Writing stars ready to wow at Cleckheaton Literature Festival

The first ever Cleckheaton Literature Festival gets underway next weekend, pulling a catalogue of A-list writers into town.
Newspaper: Reporter Series. Story: Cleckheaton Literature Festival - The organisers. Pictured L to R) Rachel Lawson - Friends of Cleckheaton Library, Michael Ramsden - Friends of Cleckheaton Library, Karen Naylor and Martin Webster. Photo Date: 29/04/15 Photo Ref: AB015a0415Newspaper: Reporter Series. Story: Cleckheaton Literature Festival - The organisers. Pictured L to R) Rachel Lawson - Friends of Cleckheaton Library, Michael Ramsden - Friends of Cleckheaton Library, Karen Naylor and Martin Webster. Photo Date: 29/04/15 Photo Ref: AB015a0415
Newspaper: Reporter Series. Story: Cleckheaton Literature Festival - The organisers. Pictured L to R) Rachel Lawson - Friends of Cleckheaton Library, Michael Ramsden - Friends of Cleckheaton Library, Karen Naylor and Martin Webster. Photo Date: 29/04/15 Photo Ref: AB015a0415

Award-winning authors, screenwriters, playwrights and poets are appearing at Cleckheaton Library and other venues throughout the event, which begins next Thursday, May 7.

Designed to make literature more accessible to those who know little about it, special children’s workshops will also take place.

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Festival director Karen Naylor said: “It will not be highbrow and fanciful, there are plenty of those already, but a friendly festival for the whole family.”

As well as veteran broadcaster Andy Kershaw headlining festivities on Saturday evening, children’s author Gillian Rogerson, short story writer Mark Wright and award-winning Chocolat writer Joanne Harris will appear during the event.

Organisers were handed £4,950 towards the festival from Kirklees Council after a meeting last month.

Partners of the festival include Cleckheaton Writers Group, the Friends of West End Park, Kirklees Council, Creative Scene, Reading Matters, Spenborough Chamber of Trade and Commerce and others.

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Karen decided to start the festival after years as a keen attendee of similar events in Morley and Huddersfield.

To book tickets for the different events, visit www.cleckheatonliteraturefestival.ticketsource.co.uk