THE biggest celebration of the crime fiction genre in the world has announced blockbuster author John Grisham will be one of its headline authors this July.

The writer, who has sold more than 300m books worldwide, will be interviewed on stage by Lee Child, at the 2018 Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival, which takes place from July 19 to 22 in Harrogate.

Mr Child, author of the bestselling Jack Reacher series - which have themselves sold more than 100m copies, is programming chair of the festival, which was established in 2003 and is held at the Old Swan hotel - famously the haunt of crime-writing legend Agatha Christie.

Dubbed "America’s favourite storyteller", Mr Grisham is a former lawyer who has had nine of his books adapted to film, including The Firm with Tom Cruise, The Pelican Brief starring Julia Roberts, and A Time to Kill featuring Samuel L Jackson and Matthew McConaughey.

His latest novel, The Rooster Bar, became a number one New York Times bestseller when it was released last October and will be published in paperback in July to coincide with his visit to Harrogate.

Mr Grisham said: “About twenty years ago I attended a Chelsea football match with my close friend and editor, Oliver Johnson.

"Afterwards, we retired to a pub and I had my first pint of Theakston Old Peculier. Others followed. It’s my favourite beer in the world.

"Then Lee Child invited me over for the crime festival, and when I discovered it was sponsored by Theakston, I knew I had to say yes. I’ve never been to Harrogate or even to Yorkshire and I’m really looking forward to the festival.”

Over the years the festival has hosted many great names from the writing world, from PD James to JK Rowling, and it has won international acclaim.

Others known to be attending this year include another huge-selling US author, Don Winslow, and the full programme will be announced in April.

For more visit harrogateinternationalfestivals.com