The Sidmouth Literary Festival is nearly upon us.

Running from Friday, June 23, to Sunday, June 25, at a range of venues, guest speakers include Sarah Turner, whose debut novel, The Unmumsy Mum, took the parenting world by storm.

Sarah will be appearing at Sidmouth Library on Saturday, June 24, from 2pm, when she will be talking about her latest book, The Unmumsy Mum Diary.

Sarah is renowned for her humorous look at ‘imperfect mothering’ as well as giving reassurance to new parents.

There will be a free crèche for children during the talk, run by senior librarian Carol Pentecost.

This year the festival has been extended from a weekend to a three-day event. Proceedings begin at the Sidholme Hotel with a Festival Roadshow launch on the morning of Friday, June 23, starting at 10am, with celebrity broadcaster Judi Spiers interviewing TV personality Christopher Biggins.

Later on, author Laurence Anholt will discuss his first full-length novel for adults and older teens. The Hypnotist, is set in the American deep south of the 1960s, against a background of segregation and the Klu Klux Klan.

On Sunday, June 25, Sidmouth Rugby Club is the venue for the popular How to Get Published Workshop, with local author Jane Corry leading a panel of experts in the world of writing and publishing.

The day starts at 10am and ends at 4pm. Tickets are £25.

There are a number of events for children this year, particularly a storytelling session for youngsters and their families by Clare Viner at Sidmouth Library from 9.30am on Saturday, June 24. Tickets are £5 per family.

Prize-winning poet Alyson Hallett will be running a poetry workshop for children from 1.30pm and another for adults from 3pm at the library. The children’s session is free, and for adults, tickets are £10.

Other venues are All Saints Church on Saturday and The Knowle Chamber at EDDC on Sunday.

The festival is run entirely by volunteers. Tickets for all events are available from Sidmouth Library, Winstone’s book shop and Sidmouth Information Centre, or visit www.sidmouthlitfest.co.uk, where there’s a programme of all the talks on offer.