King's Lynn hosts two literary fests each year. This weekend sees the town's Fiction Festival at the Town Hall.

Its guiding principle since its launch in 1984 has been 'to present some of the best contemporary writers of chapter and verse in a friendly and informal setting'.

This year's fest gets under way on Friday (7.30pm), when historical fiction writer Robert Edric will be in conversation with Prof John Lucas.

On Saturday (11am) Prof Lucas will chair a discussion on the theme of fiction or relateability - does it matter whether the reader 'relates' to the novel?

Also on Saturday (3pm) the Norwich-based author Rachel Hore and the blogger and novelist Jemma Wayne will be in conversation with Chris West.

Saturday's final session (8pm)features East Anglian novelist Louis de Bernières and the historian DJ Taylor.

It will be chaired by Christopher Bigsby

Sunday's sessions get under way (11am) with the novelists Carol Birch and Yvvette Edwards, who will be in conversation with fellow author Rachel Hore.

Sunday concludes with Stephen Jarvis (3pm), who will talk about his book Death and Mr Pickwick, and then lead a discussion on the Pickwick Papers.

All events take place at the Town Hall. Visitors can come to some or all of the sessions entry is £8.50 for each event, or £37.50 for an all-events weekend pass.

Sessions will all last around 110 minutes and are divided into two halves.

They comprise a mixture of readings, interviews and discussion.

Tickets from Tony Ellis on 01553 691661 (office hours) or

01553 761919 (other times), or email: enquiries@lynnlitfests.com.