Anita Ganeri, author of the world-famous Horrible Geography series, sends this message: "What a brilliant place for a festival. Horrible Geographers love nothing better than being beside the sea. Congratulations to Nick and all the Festival organisers, and good luck for this year."

The following message is from the Children’s Laureate Jacqueline Wilson in support of the Appledore Book Festival:"I think the Appledore Book Festival sounds a wonderful idea - and it's for such a worthwhile cause too. I'm sure it will be a big success. I hope to take part next year!"

Message from Jeremy Strong – best selling author of the "Hundred Mile An Hour Dog" and many other wonderful books: "The Appledore Book Festival is a brilliant idea, run by brilliant people and featuring brilliant writers and illustrators. All it needs now is a brilliant audience, and that's YOU! Come and join the fun! With best wishes to Appledore Festival."

Message from Steve Barlow and Steve Skidmore the authors of the Mad Myths series and many more: "Help! We are being held captive in Nick Arnold’s cellar until we say how brilliant the Appledore Book Festival is. Well, it is! Great place, Great people, Great idea. You’d be mad to miss it! Can we come out now – please, Nick?!"

Martin Brown, illustrator of the multi-million selling Horrible Histories series says: "Of the Festivals I'm doing this year, Appledore is the one I'm looking forward to the most - and being there for the first one is the icing on the cake.!"

Tony De Saulles, illustrator to the Horrible Science series (published in over 30 languages) says: "It's so nice to visit somewhere like Appledore, it's a village which has just saved its library and a place where people obviously have a love and need for books."