The Literary Festival 'for every kind of reader'

A Somerset literary festival is ready to "take full swing" as it returns to the county.

Yeovil Literary Festival is preparing to welcome more than 8,000 visitors from 24 to the 28 October at Westlands Entertainment Venue.

This year the event will welcome new authors alongside high-profile celebrity names. Marcus Bishop, who co-created the event in 2013, said the festival created a "big buzz" in the town.

"Book lovers have embraced the festival and come in their droves to lap up the events on offer," he said.

"It takes most of the year to put together, going backwards and forwards with publicists and sponsors, but it's worth every moment spent on it!"

Speakers at this year's event include authors Ian Rankin and Amy Jeffs, Kaleb Cooper from Clarkson's Farm, and Strictly Come Dancing's Janette Manrara.

The festival was created in 2013 by Marcus Bishop, Adam Burgan, Liz Pike and Emma Mercer.

They were told the event would not work as "Yeovil just wasn't literary enough", yet the festival has proved a success.

Over 11 years, the town has welcomed a numerous guests including authors Ben Okri, Lionel Shriver and Armistead Maupin, comedians Sarah Milligan and Jo Brand, historians and explorers Ranulph Fiennes and Lucy Worsley and actors Sheila Hancock and Alfie Boe.

"What's special about the festival is that it's for every kind of reader," the organisers said. "There's something for everyone - it's friendly, diverse and inclusive".

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