Authors

Authors at literary festivals

Find a writer, follow their featured events and plan a visit through our festival guides.

88 author profiles

A–Z of author profiles

Abir Mukherjee in 2017
At 4 festivals in 2026

Abir Mukherjee

Historical crime fiction and contemporary thrillers

4 festivals in 2026

Adam Kay in 2017
At 2 festivals in 2026

Adam Kay

Memoir, medical humour, children’s books and crime fiction

2 festivals in 2026

At 2 festivals in 2026

Alexander McCall Smith

Fiction, gentle mysteries and stories of everyday life

2 festivals in 2026

Ali Smith in 2011
At 2 festivals in 2026

Ali Smith

Literary fiction, short stories and experimental storytelling

2 festivals in 2026

Andrea Wulf in 2022
At 3 festivals in 2026

Andrea Wulf

Biography, history, nature and the history of ideas

3 festivals in 2026

At 2 festivals in 2026

Andrew Davies

Screenwriting, adaptation, novels and memoir

2 festivals in 2026

Ann Cleeves in 2017
At 2 festivals in 2026

Ann Cleeves

Crime fiction and detective mysteries

2 festivals in 2026

Anthony Horowitz in 2022
At 2 festivals in 2026

Anthony Horowitz

Mystery, crime fiction, young-adult thrillers and screenwriting

2 festivals in 2026

Antony Beevor in 2022
At 5 festivals in 2026

Antony Beevor

Military history and historical biography

4 festivals in 2026

At 2 festivals in 2026

Bella Mackie

Fiction, social satire and non-fiction

2 festivals in 2026

Ben Macintyre in 2026
At 3 festivals in 2026

Ben Macintyre

Espionage history and narrative non-fiction

3 festivals in 2026

At 2 festivals in 2026

Celia Imrie

Comic fiction, historical fiction and memoir

1 festival in 2026

At 2 festivals in 2026

Charlie Higson

Spy fiction, young-adult horror and comic history

1 festival in 2026

Christopher Brookmyre in 2013
At 6 festivals in 2026

Christopher Brookmyre

Crime fiction, comic thrillers and mysteries

4 festivals in 2026

At 2 festivals in 2026

Chris Whitaker

Crime fiction, thrillers and young-adult fiction

2 festivals in 2026

Colm Tóibín in 2006
At 2 festivals in 2026

Colm Tóibín

Literary fiction, short stories and criticism

2 festivals in 2026

Cressida Cowell in 2025
At 3 festivals in 2026

Cressida Cowell

Children’s fantasy, illustration and adventure

3 festivals in 2026

Daniel Hahn at Hay Festival in 2016
At 7 festivals in 2026

Daniel Hahn

Translation, Shakespeare, literary non-fiction and children’s literature

5 festivals in 2026

Dan Jones

Medieval history and historical fiction

1 festival in 2026

At 2 festivals in 2026

David Olusoga

Public history, Black British history and historical broadcasting

1 festival in 2026

At 2 festivals in 2026

Denise Mina

Crime fiction, thrillers and graphic novels

2 festivals in 2026

Doug Johnstone in 2017
At 4 festivals in 2026

Doug Johnstone

Crime fiction, speculative fiction and writing across genres

4 festivals in 2026

Douglas Stuart in 2021
At 3 festivals in 2026

Douglas Stuart

Literary fiction, family, class and belonging

3 festivals in 2026

Elif Shafak in 2026
At 4 festivals in 2026

Elif Shafak

Literary fiction, history, identity and freedom of expression

4 festivals in 2026

Elly Griffiths in 2025
At 2 festivals in 2026

Elly Griffiths

Crime fiction, historical mysteries and time-travel detective stories

2 festivals in 2026

Frank Cottrell-Boyce in 2015
At 2 festivals in 2026

Frank Cottrell-Boyce

Children’s fiction, screenwriting and writing about childhood

2 festivals in 2026

At 3 festivals in 2026

Giles Milton

Narrative history and historical non-fiction

2 festivals in 2026

Gyles Brandreth in 2022
At 3 festivals in 2026

Gyles Brandreth

Biography, language and practical non-fiction

3 festivals in 2026

At 3 festivals in 2026

Hallie Rubenhold

Social history and historical true crime

2 festivals in 2026

Harriet Tyce in 2025
At 5 festivals in 2026

Harriet Tyce

Crime fiction, courtroom drama and psychological suspense

5 festivals in 2026

At 2 festivals in 2026

Holly Jackson

Young-adult crime fiction and adult thrillers

2 festivals in 2026

Ian Rankin in 2026

Ian Rankin

Crime fiction, detective novels and thrillers

