Local readers, writers, book worms and poets are gearing themselves for one of the most eagerly awaited of events in the island’s cultural calendar.

The 2018 Manx Litfest gets underway next week, and this features a long list of visiting authors, performance poets, workshops and concerts from storytellers from the world of fiction and literature.

Headlining the festival is the children’s author and acclaimed illustrator Chris Riddell.

Chris is the writer behind the popular young teenage fiction series ’Goth Girl’, for which he has written five books, the most recent being 2017’s ’Goth Girl and the Sinister Symphony’, as well as the ’Ottoline’ series of novels, featuring the adventures of the heroine Ottoline Brown.

Chris has also illustrated novels and stories for such literary giants as Neil Gaiman and JK Rowling.

He will host the popular family day event at Garey Ny Cloie, St John’s, on Saturday, September 29, from 1.30pm, where there will be an afternoon of activities based around his latest book, ’Once Upon Wild Wood’.

Chris will also host ’Poems To Live Your Life By’, an evening at Noa Bakehouse on Saturday evening, from 8pm, based on his collection of illustrations, inspired by his favourite poems, and a morning event on Sunday, September 30, from 10.30am, at the Castletown Civic Centre, aimed at young fans of the Goth Girl series.

Elsewhere, storyteller Ben Haggerty will perform a unique steampunk-inspired version of Frankenstein, at the Gaiety Theatre on Friday evening, September 28, with musician Sianed Jones, followed by a story-telling workshop on Saturday at King William’s College, from 10.30am, where he will demonstrate why he has been called one of the world’s finest contemporary storyteller.

Ben will also perform a tale called ’The Devil, The Tsar and the Three Dry Biscuits’ at the Kings Court Theatre from 4.30pm on Saturday afternoon.

The festival kicks off on Wednesday, September 26, with a day at Andrew’s church, Andreas, with author Zoe Gilbert and the Bookshop Band.

Zoe recently released her debut novel, ’Folk’, which was inspired by her visits to the Isle of Man.

She will host a workshop, from 11.30am, and also an evening from 7pm at the church, along with the Bookshop Band, featuring Beth Porter and Ben Please, who will talk about how they use literature for inspiration to create their music.

Music and storytelling will also combine to create the backdrop to an afternoon performance by Louise Jordan, at the Castletown Civic Centre on Sunday, September 30, from 12.15pm.

She will talk about how the stories of women during the First World War inspired her to create her show ’No Petticoats Here’.

Isle of Man authors Elizabeth Brooks, who released her novel ’Call of the Curlew’ and Rona Halsall, who published ’Keep You Safe’ early this year, will join forces with Thommie Gillow for a panel discussion called Influential Women, Powerful Words, which will look at the influence of female authors through the ages.

This takes place at the Villa Arcade, on Friday, September 28, from 6pm, and performance poet Thommie will draw the festival to a close with her show ’Moonbrella’, at Peel Cathedral, on Sunday evening, from 7.15pm.

Elsewhere there will be presentations and talks from authors Birdie Milano, Philip Ardagh and Jonathan Meres, along with local writers Rona Halsall and Elizabeth Brooks, as well as the usual big highlights of the Manx Litfest, the grand open mic Poetry Slam, held at Noa Bakehouse on Tuesday evening, from 8pm, and the Short Story Slam final, also held at Noa Bakehouse, on Sunday, September 30, from 3.30pm.

The mind-boggling list of events, concerts, shows and workshops have been organised by the Litfest team, and John Quirk said that they have worked hard to create this year’s festival.

’It’s been another real team effort in pulling Litfest together again, and I’d like to thank everyone who has played their part,’ said John.

’From our wonderful organising committee, the authors who are taking part, our team of fantastic volunteers who will help us out over the coming few weeks, and of course to all our sponsors, whose support enables us to deliver a festival each year.

’We’re proud to announce that Thommie Gillow has agreed to become our third Litfest patron, joining Isle of Man author Alan Bradley and former island resident and author Chris Ewan.

’Once again, our Schools’ Day is incredibly busy, with 25 schools and colleges involved, and we hope children of all ages will be inspired by the authors, poets, storytellers and illustrators who visit their school.

’We are grateful to Estera for coming on board as our new sponsor for this year’s Schools’ Day.’

Details on tickets and all the events can be found at Manx Litfest.com

by Mike Wade

Twitter:@iomnewspapers