RIVETING stories can be heard at this year's Sherborne Literary Festival as big name authors make a beeline for the town.

The festival, taking place from Wednesday, October 23 to Friday, October 25 offers

a diverse and fascinating line-up.

This eighth edition of the festival will see household names Kirsty Wark, best-selling author Raynor Win and journalist and broadcaster Sir Max Hastings dropping by.

Wednesday launches with television journalist and household name, Kirsty Wark. Well-known for

presenting BBC Newsnight, Kirsty has conducted interviews with everyone from Margaret Thatcher to Madonna, Harold Pinter to George Clooney; and has also made cameo appearances in multiple TV dramas, radio programmes and films. Her novel The House by the Loch is a sweeping, atmospheric story set in the beautiful Scottish countryside. Inspired in part by her childhood memories, The House by the Loch has been described as 'a deeply satisfying work of pure imagination' by playwright Damian Barr.

Next comes an uplifting, enthralling account from an extraordinary woman, Raynor Winn. The Salt Path tells how just days after Raynor learns that her husband is terminally ill, they lose both their home and livelihood. With nothing left and little time, they make the brave decision to walk the 630 miles of the sea-swept South West Coast Path. The book has been named Number 1 Best Seller in UK independent bookshops and Raynor's talks are selling out all over the country – most recently in Dorchester, Frome and Yeovil.

The final talk on day one comes from bestselling author, journalist and broadcaster Sir Max Hastings; a man whose work has appeared in every British national newspaper and who has published 27 books, most recently Chastise: The Dambusters Story 1943, a brand new and compelling history of one of the most legendary operations of WW2.

The remaining days of the festival are equally captivating, with incredible true stories ranging from how NASA chose the playlist of music, photographs and diagrams from across the globe to create an aliens' guide to earthlings in 1977 (Jonathan Scott); one man's tale of restoring his mental health through breathtaking wildlife photography (Paul Williams); and a powerful and intimate memoir of a lifelong fight for gender equality (Ziauddin Yousafzai with local co-author Louisa Carpenter).

Add bestselling debut novelist Libby Page, whose book The Lido was snapped up in a bidding war and has sold in over 22 territories worldwide; Rory MacLean's darkly comic expose of Putin's Russia; John Hemming, one of Britain's most intrepid explorers of our time, talking about Brazil's most famous explorers, the Villas Boas brothers; writing workshops with Diana Cambridge, and a Mindfulness Writing workshop from Tom George and the line-up is complete!

Tickets range from £8 to £12.50; with workshops priced at £25 and £40 respectively. A three day

season ticket offers a huge saving at just £70 and will give the purchaser access to all events other

than the workshops. Full information and tickets are available from Sherborne Tourist Information Centre (01935 815341) or via sherborneliterarysociety.com/festival.