Penarth Literary Festival, organised by Griffin Books, is now underway and will run until 25 June with a variety of events over 12 days.

The event began on Wednesday when the Reverend Richard Coles kicked things off with a visit to promote his new book 'A Death in the Parish'.

Other big names throughout the festival include Diana Evans, who will be discussing her latest novel 'A House for Alice', set in the aftermath of the Grenfell tragedy; Natalie Haynes, who will be joining via Zoom to celebrate the publication of 'Stone Blind' in paperback; and Laura Shepherd-Robinson, whose new novel 'The Square of Sevens' is an epic, sweeping and mysterious novel set in Georgian high society.

Penarth Literary Festival will also feature some brilliant Welsh authors this year, including Mike Parker and Jon Gower, who will come together for their event 'The Full Welsh'; Lizzie Huxley-Jones, whose debut children's novel 'Vivi Conway and the Sword of Destiny' is based of Lizzie's own upbringing in North Wales; and Jack Skivens, a Cardiff-based illustrator whose picture book 'Night of the Animal Wall' has taken the city by storm.

Finally, the festival will be rounded off by the Poetry Showcase, a format which in itself has become incredibly popular with local residents. This year the showcase is hosted as ever by Penarth poet Stephen Payne, and will include poetry from Josephine Corcoran, Abigail Parry and Tôpher Mills, and music from Michael Munnik.

Mel Griffin, owner of Griffin Books, said: "We're incredibly happy with this year's line-up, and can't wait to share all these brilliant author events with the people of Penarth and beyond."

To view the full festival programme visit: griffinbooksonline.co.uk/pages/penarth-literary-festival and to buy tickets visit www.ticketsource.co.uk/griffinbooks.