BOOKWORMS will be able to learn more about some of their favourite novels when an annual festival returns.

The Essex Book Festival will get under way in March.

Whether you enjoy losing yourself in fiction, music memoirs or crime novels, the festival has something to captivate everyone.

More than 90 events are taking place across the county from March 1 to 31.

Crime writer James Henry will be speaking at Maldon Library about his latest book Blackwater.

The novel, the first in the DI Nick Lowry series, sees an illicit shipment bound for Colchester which will leave a murderous trace across the town.

The book is set in 1983 on the Blackwater Estuary and Henry will be discussing the novel in Maldon on March 6 at 8pm.

Tickets are £7 and £5 for people aged 27 years and under.

In April the book festival will be teaming up with the Essex University and Radical Essex to host a Radical Writing Retreat at Bradwell- on-Sea.

It will be based at the Othona Community and will be led by writers James Canton and festival writer-in-residence Sarah Perry.

The two-day retreat will feature a mix of workshops, readings and performances.

It will take place from April 5 to April 7 with booking information to be confirmed.

Call 01026 573948 or visit essexbookfestival.org.uk.