1 festival in 2026

Jacqueline Wilson in 2019
At 2 festivals in 2026

Jacqueline Wilson

Children’s fiction and stories about growing up

2 festivals in 2026

At 3 festivals in 2026

James Holland

Second World War history and narrative non-fiction

2 festivals in 2026

Jane Harper in 2026
At 5 festivals in 2026

Jane Harper

Crime fiction and Australian-set mysteries

2 festivals in 2026

At 2 festivals in 2026

Janina Ramirez

Cultural history, art history and children’s books

1 festival in 2026

Joanne Harris in 2018
At 2 festivals in 2026

Joanne Harris

Fiction, fantasy, folklore and ghost stories

2 festivals in 2026

At 3 festivals in 2026

Jonathan Freedland

Narrative history, journalism and thrillers

1 festival in 2026

Joseph Coelho in 2022
At 5 festivals in 2026

Joseph Coelho

Poetry, picture books and fiction for young readers

3 festivals in 2026

Julia Donaldson in 2011
At 3 festivals in 2026

Julia Donaldson

Picture books, rhyme, songs and performance

3 festivals in 2026

Kate Atkinson in 2007
At 2 festivals in 2026

Kate Atkinson

Literary fiction, historical fiction and crime

2 festivals in 2026

Kate Mosse in 2008
At 2 festivals in 2026

Kate Mosse

Historical fiction, non-fiction, nature and literary advocacy

2 festivals in 2026

At 2 festivals in 2026

Kate Williams

History, biography and historical fiction

2 festivals in 2026

At 2 festivals in 2026

Katherine Rundell

Children’s adventure, fantasy and literary non-fiction

1 festival in 2026

At 3 festivals in 2026

Kathy Lette

Comic fiction, satire and stories of friendship

3 festivals in 2026

At 4 festivals in 2026

Katie Kirby

Children’s comic fiction and illustration

4 festivals in 2026

At 2 festivals in 2026

Lee Child

Thrillers, crime fiction and short stories

2 festivals in 2026

At 2 festivals in 2026

Lionel Shriver

Novels, short fiction, essays and journalism

1 festival in 2026

Lisa Jewell in 2023
At 2 festivals in 2026

Lisa Jewell

Crime fiction and psychological thrillers

1 festival in 2026

At 4 festivals in 2026

Liz Nugent

Crime fiction, psychological suspense and character-led mysteries

3 festivals in 2026

Liz Pichon in 2018
At 4 festivals in 2026

Liz Pichon

Children’s humour, illustration and graphic storytelling

3 festivals in 2026

At 4 festivals in 2026

Lucy Foley

Crime fiction and murder mysteries

1 festival in 2026

At 2 festivals in 2026

Lucy Worsley

Historical biography and British royal history

2 festivals in 2026

Maggie O’Farrell in 2025
At 4 festivals in 2026

Maggie O’Farrell

Literary and historical fiction, memoir and children’s writing

3 festivals in 2026

Mark Haddon in 2026
At 2 festivals in 2026

Mark Haddon

Fiction, memoir, poetry and writing for children

2 festivals in 2026

Mary Beard in 2012

Mary Beard

Classics, ancient history and public discussion of the past

1 festival in 2026

Mary Berry in 2026
At 3 festivals in 2026

Mary Berry

Cookery and gardening

3 festivals in 2026

Matt Haig in 2026
At 4 festivals in 2026

Matt Haig

Fiction, imaginative stories about life’s choices and non-fiction

4 festivals in 2026

At 3 festivals in 2026

Meera Syal

Literary fiction, memoir, comedy and screenwriting

3 festivals in 2026

At 4 festivals in 2026

M. G. Leonard

Children’s adventure, mystery, nature and time travel

4 festivals in 2026

Michael Morpurgo in 2010
At 4 festivals in 2026

Michael Morpurgo

Children’s fiction, retelling and memoir

4 festivals in 2026

Michael Rosen in 2024
At 3 festivals in 2026

Michael Rosen

Poetry, picture books and writing about language

3 festivals in 2026

Mick Herron in 2019

Mick Herron

Espionage fiction, crime fiction and short stories

1 festival in 2026

At 2 festivals in 2026

Natalie Haynes

Classical fiction and non-fiction

1 festival in 2026

At 3 festivals in 2026

Paterson Joseph

Historical fiction, children’s history and theatre

2 festivals in 2026

At 5 festivals in 2026

Patrick Gale

Literary fiction, family stories and historical fiction

3 festivals in 2026

Philippa Perry in 2023
At 5 festivals in 2026

Philippa Perry

Psychology, relationships and crime fiction

