Today's lit pick: the Chiswick Book Fest (@W4BookFest) http://t.co/WzDWQyTc

Yay, got day pass 174 for the Chiswick Book Festival on Sunday, which means I'll be heckling @LFBarfe at some point.

Am so jealous of everyone at Chiswick Book Fest- first time I'm away for the weekend for ages. Chose the wrong weekend to go!

@slomoro Not so much Chiswick being odd, as the fact it's Chiswick Book Festival this weekend...

RT @W4BookFest: Only two days to go until the start of Chiswick Book Fest. Who's joining us at @chiswick_house for Lucy_Worsley 's talk on great houses?

RT @myChiswickLive: Lucy Worsley kicks off the Chiswick Book Festival at Chiswick House (7pm, £20) http://t.co/1cIdnYB

RT @F_Beschizza: Listened to a really good lecture from Lucy Worsley on her book, if walls could talk, at Chiswick House. Started reading the book now. #in

If walls could talk: an intimate history of the house by lucy worsley. Facinating!!! #FridayReads

Glad you enjoyed it RT @F_Beschizza: Listened to a really good lecture from Lucy Worsley on her book, If Walls Could Talk, at Chiswick House

Michael's here. He says writing is his way of explaining the way he feels about the world around him.

Michael was inspired by the children coming to visit his farm and how they learned to get used to animals. #w4bookfest

Michael says I can't create imaginary worlds. I need to start with something I saw or knew. Inspired by poets like Ted Hughes. #w4bookfest

The Butterfly Lion was inspired by a chance meeting with Born Free actress Virginia McKenna #w4bookfest

Kids spellbound by a true story Michael's telling of a WW1 officer rescuing a starving circus lion. #w4bookfest

Michael says War Horse is his favourite book. It's always been his wife's favourite #w4bookfest

It takes 6-12 months for Michael to write a book, but the 'dream time' for an idea for a novel to fully form can be years #w4bookfest

The hardest book he ever wrote was Private Peaceful about a soldier condemned to death. It was the most difficult to 'live'. #w4bookfest

Michael's favourite animal is the elephant, after his mother read The Elephant's Child by Kipling to him in bed. #w4bookfest