Gladstone's Library has announced a new ‘mini’ festival on the North Wales cultural calendar, Hearth.

Held over the course of two days (Saturday, February 1–Sunday, February 2), Hearth is an opportunity to meet, talk and create with four of the library’s writers in residence over a weekend of writing related activity.

Hearth follows the combined success of last year’s writers in residence scheme and the introduction of an annual literary festival, Gladfest, attended by more than a thousand visitors.

Hearth gathers an exceptional range of speakers to its inaugural unveiling.

Highlights will include creative writing workshops from Tania Hershman (My Mother was an Upright Piano) and Adnan Mahmutovic (Thinner than a Hair) on short stories and border writing respectively, a talk with Melissa Harrison (Clay) on methods of inspiration, and an interview with Neil Griffiths (Saving Caravaggio).

Also included in the ticket price is the opportunity to relax with a glass of wine in the tranquillity of the Gladstone Room, in front of the fire with all of the writers and participants.

Gladstone’s Library is the UK’s only residential library and its first Prime Ministerial Library. Free to use, it is open to the public year round.

Tickets for each day are £25 (£45 for both days) and include a two course dinner/lunch, and a question and answer event with that day’s speakers.

En-suite and standard accommodation for the weekend are available on request (call 01244 532350).

Discounts apply for students, clergy and Society of Authors members.

For more information about the events or the library, please ring 01244 532350 or visit thewebsite at www.gladstoneslibrary.org.