Dudley writers' festival

Join your favourite authors at Dudley Writers' Festival.

Celebrate the award-winning writing talents of the West Midlands and beyond at the Dudley Writers' Festival.

Now in it's third year, this book festival, based in the heart of the Black Country, will see a host of renowned authors join up and coming and debut authors in your local Dudley library. They'll be sharing the behind the scenes of what it's like to become a published author, their own stories and what inspires their work.

Taking place across the whole of June 2026, the festival will feature individual author talks, panels and more!

A full list of visiting authors, plus how to book, is posted below.

General Fiction

Susan Fletcher

Susan Fletcher was born in Birmingham. She graduated from the University of East Anglia with an MA in Creative Writing and now lives in Stratford-Upon-Avon. Her first novel, Eve Green, won the 2004 Whitbread First Novel Award, the Betty Trask Prize, the Author’s Club Best First Novel Award and the Richard and Judy Summer Read in 2005. Later novels include Oystercatchers, longlisted for the Romantic Novel of the Year Award and the Dylan Thomas Prize, and Witch Light, shortlisted for the John Llewellyn-Rhys Award and the Writer’s Guild Best Fiction Award. The Night in Question is her eighth novel. This talk is supported by the West Midlands Readers Network

Tuesday 2nd June, 18:00 - Dudley Library
To book email dudley.library@gll.org or Call 01384 815560

Elizabeth O'Connor

Elizabeth O’Connor's debut novel Whale Fall won the Chautauqua Prize and a Betty Trask Award and was a BBC 'Between the Covers' book club pick. Her short stories have appeared in Granta and she was the winner of 'The White Review Short Story Prize' in 2020. She lives in Birmingham. This talk is supported by the West Midlands Readers Network

Monday 15th June, 18:00 - Halesowen Library
To book email halesowen.library@gll.org or Call 01384 812983

House of glass

Fletcher, Susan, 1979-

Let me tell you about a man I knew

Fletcher, Susan.

A little in love

Fletcher, Susan.

Corrag

Fletcher, Susan, 1979-

Eve Green

Fletcher, Susan, 1979-

The night in question

Fletcher, Susan, 1979- author.

Whale fall

O'Connor, Elizabeth, 1991- author.

Oystercatchers

Fletcher, Susan.

Silver dark sea

Fletcher, Susan.

Crime and Thriller

Angela Marsons

Angela Marsons is a local author whoes Black Country set DI Kim Stone series has sold more than 5 million copies, has been translated into 30 languages and has been optioned by the BBC for television. Her latest novel, Little Children, was released in 2025. In this session, with Kim Nash asking the questions, Angela will share all about her writing, journey to publication, inspirations and more. Please note that Angela Marsons will be appearing via video link and will not be at either library in person.

Wednesday 10th June, 18:00 - Gornal Library and Lye Library (simultaneously)

To book a space at Gornal Library email gornal.library@gll.org or call 01384 812755

To book a space at Lye Library email lye.library@gll.org or call 01384 812835

William Stafford

William Stafford lives and writes in the Black Country. After working in libraries and teaching Drama in schools and colleges, he now devotes much of his time to his novels, which blend his irrepressible sense of humour with science fiction, historical fantasy, or whodunits. He is also a freelance playwright and theatre reviewer.

He lists his influences as Stephen King, PG Wodehouse, Terry Pratchett, Talbot Rothwell, and Edgar Rice Burroughs.

Thursday 11th June, 19:00 - Coseley Library
To book email coseley.library@gll.org or Call 01384 812775

Natalie Marlow

Natalie Marlow is the author of 2023’s Financial Times Best Summer Thriller, Needless Alley, and was Val McDermid’s New Blood Pick at the Theakston Old Peculiar Crime Writing Festival. Set in Birmingham in the 1930s this critically acclaimed novel was followed by 2024s The Red Hollow which continued to follow Private Enquiry Agent William Garrett. A third book in the series, Death Comes as a Shadow, is due to be published in 2026.

