Anyone who would like to find out more about their favourite novels and the minds of the people who wrote them should book their place for a special event in Alton.

Three best-selling authors have been invited to the town by Charlie Place, the host behind Southampton-produced author interview podcast Author’s Afterword - formally known as The Worm Hole Podcast - for her first live show.

The trio will be Alex Hay, who penned The Queen of Fives and The Housekeepers, Stacey Thomas, writer of The Revels, and Lucy Barker, who shone a light on The Other Side of Mrs Wood.

The event at Goldfinch Books in Alton High Street will be on February 26 from 7pm to 9.45pm and will consist of a live recording with time for audience questions and a book signing afterwards.

Charlie said: “I’m thrilled to be holding my first live show and very happy it’s with Alex, Stacey and Lucy. They have appeared on the show remotely both individually and together and I really welcome the chance to get them back together for a live event.”

Author’s Afterword was launched in 2019 and now has a catalogue of more than 100 episodes to its name. Each episode is a deep-dive, spoiler-filled author interview - generally about the author’s latest release - to uncover the particulars of the work. It covers a wide variety of genres and nationalities.

Alex Hay’s debut The Housekeepers, which was published by Headline Review, is an Edwardian heist novel which sees a group of disgruntled former employees and associates plan to clear a Mayfair mansion of all its contents over a 24-hour period while the mistress of the house hosts a ball. Optioned for film, The Housekeepers was the Waterstones Thriller of the Month for May 2024.

Alex's new novel, called The Queen Of Fives, is set in the Victorian era and focuses on a confidence trickster who has five days to win the hand of the richest man in England and make off with his money. It will be published in the United Kingdom by Headline Review on January 30.

Lucy Barker is the author of The Other Side Of Mrs Wood, published by 4th Estate, which is a comedic tale of Victorian mediumship.

The eponymous Mrs Wood is getting on a bit, at least by Victorian standards, and when she spies a young woman watching her house she seizes both the moment and the girl and suggests an apprenticeship - that'll keep her at the forefront of everyone's minds.

But Miss Finch has a way about her and soon Mrs Wood finds herself with a particularly gifted student who is close to stealing the spotlight.

Stacey Thomas is the author of The Revels, published by HQ Stories, which is a beautifully written novel set during the era of the witch trials.

Readers follow Nicholas, a man who can hear the dead sing, as he attempts to end the witch hunts. With a theatrical atmosphere courtesy of the period and James I's obsession with stamping out anything related to the occult, Thomas shows her readers the horrific reality of the time to stunning effect.

Anyone who would like more information can contact Charlie Place by sending her an email at [email protected]

For tickets, priced £5.50, visit https://wegottickets.com/event/642901/