Book lovers of all ages are in for a treat next month when a star-studded line up assembles for the first Crickhowell Literary Festival.

Initially conceived as a three day event, the wealth of local talent and the enthusiasm of writers from across the UK has resulted in a greatly expanded programme now running for well over a week.

Between October 3 and 11 there will be 51 events - featuring readings, lectures, book clubs, literary walks and workshops at locations throughout the town.

Festival organisers have unveiled a programme that includes Owen Sheers, poet, novelist, playwright, poet, and author of the recently published I Saw a Man; Man Booker Prize nominee Mary Lawson, author of Crow Lake and The Other Side of the Bridge; Deborah Moggach, prolific, novelist and author of These Foolish Things (which became the hit movie The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel); award-winning poets Jonathan Edwards and Paul Henry; author and illustrator Jackie Morris and rugby’s own Eddie Butler.

Other contributors to the nine-day festival include Vesna Goldsworthy, Horatio Clare, crime writer M R Hall, debut novelists Emma Chapman, Alex Hourton and Kate Hamer, fantasy novelist Jasper Fforde, forager and writer Adele Nozedar alongside children’s authors Nicola Davies( pictured) and Catherine Barr.

The 2014 Wales Book of the Year for Fiction winner Francesca Rhydderch will launch the Festival and a reading from the 2015 Costa Book Award for Poetry winner, Jonathan Edwards, will close it.

A finale concert, reflecting a sense of the local landscape, will bring the week’s festivities to an end.

Saturday October 10 will celebrate bookshops throughout the UK with a ‘Books Are My Bag’ Bookshop Party. The date is also the fifth birthday of the local independent bookshop ‘Book-ish’, so there will be cake, special guests and live music in the town to make a double celebration.

Organisers Emma Corfield-Walters (Book-ish) and Anne Rowe (The Dragon Inn) hope that the Crickhowell Literary Festival will bring opportunities for learning and pleasure to the entire community.

“We would like to see it develop into a popular annual event that not only promotes Crickhowell as a cultural destination but also showcases what we, as a town, can offer the wider world throughout the year,“ said Emma.

“Booking for all the festival events opened on July 29 and some are now sold out or almost full, so we do encourage people to get their tickets prior to any event that they wish to attend!

“We would like to thank all the businesses, volunteers, community groups and the people of Crickhowell for their continuing support.”

For a full list of all events and booking details visit cricklitfest.co.uk. Brochures are available from Book-ish, CRIC or your local library or TIC.