Thursday 18th June, 18:30 - Stourbridge Library
To book email stourbridge.library@gll.org or Call 01384 812945

Caz Frear

Caz Frear's 2018 debut Sweet Little Lies won the Richard and Judy 'Search For A Bestseller' competition and went on to be a number one bestseller whilst introducing the world to DC Cat Kinsella. Since then she's penned two more Cat Kinsella novels and the standalone Five Bad Deeds - which was nominated for the 2025 Twisted Dagger award.

Saturday 20th June, 12:00 - Kingswinford Library
To book email kingswinford.library@gll.org or Call 01384 812740

Mark Edwards

Mark Edwards has topped the bestseller list multiple times with his psychological thrillers. He has written seven books with another author and a further twenty-one alone, including the Magpie trilogy. In 2021 he was nominated for the ITW Best Original Paperback award for No Place to Run. In 2026 he has released his latest work One of the Family

Monday 22nd June, 14:00 - Netherton Library
To book email netherton.library@gll.org or Call 01384 812845

Jo Callaghan

Jo Callaghan's debut novel In the Blink of an Eye was a Sunday Times bestseller, featured on the BBCs 'Between the Covers' and won her the 2024 Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year and the ILP John Creasey First Novel award. She has since followed up this novel with three sequels that follow the duo of DCS Kat Frank and her AI partner Lock and explore many themes about humanity and our relationship with AI, including her latest release, Body of Lies.

Wednesday 24th June, 18:30 - Halesowen Library
To book email halesowen.library@gll.org or Call 01384 812983

Gillian McAllister

Gillian McAllister is the author of the New York Times bestseller, Wrong Place, Wrong Time, and multiple Sunday Times Bestsellers. Many of her works have been optioned for television and films and she has been nominated for two writing awards.

Thursday 25th June, 18:30 - Stourbridge Library
To book email stourbridge.library@gll.org or Call 01384 812945

Tim Sullivan and Simon McCleave

Tim Sullivan is a film director, screenwriter and novelist. In film he has directed multiple Granada, ITV and BBC TV productions and as a screenwriter has worked on films with companies such as New Line, Universal and Dreamworks - including being a production writer on Flushed Away and the author of the first (unused) script for Shrek 4. He published his first crime novel, The Dentist, in 2020 - which introduced the world to DS George Cross, a Bristol based socially awkward but brilliant and persistent detective with a high conviction rate. He has followed this up with seven more DS Cross mysteries and four short stories in the DS Cross chronicles. In 2025 he was longlisted for the Crime Writers Association Dagger in the Library Award.
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Simon McCleave is a multi million-selling crime novelist who previously worked in script editing and production for the BBC and Channel 4 before becoming a story analysist in Los Angeles. Film and television credits include The Full Monty, Silent Witness and the critcally acclaimed Out of the Game. His first novel, The Snowdonia Killings was published in 2020 and introduced us to DI Ruth Hunter - a veteren police officer wrestling with the unsolved dissapearance of her husband. There are now 23 books in the DI Ruth Hunter series and 4 books in a prequel series set in London. He has also penned six thrillers set on Anglesey and five in the Frank Marshall thriller series.

Friday 26th June, 19:00 - Dudley Library
To book email dudley.library@gll.org or Call 01384 815560

Fatal promise

Marsons, Angela, author.

Evil games

Marsons, Angela, author.

Blood Lines

Marsons, Angela.

Play dead

Marsons, Angela.

Silent Scream

Marsons, Angela.

Broken bones

Marsons, Angela.

If Only: The perfect feel-good romantic comedy

Marsons, Angela.

Hidden Scars

Marsons, Angela.

Killing Mind: An addictive and nail-biting crimethriller

Marsons, Angela.

Deadly Cry

Marsons, Angela.

Six Graves

Marsons, Angela.

Dying truth

Marsons, Angela.

