Newark Book Festival has announced its return with a new series of events and writing workshops taking place from Thursday, July 8, to Sunday, July 11, with the added opportunity to enjoy a selection of events online.

There will be headline events with Poirot-writer Sophie Hannah, Nottingham musical family Kadiatu, Aminata and Konya Kanneh-Mason, bestseller writers Stuart Turton and Sarah Ward, local children’s author Frances Stickley and fiction writer Cathy Bramley.

There will also be online events with Mark Billingham, David Baldacci and Becky Goddard-Hill.

The ever-popular Literature Village makes a return, along with the family day at Newark Castle featuring storytelling and creative activities.

The festival team is privileged to be welcoming audiences back to beloved venues such as the Palace Theatre and Tudor Hall with this being the first opportunity to attend live in-person events.

Festival-goers can also say hello to favourite authors at post-talk book signings and festival bookseller, The Bookcase, Lowdham will be running a pop-up book stall in the town hall ballroom.

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Writers of all ages are invited to submit poems around the theme Home and Heritage to form part of the Festival’s Words in Windows exhibition, plus local schools are invited to take part in an online Schools Day curated by the festival and be part of the Newark Book Festival Press Team working with The Young Journalist Academy.

Artistic director Sara Bullimore said: “Our 2021 festival may look a little different to what you are used to, but nonetheless we are delighted to bring you a varied, fun, informative and inspiring programme.

“Our theme for 2021 is Our Stories, so we invite you to share your stories, of home, of our heritage, of our young people, how we stay happy, what have we been reading – we look forward to welcoming you in person or online as we celebrate together and remember those who we have lost.”

All events will follow covid-safety guidelines. Tickets are now on sale at newarkbookfestival.org.uk. Alternatively, call or visit The Palace Theatre Box Office on 01636 655 755 (Wednesday–Saturday, 10am–3pm).

Join the email list and follow the festival on social media.

Brochures are available from the Newark outlets of the Palace Theatre, Newark Library, Secret Garden Studios, Beanblock Café, Carriages Café, LetsXcape, and The Fuji Shop, as well as The Bookcase, Lowdham, and Lindum Books, Lincoln.