THE finishing touches are being put in place for tonight’s launch of the inaugural Worcestershire Literary Festival.

Hundreds of events from children’s storytelling to a competition to find the county’s first poet laureate will take place across the city and beyond over the next 10 days as part of the celebration of the written word.

Festival director Lisa Ventura said there had been a last-minute flurry of new events as residents rushed to make their contribution to the festival.

She said: “People have just really got on board with it.

“I’m really excited and I just need to thank all the volunteers because without them, the festival wouldn’t have grown as it has.

“I’ve seen it go from what started as a small three or four-day event and flourish. It not just encompasses Worcester, but the whole county – it’s just amazing.”

The Worcestershire Literary Festival team can be found at their office next to the Entertainer in CrownGate, Worcester, every day during the festival from 10am to 4pm.

The team will also be out and about in the city handing out books.

The Worcester News will be printing an update every day during the festival to tell you what events are coming up.

Information is also available at worcslitfest.com, facebook.com/worcslitfest or by calling 0845 6520621.

Festival guide

TODAY

• Book Signing by Barnaby Eaton-Jones. Waterstones, the Shambles, 11am-noon. Author Barnaby Easton-Jones will be signing copies of his novel Lemon, a comedy thriller.
• Local Authors’ Book Fayre. Perdiswell House pub, Droitwich Road, 6pm-8pm. An opportunity for authors to showcase their books as well as raise money for the Noah’s Ark Trust.
• A Bard for Worcestershire. Worcester Cathedral. 7.30pm. The festival’s official launch event and the final of the search for Worcester’s first poet laureate.

TOMORROW

• Breaking into Print. Fownes Hotel, Foregate Street, Worcester. 10am-1pm. (£12/£10). Hints and tips from award-winning writer Terry Wardle about how to negotiate the tricky world of publishing.
• Writing Radio Drama. University of Worcester’s city campus. 10am-2pm, (£20/£16). Award-winning producer, writer and director Peter Leslie Wild leads a workshop on the skills needed to create an effective radio drama.
• Poetry, Performance and Pizzazz. Bewdley Museum. 10am-3.30pm (£15 from the museum on 01299 403573). A performance poetry workshop with the Brewers’ Troupe. • The Haiku Walk: Nature as Inspiration. Orchard Cafe, Worcester Countryside Centre. 11am-5pm (£5/£4 concessions). Alan Summers leads a fun haiku-writing walk around the countryside centre.
• War Reporting with David Loyn. St Swithun’s Church, Worcester. 12.30pm-2.30pm, (£5 /£4 concessions). David Loyn talks about the history of war reporting and his own experiences.
• Open Mic Sessions. AiR Cafe Bar, Broad Street. 1pm-5pm (free). A chance to read out your work in front of an audience.
• In The Family Tree. Worcester Arts Workshop. 2pm-3.30pm (£3/£2 concessions). A family-friendly workshop with writing and illustrating family-inspired poems.
• The Life and Work of Mervyn Peake. University of Worcester’s city centre campus. 7.30pm-9.30pm, (£8/£6 concessions). Sebastian Peake talks about his late father’s life using photographs and readings.
• Music + Poetry + Lyrics. Worcester Arts Workshop. 8pm-10pm (£2/£1). An evening with Poet and the Loops, Supine Orchestra and John Clarke. For more information on any of the above and to buy tickets, visit the festival website worcslitfest.com