Stolen Ones:

Marsons, Angela.

Twisted Lies

Marsons, Angela.

Lost girls

Marsons, Angela, author.

The forgotten woman

Marsons, Angela, author.

Child's play

Marsons, Angela, author.

Dead memories

Marsons, Angela, author.

Bad blood

Marsons, Angela, author.

Deadly fate

Marsons, Angela, author.

Dead souls

Marsons, Angela.

Wrong place, wrong time

McAllister, Gillian, author.

Anything you do say

McAllister, Gillian, author.

That night

McAllister, Gillian, author.

First blood

Marsons, Angela, author.

Shed no tears

Frear, Caz, author.

Blood on the shore

McCleave, Simon, author.

In the blink of an eye

Callaghan, Jo, author.

The magpies

Edwards, Mark (Fiction writer)

Harlech Beach Killings

McCleave, Simon.

Harlech Beach Killings

McCleave, Simon.

Everything but the truth

McAllister, Gillian.

Diary of a war crime--a dc ruth hunter murder case book 1: A dc ruth hunter murder case book 1

McCleave, Simon.

An imitation of darkness: A dc ruth hunter murder case book 3

McCleave, Simon.

Sweet little lies: The most gripping suspense thriller you'll read this year

Frear, Caz.

No place to run

Edwards, Mark (Fiction writer), author.

Stone cold heart

Frear, Caz, author.

Keep her secret

Edwards, Mark (Fiction writer), author.

Imitation of darkness

McCleave, Simon, author.

The Red Hollow

Marlow, Natalie, author.

Needless alley

Marlow, Natalie, author.

Leave no trace

Callaghan, Jo, author.

In too deep

McCleave, Simon.

The darkest water

Edwards, Mark (Fiction writer), author.

Dead in the water

McCleave, Simon, author.

Diary of A War Crime

McCleave, Simon.

Blood on the shore

McCleave, Simon.

Blood on the shore

McCleave, Simon.

Blood on the shore

McCleave, Simon.

All fall down

Edwards, Mark.

Famous last words

McAllister, Gillian, author.

Berwyn River Killings

McCleave, Simon.

The Psychopath Next Door

Edwards, Mark, author.

Human remains: The gripping new thriller from the award-winning and Sunday Times bestselling author of In the Blink of an Eye

Callaghan, Jo, author.

The bookseller

Sullivan, Tim.

Famous last words

McAllister, Gillian, author.

The wasp trap

Edwards, Mark, author.

Five Days in Provence: An absolutely gripping psychological thriller with a shocking twist

McCleave, Simon, author.

Caller unknown

McAllister, Gillian, author.

The basket case: the brand new ds george cross mystery short for 2025

Sullivan, Tim.

The ex-wife: A ds george cross short story for 2025

Sullivan, Tim.

The basket case: the brand new ds george cross mystery short for 2025

Sullivan, Tim.

Body of lies

Callaghan, Jo.

Family Saga

Shirley Mann

Having worked across newspapers, TV and Radio as a Journalist Shirley Mann published her first book, Lily's War, in 2019. This was followed by Bobby's War which won Romantic Saga Novel of the Year in 2021. Three more romance books focusing on the role of women in WW2 followed as part of her 'Memory Lane' saga. A sixth, Faith's War, is due for publication in 2026.

Wednesday 3rd June, 14:00 - Long Lane Library
To book email longlanelibrary@gll.org or Call 01384 812880

Bridget's war

Mann, Shirley, author.

Hannah's war

Mann, Shirley, author.

Lily's war

Mann, Shirley, author.

Bobby's war

Mann, Shirley, author.

Maggie's war: An inspiring and moving WWII saga from the RNA award winning author of Bobby's War

Mann, Shirley, author.

