Novelist is back at school for festival

Mrs Cooper is heavily involved in the festival and held a book signing at Wellington Library at the event's launch. Her Jack Brenin series is tipped to fill the void left by Harry Potter but one of the things she especially enjoyed was visiting local schools to read stories to children.

The ex-teacher said: "My main concern is getting children reading. To me that is most important.

"The festival is wonderful and gives the opportunity to get lots of people involved."

Her first book in the Jack Brenin series, Golden Acorn, has had 300,000 downloads on Kindle.

She will visit 10 schools during the festival, including Apley Wood, Old Hall, New College, St Patrick's and Dothill.

Tewkesbury-born writer Alan Beard will be the festival's guest speaker tonight.

Mr Beard, who works as a librarian for Birmingham City University, will give a talk at Wellington Library from 7.30pm.

Shrewsbury writer Anni Potts will talk about science fiction in her talk 'To Boldly Go' at Wellington Library tomorrow at 7.30pm.

Ms Potts, 48, who has lived in Shrewsbury for more than 30 years, released her debut novel last year.

She said: "As a child I used to write these stories but the teachers could not get their heads round them and I was made to feel so uncomfortable about it I stopped writing.

"But I never stopped making the stories up in my head, until I thought, blow these people, I am going to write it down."

A headline speaker at the festival is cookery writer Josceline Dimbleby, who will be at New College on October 5 at 7.30pm.

All talks at the festival are free but a ticket is needed to see Josceline Dimbleby, these are available by calling Wellington Town Council on (01952) 567697.