WRITERS in Ryedale are being invited to join together at a special event at this year's Ryedale Book Festival.

The festival, which takes place from October 7 to 9, has been inspiring readers and book lovers for five years – but this year there is also something especially for writers.

Aimed at established and aspiring local wordsmiths, the Ryedale Writers Forum on October 9, from 10am to 3pm, will included a question and answer session from a panel of successful writers, followed by an informal lunch and opportunities for further one-to-one conversations.

In the afternoon anyone with a published or self-published book to promote will be able to set up shop and present their work to the public in Malton’s Old Town Hall.

The panel of special guests will include author and poet Andy Seed, whose book The Silly Book of Side-Splitting Stuff won the 2015 Blue Peter Book Prize; children’s author M Christina Butler, whose picture story books have been published by Little Tiger Press, historical writer Lucy Beckett, whose The Leaves are Falling won the Aquinas Prize for fiction; and screenwriter Tom Needham, whose dramas are produced regularly on the television.

Also on the panel are Gazette & Herald book reviewer Bill Spence, whose best known books were written using the pen name Jessica Blair, and Harriet Vyner, whose writing career includes the autobiographies of Robert Fraser and Jools Holland and who will also offer insights into copywriting and editing commercial text.

Joining the writers is Rose Drew, of York-based publishers Stairwell Books, a company that specialises in bringing the words of Yorkshire writers to print.

The event will be hosted by local nature writer and editor Dr Amy-Jane Beer, a biologist and author of several books on natural history, most recently Cool Nature (Pavilion). She is a columnist and feature writer for BBC Wildlife magazine and is currently writing her first novel.

Dr Beer said: "We know writing can be a lonely business, for some of course that’s part of the appeal.

"But we can all benefit from stepping out from behind the keyboard, sharing experiences, asking questions, and airing those nagging doubts. That's why we’re hoping to help to create a networking forum for the Ryedale writing community."

Ryedale Book Festival is a not-for-profit organisation made up of a team of volunteers who organise book-related events in the area. The aim of the festival is to create vibrant, affordable and inspiring events for everyone who enjoys reading, listening to stories, illustrated books and the spoken word.

A place at the writers' event costs £15, including lunch. During the weekend, the Old Town Hall will be the hub of the festival where visitors are advised to head for advice and ticket information.

For more information, visit ryedalebookfestival.com