Romance

Miranda Dickinson

Miranda Dickinson, who also writes as M J White, is is a renowned Black Country based author of Romance, Crime and Thriller novels. She is a six-times Sunday Times Bestselling author and has been shortlisted three times for Romantic Novelist Association awards. Since 2022 she has been writing crime and thriller novels under the name M J White, starting with The Secret Voices.

Friday 5th June, 11:00 - Brierley Hill Library
To book email BrierleyHill.library@gll.org or Call 01384 812874

Rosie Goodwin

Rosie Goodwin's first novel, The Bad Apple, was released in 2005. Since then she has gone on to become a prolific Sunday Times Bestselling author, having now written over forty titles. Her books have sold over four million copies, making her a titan of the genre, and she continues to be one of the most borrowed authors from UK Libraries. She is also the only author who has been allowed to write sequels to trilogies by Dame Catherine Cookson.

Saturday 6th June, 14:00 - Halesowen Library
To book email halesowen.library@gll.org or Call 01384 812983

Christie Barlow & Melanie Taylor

Christie Barlow is a bestselling author of over 20 Romantic Comedies - achieving bestseller levels in the UK, USA, Canada and Australia. Originally self publishing her first book A Year in the Life of a Playground Mother her talent was soon recognised with a publishing deal. In 2026 she is releasing two new books and is also helping new authors through mentoring services.
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A self proclaimed Romance nerd, Melanie Taylor's debut novel, Love, Digitally, was published in 2025 - the first book in a three book series.

Tuesday 9th June, 18:30 - Stourbridge Library
To book email stourbridge.library@gll.org or Call 01384 812945

Better Website

Sally Jenkins

Sally Jenkins is the author of five books (three the Romance genre), two collections of stories and one non-fiction book about publishing. Her novels often have hopefull themes about mature characters and the struggles they face in life. In this talk she'll be talking to the audience about how she is connected to a world famous author and about her writing career.

Monday 15th June, 11:30am - Wordsley Library
To book email wordsley.library@gll.org or Call 01384 812765

Kim Nash

Kim Nash is the author of uplifting, heart-warming and feel good romantic fiction. Her debut, Amazing Grace, was released in 2019 and has been followed by four more novels. Kim won the Romantic Novelists Association's Media Star of the Year award in 2016.

Tuesday 23rd June, 19:00 - Sedgley Library
To book email sedgley.library@gll.org or Call 01384 812790

Escape to Giddywell Grange

Nash, Kim, author.

The day we meet again

Dickinson, Miranda, author.

Searching for a silver lining

Dickinson, Miranda, author.

A band of steel

Goodwin, Rosie.

Dilly's hope

Goodwin, Rosie.

A mother's shame

Goodwin, Rosie.

A mother's grace

Goodwin, Rosie, author.

A maiden's voyage

Goodwin, Rosie, author.

A rose among thorns

Goodwin, Rosie.

A daughter's destiny

Goodwin, Rosie, author.

A lesson learned

Goodwin, Rosie, author.

A simple wish

Goodwin, Rosie, author.

Fairytale of New York

Dickinson, Miranda.

A mother's grace

Goodwin, Rosie, author.

A home at Honeysuckle Farm

Barlow, Christie, author.

Foxglove Farm

Barlow, Christie, author.

Clover Cottage

Barlow, Christie.

A summer surprise at the Little Blue Boathouse

Barlow, Christie, author.

Somewhere beyond the sea

Dickinson, Miranda, author.

The secret voices

White, M. J., author.

A season for hope

Goodwin, Rosie, author.

All my love

Dickinson, Miranda, author.

The start of something

Dickinson, Miranda, author.

Take a look at me now

Dickinson, Miranda, author.

The silent child

White, M. J, author.

I'll take New York

Dickinson, Miranda, author.

A precious gift

Goodwin, Rosie.

Hopeful hearts at the Cornish cove

Nash, Kim, author.

Finding family at the Cornish Cove

Nash, Kim, author.

A season for hope

Goodwin, Rosie.

Our story

Dickinson, Miranda, author.

