Featuring “sex, dogs and death”, the first ever Kilburn Literary Festival is launching in two weeks, supported by The Times.

Featuring family friendly creative writing classes, workshops and author events, celebrities and quizzes, there is something for everyone.

Organiser Kayla Forde, who lives in Priory Road, Kilburn, said: “The Kilburn Festival and The Queens Park Book Fair used to offer a real sense of cultural community and both were cancelled this year so I really felt that there was a need for something in the area.”

She added: “We’ve got some great venues and it sometimes seems to be a passing through place. There’s a lot going on there which sometimes gets overlooked. We’ve got the tricycle for example, which is brilliant. Kilburn tends to hide its light.”

The launch of the festival will take placewith the Flash Fiction Writing Competition final at The North London Tavern on October 30.

A panel including literary agents, writers and a publisher will compile a short list of 10 writers. Professional actors with read the stories to the audience who will then vote to decide the winner who will go home with £100 and coveted trophy.

A family friend creative writing workshop led by the award winning writer Allen Ashley will get the children scribbling the following day.

There are workshops and talks covering all themes and interests on Saturday. Listen to an inspiring talk on Dyslexia or discover the history of Kilburn’s authors.

Radio London’s Joanne Good and Anna Webb will entertain crowds with the Barking Blondes, telling how two bitches taught to bitches to survive without men. Discover how their lives were transformed by their pets.

Taking place largely at the North London Tavern, The Tricyle Theatre, The Sheriff Centre at St James’ Church and the Creative Space, events are both free and ticketed.

Rounding off the festival on 4th November is the Literary Pub Quiz at the North London Tavern, led by celebrity quiz master Stewart McCartney. A raffle will be held in aid of the local libraries.

“We’ve tried to be very inclusive and broad based, because Kilburn itself is very broad based,” says Ms Forde, who hopes the festival will become an annual event.

For full details visit www.kilburnliteraryfestival.co.uk.