Murder and mystery at festival

The festival organised by St Annes’ Storytellers Inc bookshop will take place at the town’s Palace Rooms in Garden Street on Sunday, June 21, and is designed to appeal to readers aged from eight to 13.

It will feature Katherine Woodfine, author of The Clockwork Sparrow, Kate Pankhurst, who has written the Mariella Mystery series, Robin Stevens, author of Murder Most Unladylike and Arsenic For Tea, Elen Caldecott, whose works include Operation Eiffel Tower and The Great Ice-Cream Heist and Helen Moss, author of The Adventure
Island.

Carolyn Clapham, who runs Storytellers Inc with daughter Katie, said: “We are proud that so many great children’s writers have agreed to come to St Annes.

“They will run interactive sessions throughout the day as well as talking about their books and being available for signings and photographs.

“Meanwhile, to add more fun to the day, we will be playing out our very own ‘whodunit’ with some local actors John McVitie, Stephanie Heney and Chris Dodd. I have written The Case of the Missing Manuscript where the five suspects are our visiting authors. They are all involved too and have small parts to play.

“The children will get the chance to note the evidence and cast their vote for their prime suspect before the culprit is revealed in the final scene.”

The festival will run from 10am to 6pm. Details from Storytellers Inc on 01253 781690.