Maggie O'Farrell and Heidi Swain headline events at Edinbugh Women's Fiction Festival

Maggie O’Farrell, Heidi Swain and literary agent Jenny Brown are among those scheduled to appear at the Edinburgh Women’s Fiction Festival. 

Now in its second year, the festival will be held from 27th to 28th September at Morningside United Church, Edinburgh. On 27th June, the festival launched its new podcast "She Reads", in which host Jen Hyatt will speak to featured festival authors about writing and their favourite books. 

O’Farrell will be in conversation with Brown on Friday 27th September for an "evening fireside chat". Debut fantasy author Nadia El-Fassi is also due to appear on a panel alongside Amita Murray, Lesley McDowell and Sara Sheridan, chaired by Kim Sherwood. Lucy Jane Wood, whose cosy fantasy debut is being published by Pan Macmillan in September, will also be in attendance. Poet and performer RJ Hunter and erotic writer Lucy Debussy will also hold live readings. 

Author Angela Jackson will lead a workshop on writing commercial fiction while Simon & Schuster’s Sara-Jade Virtue is heading a workshop on editing. Writer and artist Elizabeth Dearnley will also hold a workshop on using fairy tales and folklore in writing. Marking a festival first, this year there will be a "speed dating" event where aspiring authors can pitch to four different publishing professionals. 

Olivia Kekewich, programme director, commented: "We are an inclusive event and welcome everyone who enjoys reading and writing women’s fiction—be that romance, saga, fantasy, historical or book-club fiction. We offer a unique opportunity for readers of these genres to meet the authors who bring them joy."

Tickets to the festival and individual events will go on sale on 27th July.