Calling all book worms! Don’t miss the annual South Warwickshire Lit Fest, a local festival for local authors, powered by volunteers. Think boutique meets bookish, set in the chic venue The Fold in Leamington Spa. A curated day packed with author talks, workshops, one to one slots, open-mic sessions, and a buzzing book stall area. The vibe? Intimate, inclusive, and full of literary love – with five free tickets reserved for those on low incomes, because writers are welcome from all walks of life.

Guest speakers will be there and they look a little like this: writer and award-winning journalist Gary Phelps, self-publisher Sian Smith, and co-writers Alison May and Janet Gover. You’ll learn about a range of different styles of writing, plus all the tips and tricks these experts have up their sleeves. It will also be brimming with drop-in specialist workshops on everything from crime lit to poetry, to script-writing – it’s a book worms dream. Add on a salad lunchbox and a cafe-bar offering throughout the day, and you’ve got the perfect literary escape.

Want to be ahead of next year’s literary fest? Each year, the festi runs a writing competition, and profits are put into running the festival. So, if you want to show off any secret talents, now is your chance. Winners are invited to read their work out loud at the festival (so put your big girl boots on). There are also top tier judges (and writers themselves) like Gwyneth Box bringing some serious literary creds to the table. It’s a must-add to your diary if you want to be seen, heard, or published. Or if that doesn’t tickle your fancy, simply sip your fave tipple and nerd out with likeminded souls in Warwickshire this autumn.