FORMER Spotlight presenter Teresa Driscoll is taking her Short Story Workshop on tour – visiting ten Devon libraries in Autumn 2014 thanks to a grant from Arts Council England.

The funding means Teresa, with project partner Devon Libraries, can offer 100 FREE places to aspiring writers.

Teresa, who has worked as a freelance writer since leaving the BBC, has had dozens of short stories published in a wide range of national magazines. She says : “This project means a great deal to me as I am passionate about encouraging other writers - especially in rural communities. I am also keen, in these difficult financial times, to help promote libraries as important community hubs for creativity.”

Tour dates and venues are listed below and tickets are available from Sat 9th August – adults only. Each three-hour creative writing workshop for ten writers will follow the same format as Teresa’s popular session included in Ivybridge’s Watermark Summer Arts Festival 2013.

Colin Bray, Devon Libraries' Development Officer, said: "I am delighted that libraries across Devon will be venues for Teresa's writing workshops. Not only do libraries offer a space in which people can feel comfortable and safe in sharing ideas and creative energy, but libraries also remind us of the importance of both reading and writing for pleasure."

All the workshops will run from 10am – 1pm.

The Hayridge, Cullompton Saturday 6th September Room 2

Barnstaple Saturday 13th September

Henry Williamson Room Exeter Saturday 20th September

Meeting Room 1 (Ground Floor) Bideford Wednesday 23rd September

Children’s Library Newton Abbot Saturday 4th October

Room F3 Okehampton Saturday 11th October

Upstairs room/Community Information Room Dartmouth Wednesday 15th October

Sidmouth Saturday 18th October Reading Room

Ivybridge Saturday October 25th Learning Suite Tiverton Saturday 1st November

Learning Suite To book: From August 9 call into chosen library with £5 deposit (refundable on attendance)