Wordfest

Twenty events have been organised by a group of local writers and literary enthusiasts with the aim “to celebrate local and national authors, to support new writing, to entertain and stimulate discussion, and to complement the active arts scene in Shoreham”.

Sharing tips is a key objective.

Sue Walker, a crime writer who has been published by Penguin Books, is hosting a workshop to explain how to write a novel in half a day (Saturday, September 29, Shoreham Centre, 10am to 2pm, £30 or £20).

While Sally O’Reilly, author of Dark Aemilia, about Shakespeare’s Dark Lady of the sonnets, and a creative writing teacher at the University of Portsmouth, will outline how to approach historical research and turn this into a novel (Saturday, September 29, Shoreham Centre, 10am to 2pm, £30 or £20).

The famous guests follow one another with author of The No 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency, Alexander McCall Smith, introducing and signing copies of his new book, Sunshine On Scotland Street, on Friday, October 5 (Ropetackle, 7pm, £8).

Rhyme, Rhythm and Rap is the title of children’s poet Brian Moses’s show, which is aimed at young readers between five and 12 years old (Saturday, October 6, Shoreham Centre, 2pm to 4pm, £7.50 for two adults and two children).

Moses has performed in more than 2,500 schools, libraries and theatres and has had more than 200 books published, including his latest collection A Cat Called Elvis.

Crime writing set in Brighton is the topic for Brighton Crime (Tuesday, September 25, Ropetackle, 7pm, £6).

Sara Sheriden, the Edinburgh-based author of the Brighton Belle series, will be joined by Peter Gutteridge, the Observer crime writing reviewer who this year launched the third part of his Brighton-based trilogy, and Mark Peterson, the Shoreham-based author who has just launched his first Brighton-based crime thriller, Flesh And Blood.

Classics are tackled on National Poetry Day, as Thomas Hardy is celebrated by Janet Pressley. She will present the man’s work in the context of his life and times (Thursday, October 4, 2pm to 5pm, £5).

And the Sussex exploits of Anglo-French writer, Hilaire Belloc, one of the most prolific writers in England in the early 20th century, is the theme for an evening of illustrated readings by historian Chris Hare (Monday, October 1, Marlipins Museum, 7.30pm, £3) For those interested in short stories, the Rattle Tales collective of Brighton-based authors will read their stories and the audience can rattle their approval or challenge the authors (Saturday, October 6, Ropetackle, 8pm, £6).

• Wordfest takes place at venues across Shoreham from Tuesday, September 25, to October 7. For tickets call 07522 957691 or visit ticketsource.co.uk/shorehamwordfest