Wolverhampton’s first literature festival promises something for every literary lover - young and old - with more than 70 events now lined up over three days. A wealth of celebrated home-grown authors and musicians are appearing at venues across the city. The Wolverhampton Original Literary Festival (WOLF), which is being backed by the Express & Star, runs from Friday, January 27 to Sunday 29, and includes many free events.

Acclaimed authors, musicians, workshops, art and children’s events are lined up in the inaugural festival, which is being held at Wolverhampton Art Gallery, The Slade Rooms, Bantock House, Central Library, The Arena Theatre, the University of Wolverhampton and Newhampton Arts Centre.

Councillor John Reynolds, City of Wolverhampton Council Cabinet Member for City Economy, said: “We are counting down to the festival which has only been made possible by the generosity of the performers, local businesses and venues.

“Lots of the readings, workshops and events are free and there is something for readers and writers of all ages.”

Meet award-winning author and journalist Sathnam Sanghera, a former Wolverhampton Grammar School student, who is in conversation at Wolverhampton Art Gallery on January 27.

Sathnam’s first book, ‘The Boy With The Topknot: A Memoir of Love, Secrets and Lies in Wolverhampton’, was shortlisted for the 2008 Costa Biography Award, the 2009 PEN/Ackerley Prize and named 2009 Mind Book of the Year. It is being adapted for TV by Kudos and Parti Productions, to air on the BBC in the autumn of 2017.

On the same day, The Slade Rooms in Broad Street is hosting chart-topping Ned’s Atomic Dustbin singer Jonn Penney talking about the common thread between music, books and independence, with best-selling author Martin Roach.

Also on January 27, Miles Hunt, from The Wonder Stuff, will be reading exclusive extracts ahead of the release of his follow-up diaries.

Young readers can meet Narinder Dhami at Wolverhampton Art Gallery on Saturday 28. Find out about her childhood growing up in Wolverhampton, and her journey to becoming a successful children's author.

Older readers are invited to enjoy a book over a cup of tea in an hour-long event aimed at senior citizens on January 28, from 11am to noon.

Treat yourself to time and space to relax and share a short story and a poem or two over tea and conversation with a small group of people at Bantock House, in Finchfield Road.

Join regional treasure Doreen Tipton in the hallowed halls of the University of Wolverhampton, as she makes her own unique contribution to our literary festival on January 27.

Birmingham-born writer Catherine O’Flynn and Shropshire-based James Hannah will be at Wolverhampton Art Gallery on January 27 talking about getting books published.

Her debut novel, ‘What Was Lost’, won the Costa First Novel Award, was shortlisted for the Guardian First Book Award, and long-listed for the Booker and Orange Prizes. She was named Waterstones Newcomer of the Year at the 2008 Galaxy British Book Awards.

Her second novel ‘The News Where You Are’, published in 2010, was shortlisted for the Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse Prize, an Edgar Allen Poe Award and was a Channel 4 TV Book Club choice.

James Hannah, who was long-listed for the Desmond Elliott Prize for debut fiction for his novel ‘The A to Z of You and Me’ met Catherine when they shared an office at the turn of the millennium.

Budding young authors and poets can take part in weekend workshops and discover the joys of creative writing, as well as hear first-hand from published authors how to get their work in print.