The director of a popular book festival set to return to Dumfries House this weekend has said she is "proud and honoured" to be part of a team bringing people to the area every year.

Caroline Knox created the Boswell Book Festival in 2011, and has seen it grow from a handful of visitors to an event that attracts hundreds of people and many A-list authors every year.

The festival, named in honour of local writer, James Boswell, the inventor of modern biography, is held at Dumfries House, with people all around the world also available to tune in via live streams.

This year's event will take place at Dumfries House this weekend (May 10-12).

Cumnock Chronicle: Festival director, Caroline Knox.Festival director, Caroline Knox. (Image: NQ Archive)

The Family Festival will also be back at Dumfries House over the weekend.

Another star-studded weekend is in store, with the likes of Ayrshire-born football hero Rose Reilly and and one of the UK’s finest comedic actors, Doon Mackichan, talking about her life and career.

Caroline says she believes that part of the success of the festival comes from the wide-range of authors that perform every year.

The festival director said: "It's amazing to see how much it's come on since 2011.

"We started with a handful of authors and now we've got hundreds of people watching these events right across the world.

"I think people like how wide a variety there is every year, and there seems to be something for everyone.

"It's not just a great event for us, but it's great for Dumfries House, and for us, to be able to show off this corner of Ayrshire and Scotland, because we get authors coming from all over for the weekend."

The hard work is ramped up in the days leading up the event, but it's something that will be more that worth it when the weekend kicks off.

Cumnock Chronicle:

Caroline added: "It's important for us to create an atmosphere for the authors and the public to enjoy and that makes them feel comfortable.

"As a festival director, I don't think there's ever a point where you're not thinking about something else that can be done for the event, especially the week leading up to it.

"We've got an incredible team who put in so much hard work to make the festival what it is.

"I know in the end that all the hard work will pay off and we'll have another great weekend.

"I want to thank all of the team who are working towards this, and to the authors for providing such rich entertainment, and of course the public for showing up and making the weekend what it is.

Find out more about this year's festival programme, and book tickets, at boswellbookfestival.co.uk