Bring the children along to meet the characters from three heartwarming tales by bestselling children's author Onjali Raúf: The Boy at the Back of the Class; The Night Bus Hero; and The Letter With the Golden Stamp. Suitable for age 7–11.

Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult at all times. All attendees need to purchase a ticket for this event, both adults and children.

A panel of professionals working in writing and publishing talk about ways into the industry, the journey to getting published, and answer your questions on the A-Z of the books trade.

Renowned for his work in rewilding and species reintroduction, Derek Gow, author of Bringing Back the Beaver, looks at the history of the wolf’s demise and the possibility of a future return to Britain for this majestic species. With Carol Donaldson.

Emily Ann Davison will host a mindfulness story time, sharing her book Every Bunny is a Yoga Bunny. Follow Yo-Yo’s journey and discover how we can all breathe, stretch and find calm. Children can join in with yoga moves and calming mindfulness activities. Age 3+

Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult at all times. Accompanying adults and children all need a reserved ticket for this event.

The story of a young Syrian refugee woman who lives in Shatila, one of the world's oldest refugee camps, told by Meike Ziervogel, co-founder of an NGO for refugees in the Middle East. Meike talks to Daniel Hahn about how her writing draws on experience of working with displaced persons, and her own past.

British Bengali-born writer Tasneem Abdur-Rashid talks to author Maggie Brookes about her uplifting, laugh-out-loud story, The Thirty Before Thirty List, which confronts the choices that a young woman has to make between forging an exciting, independent life or accepting a life defined by family and tradition.

Meet one of the producers of the cult-hit TV show Father Ted. In her nostalgic, warm-hearted memoir Lissa Evans reveals the challenges of the job and shares a hilarious montage of some of her most treasured Father Ted moments, from clerics crashing through windows to runaway milk floats. Lissa is in conversation with author Clare Chambers.

The Chinese-born writer and film-maker talks to Daniel Hahn about her life in Hastings, asking how an immigrant, an outsider and a woman can embrace local and national history.

Xiaolu Guo is 'One of the most valuable writers in the world' – Deborah Levy

A true story about class and ambition, loneliness and community, success and failure – told with real heart and humour it reminds us that the extraordinary can be found in the most unexpected places. Scriptwriter and producer Joe Tucker will be talking to host Steven Gale.

Students and staff from the university’s creative writing faculty showcase their work and offer inspiration for budding writers.

Greg Mosse, Julie Wassmer and Jamie West talk about their latest novels and take a wry, amusing look at the foibles of some of their best cosy crime characters.

What does it mean to be a mother? Why does being a mum change the way society sees you? Helen Charman talks to author and journalist Eliane Glaser about the politics of motherhood from the 1970s to the 2010s, from the policing of breastfeeding to the cost of childcare, from Women’s Liberation to austerity, and women's fights for an alternative future.

The lives of two east London teenage boys become fatally entwined in this assured debut addressing themes of the online 'targeting' and 'recruiting' of teenagers, masculinity and marginalisation, Britishness, and the pernicious pull of extremist politics. Darkly humorous and highly topical, this is an Observer Best Debut Novel 2024; and shortlisted for the prestigious Gordon Burns Prize.

Maggie Brookes-Butt will be launching Wish: New and Selected Poems. Plus readings by Nancy Charley, Fiona Sinclair and Melinda Walker.

Local poets perform a selection from their most recent publications. Click on the 'Details' box to see the full line-up and reserve a place. Includes an Open Mic slot, 6.30–8.30pm.

Readings from widely published poets Christopher Horton, Mat Riches and Matthew Stewart.

Faversham author Helen Heckety's sharp, funny and heartbreaking debut novel, exploring the journey of self-discovery of a young woman who as a child was diagnosed with a condition that would alter the course of her life. With author and disability campaigner Chloe Timms.

Simon Goddard’s book-by-book, year-by-year literary trip through Bowie's greatest decade reaches 1974, the year in which one man is trying to find his soul in a world that's gone to the devil. Wickedly funny and shockingly tragic. With author Mark Stay.

Poetry readings with Michael Bartholomew-Biggs, poetry editor of the online magazine London Grip; Maggie Harris, whose new collection is I Sing to the Greenhearts (Feb 2025); and Rosie Johnston, who has a new collection, Safe Ground, forthcoming in 2025.

Rethinking Hemingway, with translator Daniel Hahn and author Sonia Overall, whose novel Eden melds the persona of Hemingway himself with characters from his last book, written while he was living in Cuba.

Local poet Jane O'Brien hosts an Open Mic fundraiser event for selected charities. See details for how to take part.