The Hertfordshire Litfest 2013 is presented by Hertfordshire Libraries and takes place at libraries all over the county. This year's highlights include:

St Albans author Jenny Barden talking about her debut novel, Mistress of the Sea, at Hemel Hempstead Library, Coombe Street on Wednesday, March 13 at 7.15pm.

Jane Austen’s London is an illustrated talk by Louise Allen at Berkhamsted Library, Kings Road on Tuesday, March 19 at 7.15pm.

No Exit Press presents an evening of crime with writers Leigh Russell, Howard Linskey and Peter Murphy at St Albans Library, The Maltings on Thursday, March 21 at 7.15pm.

Espresso, Blind Bake and the Amazing World of Jack Reacher is at Welwyn Garden City Library, Campus West on Tuesday, March 26 at 10.45am, and includes coffee tasting.

Catherine Law, the author of three dramatic and haunting wartime novels, is at Bovingdon Library, High Street on Tuesday, March 26 at 7.15pm.

Robert Richardson explains how to be a crime writer at Hatfield Library, Queensway, on Tuesday, March 26 at 7.15pm.

The 150th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln’s historic Gettysburg Address is celebrated at Berkhamsted Library, Kings Road on Tuesday, April 16 at 7.30pm.

A talk by the husband of the late Jennifer Worth, Hemel Hempstead author of the Call the Midwife books, gives a talk at Welwyn Garden City Library, Campus West on Monday, April 22 at 7.15pm.

  • Details: 01707 281533 for bookings, 0300 123 4049 for more information, www.hertsdirect.org/services/libraries/Litfest13