LEADING novelists and poets will be in Haworth this month to take part in the Brontë Festival of Women’s Writing.

Sarah Perry, Rachel Joyce and Deborah McAndrew are among those leading sessions between September 22 and 24.

The festival, the seventh to be organised in the village by the Brontë Society, promises to be an inspirational weekend for readers and writers alike.

The weekend kicks off on the Friday with a free event exploring self-publishing and self-promotion.

Laurie Garrison, the founder of the Women Writers School, will share her experiences with Yorkshire-based author of The Companion, Sarah Dunnakey, and Helen Taylor, who launched a crowdfunding campaign to publish her debut novel.

Two workshops will be held on the Sunday at the atmospheric Ponden Hall in Stanbury, entitled Writing For Stage and Writing For Radio.

They will be led respectively by playwright Deborah McAndrew, who recently adapted The Tenant of Wildfell Hall for Bolton Octagon, and novelist Rachel Joyce, whose latest novel The Music Shop was broadcast on Radio 4’s Book at Bedtime.

Only a few places remain for the workshops, but there is a chance to hear both writers talk about the Brontës with the Yorkshire Post’s Yvette Huddleston on Saturday September 23 at 2.30pm.

Fans of Waterstones’ 2016 Book of the Year The Essex Serpent will have the opportunity to hear author Sarah Perry in conversation with Adelle Stripe on the Saturday evening.

The ‘word-of-mouth sensation’ was also selected for this summer’s Richard & Judy Book Club and tickets are already selling well.

Brontë Society audience development officer Lauren Livesey, who organised the festival, said: “Charlotte, Emily and Anne Brontë were pioneers of women’s writing and continue to inspire contemporary literature in limitless ways.

“Our festival continues to grow and we are thrilled with this year’s vibrant programme of events.

“New for 2017 is a writing workshop devised especially for girls aged 12 to 16 led by Hebden Bridge’s Liz Flanagan, author of Eden Summer.

“Interest in this event was high and tickets have already sold out, but anyone interested should contact the museum to be added to our waiting list.”

The Brontë Festival of Women’s Writing is supported with funding from Arts Council England.

• Visit bronte.org.uk/whats-on or call 01535 640192 to book tickets for all events during the festival weekend.