4 festivals in 2026

At 2 festivals in 2026

Philippe Sands

Narrative non-fiction, history and international law

1 festival in 2026

Prue Leith in 2018
At 4 festivals in 2026

Prue Leith

Food writing and memoir

4 festivals in 2026

Richard Coles in 2012
At 3 festivals in 2026

Richard Coles

Crime fiction, memoir and children’s true-crime stories

3 festivals in 2026

Richard Osman in 2019
At 2 festivals in 2026

Richard Osman

Crime fiction and comic murder mysteries

2 festivals in 2026

At 5 festivals in 2026

Rob Biddulph

Illustrated children’s fiction and picture books

5 festivals in 2026

Robert Harris in 2024
At 2 festivals in 2026

Robert Harris

Historical fiction and political thrillers

1 festival in 2026

At 2 festivals in 2026

Ruth Ware

Crime fiction and psychological suspense

1 festival in 2026

Sandi Toksvig in 2009
At 2 festivals in 2026

Sandi Toksvig

Fiction, humour and memoir

2 festivals in 2026

Sebastian Faulks in 2008
At 2 festivals in 2026

Sebastian Faulks

Literary and historical fiction

2 festivals in 2026

Simon Armitage in 2009
At 3 festivals in 2026

Simon Armitage

Poetry and translation

3 festivals in 2026

At 2 festivals in 2026

Steve Cavanagh

Crime and legal thrillers

2 festivals in 2026

Susie Dent in 2012
At 3 festivals in 2026

Susie Dent

Language, lexicography and crime fiction

2 festivals in 2026

At 3 festivals in 2026

Tim Spector

Food, nutrition and popular science

3 festivals in 2026

At 2 festivals in 2026

Tom Holland

History, classical translation and broadcasting

1 festival in 2026

At 3 festivals in 2026

Tracy Borman

History, biography and historical fiction

2 festivals in 2026

Val McDermid in 2026
At 3 festivals in 2026

Val McDermid

Crime fiction, historical fiction and non-fiction

3 festivals in 2026

At 4 festivals in 2026

Vaseem Khan

Crime fiction, historical mysteries and spy fiction

3 festivals in 2026

At 2 festivals in 2026

Victoria Hislop

Historical fiction, especially stories set in Greece

2 festivals in 2026

At 2 festivals in 2026

Yann Martel

Literary fiction and storytelling

2 festivals in 2026

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Browse by festival

Follow a festival to its 2026 author selection and practical visitor guide.

Aye Write

The main festival returns in March 2027. Follow the guide for the organiser’s programme and separate presentations.

Bath Children's Literature Festival

Paterson Joseph

Bath Literature Festival

Anthony Horowitz, Douglas Stuart, Hallie Rubenhold, Liz Nugent

Bloody Scotland

Abir Mukherjee, Christopher Brookmyre, Denise Mina, Doug Johnstone, Elly Griffiths, Harriet Tyce, Jane Harper, Lee Child

More profiled authors at this festival

Liz Nugent, Lucy Foley, Richard Osman, Steve Cavanagh, Val McDermid, Vaseem Khan

Boswell Book Festival

Explore the guide for its 2026 conversations and plans for a future visit.

Bradford Literature Festival

Explore the guide for its 2026 conversations and plans for a future visit.

Cambridge Literary Festival

Explore the guide for its 2026 conversations and plans for a future visit.

Capital Crime

Explore the guide for its 2026 conversations and plans for a future visit.

Chalke History Festival

Andrea Wulf, Antony Beevor, Kate Williams

Charleston Festival

Explore the guide for its 2026 conversations and plans for a future visit.

Cheltenham Literature Festival

Abir Mukherjee, Alexander McCall Smith, Andrew Davies, Ben Macintyre, Celia Imrie, Charlie Higson, Chris Whitaker, Cressida Cowell

More profiled authors at this festival

Daniel Hahn, David Szalay, Elif Shafak, Gyles Brandreth, Harriet Tyce, Ian Rankin, Kate Atkinson, Kate Mosse, Katie Kirby, Lee Child, Liz Pichon, Lucy Worsley, Maggie O’Farrell, Mark Billingham, Mary Beard, Mary Berry, Matt Haig, Meera Syal, M. G. Leonard, Michael Morpurgo, Michael Rosen, Philippa Perry, Richard Coles, Richard Osman, Rob Biddulph, Robert Harris, Ruth Ware, Sandi Toksvig, Sebastian Faulks, Simon Armitage, Susie Dent, Tracy Borman, Victoria Hislop, Yann Martel

Chiswick Book Festival

Explore the guide for its 2026 conversations and plans for a future visit.

