When Emma Fernandez launched the first Purbeck Literary Festival in 2014 she wasn’t sure how it might go.

But she needn’t have worried.

Crowds flocked to the events she’d put on, including workshops held by writers such as Tricia Walker and Fleur Hitchcock.

So much so, says Emma, that for 2015: “I have been spoilt for choice in trying to develop the new programme.”

It’s all kicking off on Monday, February 16 with a launch event and then it’s on to a workshop the next day with toymaker Ian McKay at Not Just Sundaes Community Café, Wareham.

Two days later Jennie Walters is holding a Historical Romance Afternoon at Swanage’s Floribunda Tea Lounge. Jennie has had over 25 books published for children and adults – most recently the Swallowcliffe Hall books about a large country house through history, very similar to Downton Abbey, although, she points out, they were first published several years before the programme was broadcast.

The re-released books have sold over 40,000 copies worldwide, and feature the beautiful Purbeck house, Creech Grange, on the cover.

Guests at Jennie’s talk will be able to ask her about writing and researching historical novels, especially the issue of servants in country houses, and she’ll also answer queries about self-publishing.

Among the biggest names the festival has attracted include the Dorset-based best-selling author Natasha Solomons, who wrote Mr Rosenblum’s List, The Novel in the Viola and The Gallery of Vanished Husbands.

Natasha will be appearing at Winfrith village hall on Friday, February 20, eager to talk about her books, how she utilises the Dorset landscape and its myths in her work, as well as ‘the importance of cake in the creation of literature’.

Four days later Sunday Times bestselling author of 24 novels, including the Top Ten bestsellers A Cottage by the Sea and Calling Mrs Christmas, Carole Matthews will be inviting bookworms to join her for a bubbly afternoon of high tea and a glass of fizz at Swanage’s Grand Hotel.

Big-hitting Carole’s Summer Daydreams book was shortlisted for the Melissa Nathan Award for fiction in 2013 and she was also shortlisted for the Romantic Novelists’ Association Romantic Comedy RoNA in 2012, and inducted into the Reader Hall of Fame by the inaugural Festival of Romance.

Published in more than thirty countries and having sold her books to Hollywood, she’ll have plenty to say to fans and would-be writers who rock up to her event, says Emma Fernandez.

Among the other events are a short-story writing workshop by Dorset novelist Della Galton, as well as a talk by ‘The Jammie Bodger’, Dorset’s Jam-making queen, Mel Sellings.

Mel started making jam from the bramble fruits of south west London and when she moved to Dorset just carried on, says Emma.

“In 2013 her Seville Marmalade won gold and although she knew that everyone was supposed to have a book in them, she didn’t realise hers was about jam.”

The audience who join Mel at Swanage Library can bring along their own recipes and questions, as well as watch her demonstrate the jam-maker’s art in person.

It’s a bit different to discussing books but, says Emma: “It doesn’t all have to be novels and with so many events for children, we hope we’ve got even more to share this time around.”

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