Montegrappa first fiction entry closes as Emirates Airline Festival of Literature tickets go on general sale

The competition affords first time novelists to have their work evaluated by a leading UK literary agent at the Festival which takes place in Dubai between the 5-9 March 2013 under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice-President & Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, and in partnership with Emirates Airline and the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority (Dubai Culture), the Emirate's dedicated Authority for culture, arts, and heritage.

This fifth year anniversary edition of the Festival which has the theme 'Heroes and Villains' will showcase more than 100 authors, writers and speakers from 30 countries in some 200 sessions across five days and nights. The programme of events is on-line and tickets are already selling strongly to Festival Friends who have had exclusive access from Monday 14 March.

The Festival programme kicks off with a spectacular Opening event on Tuesday March 5th produced and directed by members of the Royal Shakespeare Company. Details are still under wraps but the event is titled A Twist in the Tale - a reference to the best-selling book by Lord Jeffrey Archer who will be at the Festival to discuss his life and work on Friday and Saturday.

This is followed by Desert Stanzas, an evening of world poetry and music under the stars, with poets including Simon Armitage, Roger McGough, Sjon, Ben Okri, Jeet Thayil, Adel Khozam and Nujoom Al Ghanem. Next up on Thursday 7th March is An Arabian Adventure - a Murder Mystery Dinner with a unique difference.

Each table is hosted by a leading author including participation of Boris Akunin, Mark Billingham, Maxime Chattam, John Connolly, Jeffery Deaver, Lynda La Plante, Ian Rankin, Sandy Gall, Ken Hom and others.

A change of pace comes on Friday night with The Lighter Side - a chance to hear tales from the lives of authors including Bobby Chinn, Philip Ardagh, Ben Miller and Mark Billingham. Saturday night sees another first - a rousing Closing Event that is free of charge although tickets must be booked as space will be limited.

During the day there are cookery demonstrations, foodie panels and two Literary Lunches hosted by Pierre Gagnaire and Antonio Carluccio. New for this year is a dedicated Ladies Morning which culminates in a third Literary Lunch from Anissa Helou.

What's most marked about the schedule this year are all the masterclasses with classes ranging from a sci fi masterclass with Alan Dean Foster to a masterclass with acclaimed novelist and poet Ben Okri to 'plot development for stories with an Arab world setting' (with Greg Mosse) to writing a weekly column with Heather McGregor (the Financial Times' Ms. Moneypenny) to a short-story workshop in Arabic with Emirati author Mariam al-Saedi, and many more. Of course Festival goers will also enjoy the Penguin Fringe Festival, the Time Out Kids Zone and children's events.

Topics and genres ensure something for everyone and with tickets starting at AED40 as well as many free activities the Festival is designed to accessible for everyone who has an interest in the written and spoken word.

Another innovation for this year is the series of exciting public events. Highlights are an inspirational multi-cultural initiative commissioned by Dubai Culture and produced by Roger McGough and Mark Cockram. This is The Dubai Doors Project and comprises poetry, painting and collaborations with Emirati Artists and it draws on the acclaimed exhibition put on by the duo in Liverpool, UK. Also on display will be Robert Crowther's amazing Icons of Dubai paper-engineering displays and Korky Paul's free-standing mural project which will commemorate the five years of the Festival.

The full author line-up, programme and tickets are available on-line at emirateslitfest.com. Tickets can be purchased in person at Kinokuniya booksellers in Dubai Mall. The Festival operates a dedicated membership scheme called Festival Friends which offers discounts on tickets as well as benefit packages. Details on-line.