Dartmouth Book Festival

Explore the guide for its 2026 conversations and plans for a future visit.

Durham Book Festival

Explore the guide for its 2026 conversations and plans for a future visit.

Edinburgh International Book Festival

Abir Mukherjee, Alexander McCall Smith, Ali Smith, Andrea Wulf, Bella Mackie, Christopher Brookmyre, Colm Tóibín, Cressida Cowell

More profiled authors at this festival

Daniel Hahn, David Olusoga, Doug Johnstone, Douglas Stuart, Elif Shafak, Frank Cottrell-Boyce, Harriet Tyce, Jacqueline Wilson, Jane Harper, Joseph Coelho, Julia Donaldson, Katherine Rundell, Kathy Lette, Katie Kirby, Liz Pichon, Maggie O’Farrell, Mark Haddon, Matt Haig, Meera Syal, M. G. Leonard, Patrick Gale, Philippa Perry, Prue Leith, Rob Biddulph, Simon Armitage, Tom Holland, Tracy Borman, Val McDermid

Hay Festival

Ali Smith, Andrea Wulf, Antony Beevor, Ben Macintyre, Colm Tóibín, Cressida Cowell, Daniel Hahn, Douglas Stuart

More profiled authors at this festival

Elif Shafak, Frank Cottrell-Boyce, Holly Jackson, James Holland, Janina Ramirez, Joseph Coelho, Kathy Lette, Lionel Shriver, Liz Nugent, Liz Pichon, Mary Berry, Matt Haig, M. G. Leonard, Michael Morpurgo, Michael Rosen, Natalie Haynes, Paterson Joseph, Philippa Perry, Philippe Sands, Prue Leith, Richard Coles, Rob Biddulph, Sandi Toksvig, Susie Dent, Tim Spector, Val McDermid, Vaseem Khan

Hay Festival Winter Weekend

Explore the guide for its 2026 conversations and plans for a future visit.

Henley Literary Festival

Ann Cleeves, Ben Macintyre, Daniel Hahn, Elif Shafak, Giles Milton, Gyles Brandreth, Harriet Tyce, Joanne Harris

More profiled authors at this festival

Joseph Coelho, Julia Donaldson, Kate Mosse, Kate Williams, Kathy Lette, Katie Kirby, Lucy Worsley, Maggie O’Farrell, Mary Berry, Matt Haig, Meera Syal, M. G. Leonard, Michael Morpurgo, Prue Leith, Rob Biddulph, Sebastian Faulks, Victoria Hislop

Ilkley Literature Festival

Andrew Davies, Gyles Brandreth, Jacqueline Wilson, Joanne Harris, Kate Atkinson, Simon Armitage

Lichfield Literature Festival

Explore the guide for its 2026 conversations and plans for a future visit.

Manchester Literature Festival

Explore the guide for its 2026 conversations and plans for a future visit.

Off the Shelf Festival of Words

Explore the guide for its 2026 conversations and plans for a future visit.

Oxford Literary Festival

Adam Kay, Antony Beevor, Daniel Hahn, Dan Jones, Hallie Rubenhold, Jonathan Freedland, Julia Donaldson, Katie Kirby

More profiled authors at this festival

Mark Haddon, Michael Morpurgo, Michael Rosen, Patrick Gale, Tim Spector, Yann Martel

StAnza

Explore the guide for its 2026 conversations and plans for a future visit.

Stratford Literary Festival

Antony Beevor, Bella Mackie, James Holland, Patrick Gale, Philippa Perry, Prue Leith, Richard Coles, Rob Biddulph

More profiled authors at this festival

Tim Spector

Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival

Abir Mukherjee, Adam Kay, Ann Cleeves, Anthony Horowitz, Christopher Brookmyre, Chris Whitaker, Denise Mina, Doug Johnstone

More profiled authors at this festival

Elly Griffiths, Holly Jackson, Lisa Jewell, Mick Herron, Steve Cavanagh, Vaseem Khan

Wigtown Book Festival

Christopher Brookmyre, Doug Johnstone, Giles Milton, Harriet Tyce

Wimbledon BookFest

Explore the guide for its 2026 conversations and plans for a future visit.

For reading guides and book recommendations, visit The Book Meadow ↗.