This week the Borderlines Book Festival has been held in Carlisle. 

This will be the eighth year that our city has hosted the festival with book lovers and authors from around the world coming along to share their passion for reading. 

The festival ran from October 4 until October 10 and has proven to be very popular with around a thousand people attending. 

A series of events and talks are held throughout the week and attendees are able to buy the books and works of the authors involved. 

Anna Smalley, chair of the festival, said: "Borderlines Book Festival is in its eighth year now.

"We are a not-for-profit festival run by volunteers. 

"This year we have an amazing lineup of authors covering all sorts of different topics. We've had everything from cattle droving, paganism, running, health and well-being and history - so it's a huge range. 

"This year we've started a new partnership with Free Radical Arts and Pride in North Cumbria (PiNC) to start up a programme called Outlines which celebrates LGBTQ+ voices in literature. 

"This year has been really good, obviously we've had the train strikes which have impacted things with authors and ticket holders but we've had really good crowds. 

"We work with Bookends, our festival bookseller, and we've sold lots of books and had a great year. 

READ MORE: Borderlines Carlisle Book Festival 2022 is bringing with it a jam-packed schedule

"Everyone has been really engaged and been pleased to see events coming back in person after Covid."

One of the several significant talks over the Outlines weekend was by Alexandra Heminsley, who shares her experience of marriage to a trans woman, and her relationship with her own body.

Sam Massey, who led an interview with Alexandra and who works at PiNC, said of the opportunity: "I was really taken with the book so I made notes as I was going, so I was quite over-prepared.

"Outlines is massively important and valuable."

As well as the people who attended in person there were also a lot of virtual tickets sold for those who were unable to make it in person. 

The events are mainly held in Tullie House but this year some of the events were also held at Carlisle Cathedral. There was also a poetry open mic night held at Cakes and Ale Cafe. 

Some of the big names to attend the festival this year included Amanda Owens, the Yorkshire Shepherdess, Robert Harris, a fiction writer and the author Kate Moss. 

As well as talks Borderlines also host workshops for those interested in becoming writers and developing their skills. 

Anna went on to thank the major funders for their support which included Cumbria County Council, Carlisle City Council, The Hadfield Trust and their events sponsors. 

READ MORE: New events added to Borderlines Carlisle Book Festival line-up