A POPULAR author is coming to Waterstones Reading later this month to celebrate the launch of his latest book.

A.F Harrold will be joined by illustrator Emily Gravett for the event on October 27 at 7.30pm.

The evening will focus on the release of 'The Afterwards' which has been described as a powerful and deeply moving story about friendship.

Ahead of the event, Harrold said: "Waterstones have been supportive of so much that I have done over the years.

"It is going to be great to send this new book into the world, almost a week before it will be available in other shops, especially since my brilliant illustrator, the award-winningly amazing Emily Gravett, and my editor, Zöe Griffiths, will be with me."

Harrold is a poet who writes and performs for adults and children. He spends his time showing off on stage, writing poems and books, and stroking his beard (it helps churn the ideas). He is the author of the Fizzlebert Stump series and the CILIP Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Medal longlisted The Imaginary, illustrated by Emily Gravett. He lives in Reading with a stand-up comedian and two cats.