Writers, historians and authors will converge on Faversham for a new literary festival.

The Faversham Literary Festival, which will be held from Friday, February 23 to Sunday, February 25, will include author talks, discussions, creative workshops and spoken word events and will be held at three of the town's historic venues - the Guildhall on Market Place, the Assembly Rooms and The Limes on Preston Street.

There have been events in the lead-up to the festival, including writing workshops and talks, plus there is a performance of the musical The Skate Boys of Faversham Town, which opens festivities at the Assembly Rooms on Thursday, February 22.

Authors taking part include military historian Peter Barton, poet Daryl Haines, children's authors Julia Woolf, Stella Fry and Briony Dixon. Kent writers include Carol Donaldson (On the Marshes), Alex Preston (As Kingfishers Catch Fire), crime writers Julie Wassmer, William Shaw, Lisa Cutts and Simon Booker and historical fiction writer Amy Licence and novelist Roopa Farooki.

On the Friday night psychoanalyst Anouchka Grose will be talking to Man Booker-shortlisted author Deborah Levy about the themes and influences in her work and highlights for the Saturday include journalist Martin Bell, psychogeographer Iain Sinclair and humour from well-known performance poet, comedian and musician John Hegley.

Festival organisers Amanda Dackombe and Louise Frith have enjoyed literary festivals across Kent and beyond, including WhitLit, Wealden, Folkestone, Rochester and Margate, but what they liked the most was that writers were able to share with readers some of the things that got ‘left out’ of their finished books.

"We hear the stories and ideas for which only a verbal re-telling will do. Literary festivals offer a way to discover some of the more intimate facts about the books we read and the people who write them," they said.

For details, the full programme and tickets, visit favershamliteraryfestival.org or pop into the Hat Shop in West Street, Faversham.