GLADSTONE'S Library has revealed the lineup for the seventh year of its literary festival Gladfest, which takes place in Hawarden between 6-8 September 2019.

Award-winning novelists Patrick Gale (Take Nothing With You) and Salley Vickers (The Librarian) return with their latest works, while Sarah Perry (Melmoth), Michael Nobbs (Drawing Your Life) and Oliver Emanuel (The 306: Day) will run new and exclusive masterclasses.

Damian Barr will discuss his first novel (You Will be Safe Here) with Kit de Waal (Common People), Alix Nathan (The Warlow Experiment), and Suzette A. Hill (The Cambridge Plot), also talking about their latest books.

In the world of non-fiction, Melanie Reid (The World I Fell Out Of), Damian Le Bas (The Stopping Places) and Dan Richards (Outpost) share their journeys and some of the UK’s most creative minds will be showcasing their research, including Joe Moran (First You Write a Sentence) on shyness and creativity, Danny Dorling (Rule Britannia) on Brexit, Charlotte Higgins (Red Thread) on labyrinths and Rachel Hewitt (The Revolution of Feeling) on women in the mountains.

The library's founder, William Gladstone, will be remembered with a19th century strand with Deborah Wynne (The Sensation Novel) on Victorian recycling, Claire O’Callaghan (Emily Bronte Reappraised) on Emily Bronte and Simon Grennan (Marie Duval Rediscovered) on comics.

There will also be spiritual reflections with Pádraig Ó Tuama (In the Shelter) and Zia Chaudhry (Just Your Average Muslim), life reflections with actor Neil Pearson (Obelisk) and a look to the future of local with artistic director of Theatr Clwyd, Tamara Harvey, and founder of Pedlars and The Good Life Experience, Charlie Gladstone.

The festival is also excited to extend the offering of its Gladfest Fringe, a carefully-curated space bustling with free performances and stalls. Gladfest has worked with the Laura Ashley Foundation to design a space with music, storytelling and open mic poetry, and there will also be a range of free space crafting activities for young people and the young at heart curated by InterAct Imaginatons.

The festival continues its partnership with Arriva NW & Wales, offering discounted tickets to those travelling to the festival by bus. Lisa Pearson, Head of Marketing for Arriva NW & Wales said: "We are delighted to once again be involved with this years’ Gladfest – following a great first year supporting the festival last year, we fully understand the importance of being a part of Gladfest again in 2019, showing a commitment to key events happening across the communities we serve in North Wales".

Priority booking for Gladstone’s Library Friends opens on Wednesday, 1st May. Tickets sell out during this window. For access to priority booking plus advance notice of special offers and events, find out more about becoming a Friend at www.gladstoneslibrary.org

Tickets go on general sale on Wednesday, May 15.