CHILDREN and young adults are being encouraged to become involved in next month’s Dulverton Exmoor Literary Festival.

The festival takes place over the weekend of November 16 and 17 and features events for all ages.

But a special effort is being made to attract youngsters with several activities included especially for young people.

Festival director Ali Pegrum said: “Encouraging the love of reading and writing in children is a key part of the festival’s mission.”

Dragon’s Den investor and entrepreneur Deborah Meaden is keen for 12 to 16-year-olds to attend her Saturday session to learn more about managing money and finance.

Former Children's Laureate Lauren Child will be giving advice on writing and publishing books at this year's Dulverton Exmoor Literary Festival.
Former Children's Laureate Lauren Child will be giving advice on writing and publishing books at this year's Dulverton Exmoor Literary Festival. ( )

For younger children, there is a free ‘Children’s Story Corner’ book reading session with Emily Hamilton and Emma Bettridge in the Bridge Inn on the Sunday.

The festival children’s writing competition for under-13s theme is ‘Magical Exmoor’, the awards for which will be presented by former Children’s Laureate Lauren Child, author and illustrator of the much-loved Charlie and Lola series.

And during October the festival is offering one free place for under-17s with every full-price adult ticket to every author talk.

For anybody writing a book, or wanting to have one published, there are sessions in Dulverton Town Hall with experienced authors speaking about their experiences.

They include crime writers such as Louise Douglas and Sarah Easter Collins, and former Children’s Laureate Lauren Child.

There is also an opportunity to meet five authors in Dulverton Library on the Saturday afternoon to hear directly from them about their books and writing.

The festival is now in its third year with a full programme being held across the Town Hall, library, and Bridge Inn, featuring themes from farming and fiction, crime, travel, gardening, history, fashion, horse racing, and wild animals, to money and finance and more.

Among the headline names taking part are Jonathan Dimbleby, Caroline Quentin, Deborah Meaden, and Stanley Johnson, many of whom will be publicly interviewed by well-known journalists and literary agents.

Ms Pegrum said: “We are thrilled so many extraordinarily talented writers are coming to our charming moorland town, bringing an often-requested slice of literary culture to Exmoor.”