RYEDALE Book Festival is returning next month promising exciting dragon-themed literary activities to fire children’s imaginations and a stellar line-up of award-winning writers.

The main festival weekend starts on Friday, September 21, with opportunities for schools to take part in events as part of the festival’s out-reach programme.

Young readers can then enjoy a movie night with Cressida Cowell where they will meet the author and watch the film How to Train Your Dragon.

On Saturday, September 22, there is a full day of fun literary activities inspired by lots of stories about dragons involving magic, poetry, pottery painting, biscuit decorating, illustration, crafts, as well as reading. The day concludes with a bedtime story read by award-winning illustrator Emily Gravett.

Sarah Tyson, Ryedale Book Festival director, said: “When Cressida Cowell accepted our invitation we just had to go with a dragon theme this year.

“There are so many fantastic dragon books to choose from we were spoilt for choice, but I am delighted that our writing and drawing competition has Jackie Morris’s support because her beautiful illustrations in Tell Me a Dragon are so inspiring.”

For older readers the events start with a music memoir from popular biographer and former Home Secretary Alan Johnson.

He will share a Desert Island Discs-style musical journey through his life at The Milton Rooms on Friday, September 21.

On Saturday there is a veritable feast of literary treats for fans of fiction. From romance with Ryedale author Jane Lovering and crime with Stephen Booth to history with Tim Pears and Tracy Borman and a discussion about how to survive attacks on social media, there really is something for everyone.

“Ryedale Book Festival just keeps growing in popularity throughout the year,” said Sarah.

“We always ask our audiences what they would like to see at a future festival and history, crime and music were top of the wish list.

“Also, as this year is such an important landmark for women we thought it deserved acknowledgement by way of considering a contemporary issue for feminists through the work of two writers whose characters are victims of social media abuse.”

At 4.30pm in the Talbot Hotel the winner of the festival’s writing competition will be revealed by short story expert Chris Power who will discuss the precise art of short story writing and share some readings from his own collection as well as extracts from the brand-new anthology of the ten short-listed stories, published by Blackthorn Press.

To top everything off author and former wine executive, Peter Stafford-Bow, will be reading from his recently-published novel Corkscrew: the highly improbable, but occasionally true, tale of a professional wine buyer, a satire set in the world of supermarket wine buying.

The readings will be accompanied by a tutored tasting, conducted by Peter himself, featuring an

exquisitely curated selection of wines.

Sarah said: “I’m looking forward to that event - by the end of a busy two days I think I’ll be ready for a drink.”

For more information, visit ryedalebookfestival.com or phone the box office on 07983 943029.