Book lovers will have plenty of opportunities to meet their favourite authors, and discover new and upcoming writers, at literary festivals across the country next year. Here are some of the top events, large and small. Morpeth Book Festival, Northumberland Greater Morpeth Trust and Northumberland Libraries just announced the first headliners of next year's event.
Mari Hannah, award-winning crime author, will lead the festival, joined by Alistair Moffat, Gervase Phinn and B. A. Paris, among other national and local authors.
The weekend will be filled with lively conversations and community building. moreinmorpeth.co.
uk , 22-23 March Oxford Literary Festival The historic university attracts some of the best literary minds and has an impressive yearly schedule of discussion, interviews and speeches. Visitors will can dine in the beautiful college halls alongside festival speakers, attend workshops and watch the presentation of the prestigious Bodley medal for outstanding contributions to the world of books and literature. oxfordliteraryfestival.
org , 29 March-6 April Stratford Literary Festival, Warwickshire Stratford hosts not one but two book festivals a year, in the spring and autumn. The most recent festival, last month, included writers such as Jodi Picoult, Ben Macintyre and Anton Du Beke. There were also crafts and interactive events for children.
stratfordliteraryfestival.co.uk , 8-11 May and 30 October-2 November Hay Festival, Powys One of the world's biggest and best .
