and the Hallmark Medal for Poetry goes to . . .

The girls from the Paddington Poetry Speed Writing Team (seen here

 with their coach Fanny Forester) raise a glass of sweet sherry 

in celebration of winning the regional heats to qualify for the finals

of the Strict Tempo Light Verse Olympic Sprint at this year's exciting

Isle of Wight Literary Festival.  "We're confident of taking the medal

- these girls can rhyme in double-quick time," declared Fanny,
a legend in the greetings card industry.

and he does his own hair and make-up

Charlie Chisel the celebrated thriller writer, athlete, adventurer,

mercenary, explorer, mountaineer, bush pilot, sharp shooter, deep sea

diver, big game hunter, columnist, wit, historian, wine expert, wrestler

TV celebrity, gourmet, cigar enthusiast and award-winning fashion

designer  (seen here at another literary luncheon) announces that he

plans in future to get "some little scribbler" to bang out his blockbusters

 since he's just too busy 'being Charlie'

he looks better in costume

A rare photograph of the world's best-selling romantic novelist

Lettice Silk-Gussett, seen here at home with her devoted companion

Cyril.  Ms Silk-Gussett has used Cyril as the inspiration for her most

hot-blooded heroes, including dashing Hector Haunch, Highwayman,

Captain Challenger and Diablo the Pirate from her Buccaneer series. 

another look at Mrs Slocombe's pussy

After the failure of veteran French cookery writer Colette de Belbeuf

to publish her classic recipe book 'Cooking with Horses' in Britain, 

she's soon encouraged to try again with her beautifully  illustrated 

'Cooking with Cats - favourite recipes from South-East China'

Colette was confident of success. "In England they are crazy for pussy"

she announced.  "She is everywhere cheap and plentiful."