Bookmark this: Oldham Bookmark Festival returns in May

The ever-popular Bookmark Festival returns for a long weekend of fantastic fun-filled, book-related events and activities.

Expect returning popular guests, new literary voices and familiar favourites. There’s certainly something for everyone, celebrating reading in all its finest forms. See the full programme here. Book tickets here.

Events for adults include:　

Do you want to write the perfect murder story? Looking for that perfect twist? Join Salford writer and playwright Jane McNulty in our Life of Crime mystery workshop. Learn how to create and handcraft your own crime stories, avoiding the regular tropes and clichés.

Mandasue Heller and David Mark

Two writers of thrilling and nail bitingly tense stories return to Oldham to discuss how and why they love writing about crime and punishment. Both bestselling authors know the dark streets of Manchester and Hull, the settings for their page turning crime thrillers. Manchester’s Mandasue Heller (author of the top ten bestsellers Run and Afraid) will be discussing her latest novel, Save Me and journalist and crime reporter David Mark will be discussing his latest book Scorched Earth.

Bookish

Five mini comedy shows each inspired by a different book and you get to choose which ones you see! Performed by Laura Mugridge and Tom Adams with live original music, a quiz and the stories of what happened when they tried to research the books. There will be a live vote on the night, and two shows (books) will be performed. Suitable for 10+. The five books are:The London A-Z, Ginger - My Story (the autobiography of Ginger Rogers), The Remains Of The Day, The Dairy Book.

Afternoon Tea with Milly Johnson

Sunday Times Top Five bestselling author Milly Johnson hosts an afternoon in a beautiful park and a feast of finger sandwiches, delicious cakes and scones. Born and bred in Barnsley, Milly is also an after-dinner speaker, poet, cruise correspondent, columnist, scriptwriter and a joke-writer for the greetings card industry. She writes about love and life in present day Yorkshire and makes no apologies for the happy endings.

Katie Thistleton

Join CBBC’s TV and radio presenter Katie Thistleton as she talks about mental health and her new book Dear Katie: Real Problems, Real Advice. Katie will share anecdotes from her own experiences, as well as advice found in her book on some of the most common problems and worries associated with growing up. With a bright, positive attitude, Katie will leave you feeling happier and more confident, safe in the knowledge that whoever you are, you are unique.

An Austentatious Murder

"It is a truth universally acknowledged that a man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife."

Acknowledging Jane Austen as one of mankind’s most gifted writers on the subject of love and the human condition, tech developers have created the ‘Austen Algorithm’ - the key to finding the perfect partner! The new app Dating Mr Darcy is due to be launched at an Austen themed gala celebration. But moments before the app goes live, its creator is found dead - Someone has quite literally broken her heart!

An Afternoon with Simon Mayo

Join Simon Mayo for an afternoon of relaxed conversation around his debut adult novel, Mad Blood Stirring. Inspired by real events and real characters, the novel tells the story of the American sailors held captive in Dartmoor Prison during the Second War of American Independence.

The award-winning and popular BBC Radio 2 presenter, Book Club leader and author will be interviewed by ITV’s Caroline Whitmore. Caroline has worked for ITV for almost twenty years and is now the entertainment correspondent for Granada Reports. She meets a whole host of celebrities on a daily basis from Kylie Minogue to George Clooney and classes Take That and Peter Kay as friends.