With just a month to go before the start of Wells Festival of Literature – 27 October to 4 November – almost a quarter of the speakers are near sell-outs, and tickets for the new addition of a literary quiz night were snapped up in no time.

So Wells boasts a lot of literature lovers, but some have been asking – where are all the fiction writers in this festival? According to their publicists, the answer is that many novelists do a short stint of book signings and then retire to write the next best-seller.

This time the trend is bucked by Booker-longlisted author Donal Ryan whose appearance at the festival's Book Group event is a proving a real best seller.

Don't delay if you want to hear him discuss his family saga The Queen of Dirt Island, a compelling tale that spans the life and loves of four generations of Irish women.

Fact or fiction then? Take your pick, but personal stories can be just as exciting as a good yarn and the festival is packed with entertaining memoirs, reflections and journeys, both those on foot and of the mind.

While the festival's political pundits (Wes Streeting, Jolyon Maugham, Paul Johnson) may have a high profile, there are some fascinating human and sociological issues from those less in the public eye.

Journalist Ben Judah, for instance, paints a revealing portrait of Europe through the lives and stories of individuals, while university teacher Dina Nayeri goes behind the scenes from courtrooms to classrooms to look at truth – can performance can be used for persuasion, she ponders.

In another vein – and reflecting the success of the festival's writing competitions which this year attracted more than 1500 entries from around the world – is Trinidadian poet and musician Anthony Joseph.

His autobiographical Sonnets for Albert won him the TS Eliot Prize for Poetry 2022. A lyrical collection celebrating his love for the largely absent father of his childhood, he recreates his father's voice through the rhythms of the Caribbean.

The festival's final speaker brings a real-life thriller from Ukraine in reportage from BBC foreign news correspondent Andrew Harding. In his book A Small Stubborn Town he tells the story of an unlikely 'Dads Army' of pensioners who took on the Russians.

With more pluck than weapons, the elderly villagers fought against the invading army in the early days of the war, planning to blow up a small bridge and stymie the Russian advance. What happened next? You will have to go to find out.

So, back to fact or fiction – but it looks as though this line-up of festival speakers is just as thrilling as the most page-turning of novels.

For booking and details of all events pick up a brochure (from Waterstones and other venues), visit www.wellsfestivaloflierature.org.uk or call 01749 844483.