship at Universal Studios.
“I grew up loving all forms of entertainment – movies, games, books. I live in that world, I love it.
“The festival ticks all the possible boxes for me; it’s in my town where I live, where I work, it’s in the world of books and publishing, and entertaining people is what I have spent my life being evangelical about.”
His ambition during the festival is to get the town living and breathing books, adding drama and theatre to make events as memorable as possible.
“Whether I turn up in fancy dress remains to be seen,” he laughs.
This year he says the ambition is to have something for everybody.
“I love the kind of range of talent that we have coming to wonderful Guildford. It should be something that everyone can really enjoy and celebrate.”
He is not just content with getting authors in for the traditional Q&A events, but is also exploring opportunities across the town to offer a different book festival experience. This year there is a chocolate workshop, a literary lunch and comedy. But what is Jim’s recommendation?
“If you are running a book club, get your group and go down to the Electric Theatre to meet four authors of mega best-selling titles at the Richard and Judy Book Club Extravaganza on Oct 22, which for my money, is a really good night out.”
Jim is clearly thriving on the challenge and is already quietly making notes on what he’d like to see next year.
“I have a clear vision of what Guildford Book Festival should be, and I think that it can become a much larger focal point in the calendar. We are able to attract very big names and now is the time to ‘dial it to 11’ as they say and start growing it.”
