More than 20 of Wales' top authors and poets will be in Aberaeron this weekend.

They will be on stage at Neuadd Goffa Aberaeron Memorial Hall for the fifth Gŵyl Lyfrau Aberaeron Book Festival.

The free bilingual event will feature an opening address by Wales' first National Poet, Gwyneth Lewis, known for the two-metre-high words on the front of Wales' Millennium Centre.

Ms Lewis will also read from her new memoir, Nightshade Mother, which explores an emotionally abusive mother-daughter relationship.

The festival will have a rolling programme of author readings, book launches, interviews, and discussion panels.

There will also be a book fair, workshops for aspiring writers, and one-to-one meet-the-publisher sessions.

Sarah Ward of Crime Cymru will chair a crime writing panel featuring Louise Mumford and Teifi Valley Coroner author Alis Hawkins.

Pobol Y Cwm actor and scriptwriter Geraint Lewis will discuss his film and TV career, recent plays, short stories, and forthcoming novel.

Special author interviews will include Cynog Dafis questioning Richard Wyn Jones on his history of Plaid Cymru and political thought, Russ Williams on Wales' legends, folklore, and urban myths, New Quay's Thomas Leworthy on growing up in Nanternis and Lampeter and serving in Royal Navy submarines and the Rhodesian Air Force, Louise Bretland-Treharne on surviving 20 years of struggles with the mental health system, and wildlife presenter and scientist Dr Rhys Jones on his inspiring journey.

New books from Judith Barrow and Sarah Ward will feature dark crime thrills and mystery, while Natalie Ann Holborow and Kathy Miles will launch new poetry volumes.

Samantha Wynne-Rhydderch and Karen Gemma Brewer will join them on a poets' panel.

L E Fitzparick will present Catrin Kean and Sophie Buchaillard from Welsh women's press, Honno, and CP Davies will invite attendees to the unsettling village of Trecadno.

Joint organiser Niki Brewer, of Aberaeron's independent bookshop Gwisgo Bookworm, said: "The ethos of the festival is to celebrate and promote the writing, writers, and publishers of west Wales, in both the Welsh and English languages.

"We aim to highlight the wealth of talent on our doorstep and thanks to the generous help of the authors, and support from the shop, entry to the festival is entirely free."

There will be four creative writing workshops, led by Samantha Wynne-Rhydderch and Natalie Ann Holborow on Saturday, and by Judith Barrow and Kathy Miles on Sunday.

Each 90-minute session is £5 per place and can be booked via the festival page on the Gwisgo Bookworm website or in the shop on Alban Square.

There are also 15-minute individual meet-the-publisher sessions with Honno, also bookable at the same price.