The event will be highlighted by the Great Festival Read, a panel session where the book of an author [usually local] is selected as the subject for discussion.

For the first time, the Great Festival Read will feature a work of non-fiction: Kate Kelly: The True Story of Ned Kelly's Little Sister by Hill End-based artist and writer Rebecca Wilson.

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Festival organiser and BooksPlus staff member Jen Barry said the book will serve as an insightful topic for discussion.

"The book is already selling well and we encourage anyone interested in participating in the read to pick up a copy to read in the lead-up," Ms Barry said.

"We've already received a great deal of interest from writers, and expect to release the festival programme in early April."

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The panellists for this year's Great Festival Read are Forbes based historian Rob Willis, Arts OutWest executive director Tracy Callinan, MacKillop College language teacher Danielle Hart, and Bathurst Regional Art Gallery director Sarah Gurich.

As in previous years, the event will include live crosses to the Sydney Writers' Festival, as well as creative writing workshops for secondary school students.

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BMEC creative producer and festival organiser Kylie Shead said the venue is excited for the event to return face-to-face.

"The event will be held at BMEC from April 30 to May 2, and we encourage all literature fans to touch base with us online for updates," Ms Shead said.

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