Smithdown LitFest books top literary line-up for 2019

Smithdown LitFest returns for 2019 with a series of free literary events taking place over seven days in September.

Best-selling crime novelist Ann Cleeves and Liverpool actor John McArdle are among the line-up for the annual festival which runs from September 13-19.

Cleeves, who has sold more than five million books, will open the festival with an In Conversation at Ullet Road Unitarian Church with fellow crime writer Ashley Dyer, LitFest patron. She will talk about her new novel, The Long Call, which is published on September 5.

Meanwhile McArdle will appear at St Barnabas Church in Penny Lane on September 14 when he will talk about his book You Never Said Goodbye, which tells the story of his father who died when the actor was 16.

The festival line-up also includes award-winning Liverpool sports writer Simon Hughes, international cricket star Tatenda Taibu, crime thriller writer Caz Findlay, children’s author and illustrator John Duddle and LitFest patron Ashley Dyer.

Venues also include Toxteth Library and Wavertree Cricket Club, and will chat about their writing lives and books, read excerpts from their work, and answer questions from the audience.

While entrance to events is free, tickets will need to be ordered in advance.

Smithdown LitFest runs from September 13-19. More details and booking HERE