The Isle of Man Steam Packet Company is continuing its support for Manx Litfest by helping bring two very different authors to the Island for this month’s festival.

Manx Litfest 2015 runs from Tuesday, September 22nd through to Sunday, September 27th, with a wide range of literary events taking place at venues around the Island.

The Steam Packet Company has supported Litfest since the first festival in 2012 and this year is bringing authors Brian Clegg and Ian Buxton to the Isle of Man.

Festival Director John Quirk said: ‘Brian is an acclaimed science author, whose books include Before the Big Bang, Inflight Science and Final Frontier. He will be involved with our National Story Day around Manx schools on the Friday (September 25th) and the following day, Saturday, we are holding an event based around another of his books, Build Your Own Time Machine, at 3pm at the Youth Arts Centre in Kensington Road, Douglas.

‘Brian will draw inspiration from his childhood favourites, Doctor Who and H.G. Wells, to explain the nature of time – and why HG Wells’s famous time machine wouldn’t have worked. We’ve also arranged for Brian to be joined on stage by a life-size TARDIS, which is something he’s really looking forward to!’

John said: ‘Ian Buxton is an authority on whisky and gin, and has written several books, including his most recent – 101 Gins to Try Before You Die – which follows a previous book, 101 Whiskies to Try Before You Die. Ian is a former marketing director of Glenmorangie, Scotland’s long-time favourite single malt and now runs his own consultancy business, with clients including the Bacardi Corporation (USA), Drambuie Liqueur Co, and Ben Nevis Distillery.

‘He’ll be comparing the two popular drinks in the Whisky vs Gin Face-off at Noa Bakehouse, which gets underway at 7.30pm on Saturday, September 26th. There will also be food from Noa, and music from local band Loose Crew – it should make for a great night’s entertainment.’

John added: ‘It’s through the welcome support of sponsors like the Steam Packet Company that we are able to arrange Manx Litfest each year.’

Isle of Man Steam Packet Company Chief Executive Mark Woodward said: ‘In a short space of time Manx Litfest has established itself as a regular feature in the Island’s festival calendar and we are pleased to be able to support the team’s efforts in staging such a wide range of events.’

Tickets for Build Your Own Time Machine and the Whisky vs Gin Face-off are available from the Villa Gaiety website – http://villagaiety.ticketsolve.com/production_companies/126497676/shows - by calling the hotline 600555, or from the Villa Marina reception and Sea Terminal Welcome Centre.

Photo - Cover for 101 Gins To Try Before You Die.