‘You don’t like my cinema idea, do you? Well, we can go and look at it and decide later.’

‘Where are you going to put everyone up?’ asked Laura.

‘Here, as far as we can. We can sleep about eight, comfortably, and of course not everyone will be here at the same time. The authors will stay in the house on a rolling basis unless they’re sharing, in which case they might have one of the cottages. There are also lots of b. and b’s. locally, but we hope we don’t have to put writers in them, unless they prefer it for some reason.’

‘We must mention the b. and b.s when we do the flyers, so people know they can stay. It’ll be part of the rural image: “Enjoy literature in the undiscovered beauties of wherever . . .”’

‘We’re not exactly undiscovered,’ complained Rupert. ‘We did have a lot of publicity for a celebrity wedding not long ago.’

‘I meant the area in general,’ said Laura. ‘If people think the area is attractive, they’re more likely to come. Think of Hay-on-Wye!’

‘Are we going to have a theme?’ asked Fenella. ‘I mean, we’ve got the music stuff going on too.’

‘At exactly the same time?’ asked Laura anxiously.

‘We thought alternate days,’ said Rupert, ‘or a few musical events, a few literary ones, and then a music one at the end. Or vice versa. We’ve got permission to use a couple of the fields.’

‘That took a lot of tact and persuasion,’ said Fenella. ‘It’s only because farming isn’t doing brilliantly at the moment that I managed to swing it. I think they all imagined Glastonbury was moving up here.’

‘But the farms should get something out of it,’ said Rupert. ‘Lots of them said they could rent out space for camping.’

‘And we’ve got some really big names for the music side of it,’ said Laura.

Fenella winced slightly. ‘Not confirmed,’ she said. ‘That’s why I wanted some biggies for the lit. bit. Monica is on the case though. She’s pulled in all the favours she can manage and has used blackmail if that failed.’

‘Well, I wouldn’t refuse her anything,’ declared Laura.

‘And I hope you won’t refuse another roast spud from me,’ said Rupert.

‘Of course not.’

‘So, theme or no theme?’ asked Fenella. ‘I think not, on the whole.’

‘The Cheltenham lit. fest. always has one,’ said Laura.

‘I know but they’ve got the pick of the bunch. We’re brand new. Authors might not be so keen to come to us.’