Year after year, the Chorleywood Literary Festival has attracted a stellar line-up of speakers as well as new writers on the rise, and it is fast becoming one of the foremost literary events in the country.

The festival, organised by the award-winning Chorleywood Bookshop, celebrates its ninth anniversary with its strongest literary line-up yet.

The week-long programme, taking place at various venues in Chorleywood, includes appearances, readings and creative writing workshops from some of the biggest names in contemporary literature, including Sheila Hancock, Louise Doughty, Wendy Cope and Penny Junor.

One of the highlights of the festival is the literary lunch with the Number One New York Times best-selling author Jodi Picoult, who will be discussing her glittering career in the stunning 15th Century surroundings of Chenies Manor House.

For the first time this year, the festival plays host to the Indie Author Fair, where more than 40 independent authors will be giving live performances of poetry, crime fiction, romance, historical fiction and comedy, showcasing the ground-breaking, genre-crossing, experimental, enticing and exciting world of indie publishing.

There will also be story time sessions for children of all age groups.

Taking part is Chorleywood GP Dr Carol Cooper, who will be promoting her debut novel, One Night at the Jacaranda, a racy romance with a medical strand.

The festival opens with historian Charles Spencer discussing his latest title, Killers of the King, about the men who dared to overthrow King Charles I (Chorleywood Memorial Hall, Monday, November 10, 7.30pm).

Sunday Times bestselling author Louise Doughty will be talking about Apple Tree Yard, her brilliantly received new crime thriller (Russell School, Tuesday, November 11, 7.30pm).

Thomas Cromwell is the subject of author and historian Tracey Borman’s latest biography, subtitled The Untold Story of Henry VIII’s Most Faithful Servant (Russell School, Wednesday, November 12, 7.30pm).

Sheila Hancock, one of Britain’s favourite actors, will be talking about her first foray into fiction, Miss Carter’s War, set in post-war Britain (Chorleywood Memorial Hall, Friday, November 14, 7.30pm).

At the weekend, you can make a day of it, with several authors appearing at the Memorial Hall, starting with Hilary Bradt, the traveller behind the best-selling Bradt Travel Guides, who will be sharing hilarious and scary travel stories from a number of infamous travellers (Saturday, November 15, 12pm); Wendy Cope, the much-loved poet, discussing her new collection of recollections and essays (3pm); historians James Heneage and Jason Goodwin talking about their crafts (5pm); and Henry Marsh and his truthful account of the countless human dramas that take place in a busy modern hospital (7.30pm).

The last day of the festival, starts with a creative writing workshop with author Stephen May (10am to 1pm) and continues with Irving Finkel, the iconic British archaeologist, and his revolutionary book The Ark Before Noah (Sunday, November 16, 12pm); the Indie Author Fair (2pm to 5pm); Professor Tanya Byron’s account of her years training as a clinical psychologist (2.30pm); and Penny Junor discussing her forthcoming biography of Prince Harry (5pm).

  • Chorleywood Literary Festival takes place at various venues in Chorleywood from Monday, November 10 to Sunday, November 16. Details: 01923 283566, cwlitfest.org