LOCAL authors and literature fans are gearing up for the third annual Penarth Book Festival later this month.

The hugely popular book festival kicks off on October 13 with the ever-popular Poems & Pints night at The Albion Pub and wraps up on October 19 with the fascinating True Stories Told Live.

Due to demand, both events are free, but ticketed.

The Festival will see a plethora of award-winning writers heading to Penarth for a week of events. The 2014 Theakstons Old Peculiar Crime Novel of the Year winner Belinda Bauer, will be joined by debut author Emma Kavanagh and former journalist-turned-novelist Beverley Jones for a ‘Women in Crime’ event. While Harry Bingham will talk about his Fiona Griffiths series of crime novels, and Gareth Thomas will share his inspiration for his novel ‘A Welsh Dawn’, set in rural Wales in the 1950s.

For the second year, the Festival is partnering with the Pier Pavilion in hosting a Dylan Thomas themed event, led by Thomas biographer Phil Carradice and followed by a screening of the 2008 biopic ‘The Edge of Love’.

The Pavilion will also be screening the newly digitally re-mastered print of the 1940 classic film Rebecca, and the recent teen blockbuster ‘The Fault In Our Stars’, based on John Green’s bestselling novel.

John Harrison, winner of the 2013 Non-Fiction Wales Book of the Year, will join Shackleton biographer and explorer, Jim Mayer to discuss their experiences and adventures in the Antarctic. While former political editor Glyn Mathias will talk to BBC presenter Jamie Owen about his autobiography ‘Raising an Echo’ in which he gives a riveting account of the intrigues behind the headlines.

As always, there’ll be plenty of events for children over the weekend of October 18 with a visit from Fireman Sam, a children’s writing workshop with author Dan Anthony, and an activity workshop with author and illustrator Emma Levey.

Tickets for all events can be bought online from www.penarthbookfestival.org.uk, or in person from Griffin Books, 9a Windsor Road, Penarth.