A winter wedding at Starcross Manor

Barlow, Christie, author.

Leave no trace

White, M. J., author.

Evie's Year of Taking Chances

Barlow, Christie.

Kitty's Countryside Dream

Barlow, Christie.

A parcel for Anna Browne

Dickinson, Miranda, author.

It started with a kiss

Dickinson, Miranda.

Misadventures of a Playground Mother

Barlow, Christie.

Welcome to my world

Dickinson, Miranda.

When I fall in love

Dickinson, Miranda.

Amazing Grace

Nash, Kim, author.

Heartcross Castle

Barlow, Christie, author.

A postcard from Puffin Island

Barlow, Christie, author.

Love heart lane series, book 1

Barlow, Christie.

Escape to the country

Nash, Kim, author.

The Cornish cottage by the sea: A heartwarming story of love, friendship, and fresh starts from Kim Nash

Kim Nash, author.

Life begins at the Cornish cottage: A heartwarming, feel-good romance about starting over and finding the courage to love again from Kim Nash

Nash, Kim, author.

The café on the coast

Barlow, Christie, author.

Making memories at the cornish cove

Nash, Kim.

Bookshop at the cornish cove

Nash, Kim.

Love blooms at the Cornish cottage: The BRAND NEW gloriously feel-good tale of second chances

Nash, Kim, author.

Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror

N J Lawton and I I Laverick

NJ Lawton has lived in the Black Country all her life. After studying for her masters in touring theatre and taking Edinburgh fringe by storm, Nic is hungrier than ever to write tales of the weird and wonderful. I.I. Laverick has been writing about adventures in other worlds since she could hold a pen. She holds a degree in costume design and practice for theatre, and hopes to one day write books that make people feel seen.

Tuesday 16th June, 18:00 - Cradley Library
To book email cradley.library@gll.org or Call 01384 812885

Mike Brooks

Mike Brooks is the author of The God-King Chronicles epic fantasy trilogy (which opened with his 2015 debut Dark Run) and the Keiko space-opera trilogy. He has also penned a number of Intellectual Property works for the Black Library Imprint, some of which have become cult classics.

Saturday 27th June, 13:00 - Brierley Hill Library
To book email BrierleyHill.library@gll.org or Call 01384 812874

The splinter king

Brooks, Mike, 1982- author.

The godbreaker

Brooks, Mike, 1982- author.

The Pith and the Pendulum Beaumont and Elscrook

Laverick & Lawton 2019

Non-Fiction

Ned Williams

Ned Williams presents 'Stage and Screen in Dudley', a look back at the world of cinema and theatre in our borough through his extensive research into the subject. For anyone interested in cinema, theatre and local history this is a talk not to be missed!

Tuesday 9th June, 14:00 - Dudley Archives and Local History Centre
To book email dudley.archives@gll.org or Call 01384 812770

Performances & Workshops

Imaginary Landscapes

Imaginary Landscapes is a special event featuring the hugely popular collaboration of leading poet, author and raconteur, Chris Tutton with award-winning international Harpist, Lucy Nolan in a magical and spellbinding programme of words by Chris and semi-improvised music by Lucy.

Friday 19th June, 18:30 - Dudley Library
To book email dudley.library@gll.org or Call 01384 815560

Dudley writers' festival

Join your favourite authors at Dudley Writers' Festival.

General Fiction

Susan Fletcher

Elizabeth O'Connor

Crime and Thriller

Angela Marsons

William Stafford

Natalie Marlow

Caz Frear

Mark Edwards

Jo Callaghan

Gillian McAllister

Tim Sullivan and Simon McCleave

Family Saga

Shirley Mann

Romance

Miranda Dickinson

Rosie Goodwin

Christie Barlow & Melanie Taylor

Sally Jenkins

Kim Nash

Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror

N J Lawton and I I Laverick

Mike Brooks

Non-Fiction

Ned Williams

Performances & Workshops

Imaginary Landscapes

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