A cultural ‘first’ for Wirral this year is a new literary festival ?" Wirral BookFest ?" which offers more than 20 book-related events across the borough.

The festival - which takes place from 7^th to12^th April - promises something for everyone, from graphic novels workshop for youngsters and cultural events to a murder mystery evening in Wirral’s spookiest library!

The main event is on Monday 7^th April at Bromborough Civic Centre (half a mile from Bromborough Station), a ‘Meet the Authors’ session with a trio of best-selling contemporary novelists talking about their work: Jenny Colgan a regular contributor to TV and Radio (currently developing a sitcom with Granada) whose first novel, Amanda's Wedding, was a huge international bestseller, Mike Gayle, bestselling author of Mr Commitment and My Legendary Girlfriend and Jojo Moyes, a previous winner of the Romantic Novel Award. Tickets for this are £3 including wine.

Big name guests include popular children’s author Brian Jacques and acclaimed poet John Siddique. Frank Cottrell Boyce (“Millions”) and Berlie Doherty, will also be visiting to launch of the National Year of Reading.

 Highlights for writers include workshops on writing for TV and creating poetry inspired by art,  former Cheshire Laureate, Andrew Rudd performing with Greasby Poets and a event hosted by Wirral-based members of Dead Good Poets Society, Clare Kirwan and Adam Khan which includes an Open Mic.

 The festival is organised by Wirral Libraries and partly funded by Arts Council England. For more details of the full programme go to: www.wirral.gov.uk/bookfest