It heralds the start of Christmas in one of the county's coastal towns, not least by sewing the seed of book-shaped stocking fillers in visitors' minds.

The Folkestone Book Festival invites a range of key speakers from the world of science, history, politics and much more, to discuss topics from food and health to memory and identity and women in history to philosophy, democracy and the economy.

The festival runs at Folkestone's Creative Quarter from Friday, November 16 to Sunday, November 25 and features 10 days of author talks, thought-provoking discussions, family events and workshops.

Author Kit de Waal, whose heartbreaking novel My Name Is Leon, won Irish Novel of the Year in 2017, will be performing festive switch-on duties on opening night.

She will then discuss her Irish and Caribbean origins, why she became a writer later in life and campaigning for working class writers.

Speakers from the world of history include journalist and broadcaster Jenni Murray, who has presented BBC4’s Woman’s Hour since 1987, who will be looking at Britain's history through 21 women on Saturday, November 17 at 6pm.

Female historian Alison Weir draws on her research for her portrayal of Jane Seymour, the third of King Henry VIII’s queens on Tuesday, November 20 at 4.30pm.

Meanwhile bestselling author Charles Spencer - Princess Diana's brother - uses Samuel Pepys’ account to re-tell the epic adventure of King Charles II, who came to the throne following the beheading of his father, King Charles I on Monday, November 19 at noon.

The world of science, health and technology is represented with BBC Radio 4’s Inside Science presenter, geneticist Adam Rutherford, discussing things once considered to be exclusively human but aren't now in What Makes Us Human on Tuesday, November 20.

Novelist and journalist, Matt Haig takes a personal look at how to feel happy in the stress-ridden 21st century on Saturday, November 24.

Pioneering punk legend Viv Albertine will smash through layers of propriety, leading us to a place of savage self-discovery.

Meanwhile award-winning author Marina Warner gives an illustrated talk arguing that art and aesthetics fulfil a magical social function.

Elsewhere, the author of many books for adults and children, Posy Simmonds, puts a magnifying glass on British society and domestic life on Friday, November 23.

The master of the comedy-science mash-up and co-presenter of BBC radio’s The Infinite Monkey Cage, Robin Ince attempts to offer answers to some of life’s biggest questions in I'm a Joke and So Are You - A Comedian's Take on What Makes Us Human on Saturday, November 17.

This year’s festival also includes two internationally-themed days and one evening – Indian Day, US Day and Turkish evening, with 2014 Bake Off semi-finalist Chetna Makan sharing tips on Indian ingredients and a performance from Nick Hayes for US Day. Turkish Evening welcomes guest speakers including travel writer, Jeremy Seal, award-winning crime writer, Barbara Nadel, and journalist, Alev Scott.

THE START OF CHRISTMAS

The festival also marks the start of the run-up to Christmas in the Creative Quarter, with the opening night on Friday, November 16, being the Christmas lights switch-on.

Author Kit de Waal will perform the switch-on. Local choirs will be bringing the streets to life with song, and the businesses in the quarter will be bringing out their Christmas window displays and extending their opening hours. The festivities start at 5.30pm in the Old High Street at 5.30pm.

FAMILY FRIENDLY

There will be events and workshops for children and families, including celebrated picture book creator, Anthony Browne, who has kids' classics such as Gorilla, Voices in the Park and Willy the Wimp to his name. He will be giving talk on Saturday, November 17 at 11.30am. Author Matt Haig will be presenting his third book in his series, Father Christmas and Me, on Saturday, November 24 at 10.30am. Million-selling author Caroline Lawrence also shares her best writing tips for young wannabe writers on Sunday, November 25 at 11am.

DETAILS

Folkestone Book Festival runs from Friday, November 16 to Sunday, November 25. A festival pass to attend all events except workshops costs £160. To find out more visit folkestonebookfest.com or call 01303 760750.