THE countdown has begun for the annual Watchet Literary Festival, with just two weeks until the highly anticipated weekend of reading and writing.

Set to take place from February 21-23, the Words in Watchet Literary Festival promises entertainment for all, with talks covering crime, science, nature and family history.

Highlights for the Saturday include a horror writing workshop with Polly Hall, instruction on how to improvise your way to a ‘killer’ story with crime writer Jo Middleton, and lunch with Damien Boyd at the Spice Merchant.

For the fantasy lovers, Chris Crockford and Josh Ogilvie are running a Dungeons and Dragons Workshop in East Quay Creator Space. On Sunday, Terence Sackett reprises his talk ‘How to Publish Your Book’.

In Watchet Library, two local authors Justin Adams and Lena Lewis will talk about writing their family history and autobiographies. Next door in Watchet Phoenix Centre, on both Saturday and Sunday there will be a book fair, where local authors will be showing their books and projects.

Children’s activities during the weekend are all free of charge, and include a town and library trail, workshops and demos with Jill Newton and Andrew Homer, as well as the family storytelling of ‘The King with Dirty Feet’ by Sally Pomme Clayton.

For those who want to sit back and be entertained, Sally will also be telling stories about goddesses to an adult audience, and crime writers Edward Marston and Judith Cutler will discuss murder throughout the ages.

The weekend will end with a free event in The Boat Museum featuring Watchet Town Band playing Book Music and poet Michael Loader who will be presenting the prizes for the Words In Watchet children’s competitions.

Booking for these events is advised as spaces are limited. For more information, visit www.wordsinwatchet.com.