AUTHORS of new books published during the last year will be touring Cumbria’s libraries throughout June as part of Read Regional 2018.

Read Regional is a celebration of new books from the North of England, which connect authors with readers in their local libraries. Founded by New Writing North in 2008, the campaign is funded by Arts Council England and is produced in partnership with Cumbria County Council’s Library Service and 22 other library authorities across the North of England.

Cumbria Library Service has been part of the campaign since 2016 and has previously hosted writers including internationally renowned poet Jack Mapanje, and Gulwali Passarlay, the influential Afghan refugee who is a TEDx speaker, activist and campaigner.

There are 12 titles on this year’s Read Regional campaign list, offering a broad selection of poetry, children’s books, nature writing, fiction and crime. All 12 titles are now available to borrow from Cumbria’s libraries, and reading guides for each book can be downloaded from www.readregional.com.

For the authors, Read Regional is not only an opportunity to meet readers and talk about their work, but also to celebrate the vitality of libraries as centres of creativity and learning for the whole community.

Jane Austin, author of ‘News from Nowhere,’ one of this year’s shortlisted books, is visiting Carlisle Library on Monday 4 June for a reading and question and answer session.

"Libraries play a hugely important role in bringing people together to explore thoughts, feelings and ideas through a shared passion for books,” said Jane.

Sarah Dunnakey, author of The Companion, one of this year’s shortlisted books, is visiting Penrith Library on Thursday June 21 for a reading and Q&A session. Sarah said: “My local library is a safe and welcoming place that doesn’t have a dress code, doesn’t try to sell me anything, doesn’t care about my age, gender or sexuality. A place to sit and think. To read, to write. To think a bit more. Like a spa with words and ideas instead of steam.”

Councillor Deborah Earl, Cumbria County Council's Cabinet Member for local communities, said: “This is the third consecutive year that Cumbria Libraries have taken part in Read Regional. We’re delighted to be hosting events to bring some of the best contemporary writers in the North of England to our libraries, as well as offering our readers the exciting selection of featured books, and the opportunity to enjoy the work of our home-grown talent at one of the reading and Q&A sessions.”

Claire Malcolm, Chief Executive of New Writing North, said: “There has never been a more important time to support our local libraries. Read Regional is ten years old this year and over this period things have changed a great deal for libraries with the onset of austerity programmes for local authorities. These have been challenging times with many libraries undertaking great change. Through Read Regional our partner libraries have continued to support our campaign and authors, working hard to ensure that regional writers get great opportunities and that their readers can access wonderful books and events.”

Read Regional runs from March to June 2018 in libraries across the North of England. Find information about all of the events and download reading guides for each of the titles at www.newwritingnorth.com