The Birmingham Literature Festival has established itself as one of the region’s biggest writing events, gathering household names and rising stars to celebrate the power of words.

Organised by Writing West Midlands, its varied, ambitious programme has won a loyal and growing audience over 16 years.

This year, WGGB’s West Midlands region continues its association with the festival in a number of ways, with a series of events in the Library of Birmingham (pictured above).

The Gift of the Gab
Friday 7 October 2016 (4-5pm)
Studio Theatre, Library of Birmingham
Tickets: £8 (WGGB member discount: £6.40)

How we and our characters use the English language to convey pace, pitch and eloquence. With David Crystal. Followed by free Not-Working drinks at Marmalade in the Birmingham Rep.

WGGB members are entitled to the concessionary rate of £6.40 for this event (quote Writer16).

The Bridge to Hinterland
Saturday 8 October 2016 (7.30-8.45pm)
Studio Theatre, Library of Birmingham
Tickets: £10

Hans Rosenfeldt and Ed Thomas, creators of Scandinavian and Welsh crime television shows The Bridge and Hinterland, will come together to talk about creating bilingual hit drama, in this special event created by WGGB member Antony Pickthall.

Trials, Tribulations and Triumphs
Sunday 9 October 2016 (12-1.30pm)
Studio Theatre, Library of Birmingham
Tickets: £8

WGGB’s West Midlands regional rep William Gallagher is chairing this event, part of the Teen Takeover Day at the Birmingham Literature Festival. Acclaimed Young Adult authors Juno Dawson and Nicola Morgan will talk about their writing and their aim of reducing the stigma around mental illness.

William Gallagher is also performing his short story Time Gentlemen Please on the same day at Waterstones on Birmingham’s High Street at 2pm, alongside other writers whose short works are in the Mantle Arts book, What Haunts the Heart.

Workers’ Rights
Monday 10 October 2016 (6-7.15pm)
Studio Theatre, Library of Birmingham
Tickets: £8 (WGGB member discount: £6.40)

When A Kestrel for a Knave author Barry Hines died aged 76 earlier this year, he had been writing about working-class lives for more than 40 years. But are working-class writers and working-class narratives in danger of disappearing from English literary fiction?

WGGB members are entitled to the special concessionary rate of £6.40 for this event.

View the full Birmingham Literature Festival schedule of events.