THREE authors from Tavistock will be taking their places in a packed line-up at the Plymouth Literature Festival which starts this weekend.

Bill Richards, co-author of Luggy – The Autobiography of Paul Sturrock, and Jane Marchese Robinson, who has written Tracing Your Boer War Ancestors – Soldiers of a Forgotten War will be taking part in a 12-day literary feast for readers and writers alike.

Also among the novelists appearing will be Tavistock’s Tom Vowler. His story collection, The Method, won the ?Scott Prize in 2010 and the Edge Hill Readers’ Prize in 2011. His novels What Lies Within and That Dark Remembered Day have also received critical acclaim.

Running from Saturday, October 22 to Wednesday, November 2, the festival programme will offer something for avid readers of novels, historical and sports books right through to writers of flash fiction, poetry and comedy.

Plymouth Argyle fans can expect a treat during ‘An Evening with Paul Sturrock’ on Saturday, October 29 at the Plymouth Athenaeum. Inspired by his autobiography, Sturrock and co-author Bill Richards will lift the lid on two eventful spells in charge of the Pilgrims and his stellar playing career with Dundee United and Scotland.

Bill said: ‘I am absolutely delighted to be part of the Plymouth Literature Festival. Both Paul Sturrock and myself are excited and honoured in equal measure to have been asked along to the Plymouth Athenaeum.’

While writing her book, Jane Marchese Robinson appealed for stories and artefacts from descendants of Boer War combatants.

‘As a result I received stories from Scotland to Penzance,’ she said. ‘I was amazed at what people kept. It was like they were waiting for someone to ask them to go into the attic and bring it out.

‘A lot of people joined the army and went to the war from Devon and Cornwall because there was an agricultural depression at the time.’

Other programme highlights include a reading, talk and audience Q&A at Waterstones New George Street with North Cornwall-based author Wyl Menmuir, whose novel, The Many, has been longlisted for this year’s Man Booker Prize; and top horror writer Mark Morris, who is also famous for penning many of the Doctor Who novelisations.

Also at Waterstones, author Andrew Beasley will enthral children with a reading and talk from The Battles of Ben Kingdom series.

Music lovers will be taken back to the 1960s as Tony Bramwell, author of Magical Mystery Tours – My Life With The Beatles, shares his up-close-and-personal experience of the Fab Four.

Andrew Addison, sales director at Redrow (Westcountry) which is the event’s main sponsor said: ‘The Plymouth Literature Festival will be an important event in the city and we are delighted to support this year’s event which looks to celebrate words, reading and writing in a fun and unique way across the city.’

Full details about the Plymouth Literature Festival can be found at www.plymouth literature festival.co.uk