THE COUNTDOWN to a popular one-day mini-literary festival at a historic Grade I listed library has begun.

Gladstone's Library in Hawarden will host its annual mini-festival, Hearth, on February 11.

The event features poets, novelists and short story writers, and an author's panel in the evening.

Louisa Yates, Director of Collections and Research at the Library, said: "Hearth is one of the most popular events in our programme - tickets are always in hot demand.

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"We have four creative, inspiring and enlightening individual author events planned, including, for the first time, an interactive poetry session. All are welcome!"

The events will include Rewiring the Mind: Animals, Humans, and other Neurodivergent Narratives with David Hartley, author of Fauna, a collection of imaginative short stories.

In this talk, David will explore neurodiversity and different ways of thinking and seeing the world in fiction and looking at the work of influential authors both past and present.

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Annabel Abbs is a returning speaker with a new talk, The Unknown Story of a Domestic Goddess.

She will discuss her book, The Language of Food, which explores the life of Eliza Acton, the author of the UK's first best-selling recipe book in 1845.

Why the Georgians Loved Ancient Greece features Susan Stokes-Chapman, author of Pandora.

Susan will be discussing her debut novel and answering the question what does Pandora's Box have to do with Georgian London?

Finally, Speaking - and Hearing - Poetry with Jonathan Davidson, author of A Commonplace, offers a chance for attendees to listen to new poetry and share their own.

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Andrea Russell, Warden of Gladstone's Library, said: "This will be my first Hearth as Warden of the Library and as I know it is one of the most highly anticipated events of the Gladstone's Library year, I can't wait to join the audience."

Full day tickets are £90, which includes access to an in-person only panel featuring all the authors as well as two-course lunch and dinner. Half day tickets are £50 and include two talks and either a two-course lunch or dinner.

Online tickets for selected talks can be bought through the website and are £10 each.

All purchases help support the Library, which is a registered charity.