It might be chilly out there, but we’re shining our lantern light on some events that will warm the cockles – and give you plenty of ideas for reading matter to curl up on the sofa with.

One of the longest-running live literature nights in town, Verbose in Salford is seeing off the old year in style, with two amazing women writers taking to the stage – Rosie Garland and Isabelle Kenyon. And another of the Rainy City’s oldest institutions has the bunting out – Elizabeth Gaskell’s House, where the Victorian writer wrote North and South, turns 10 as a must-visit and is celebrating with a whole host of events live and online to put in your boxfresh diaries.

We also have some slay slams to enjoy – on this side of the 2024/25 divide, The Poetry Place is celebrating its three-year birthday by unveiling its annual Poetry Slam, compèred by none other than Gabriel Griot, who is representing Manchester in the global Slamovision this month; in the new year, there’s a multilingual slam as part of International Mother Language Day.

The last two both take place at Manchester Poetry Library, as does the 16 Days Festival, with guests including poet Joelle Taylor as part of its all-free programme.

Finally, don’t forget to thumb through our Bookshops in Manchester Guide and pick up the new map from UNESCO Manchester City of Literature, and explore our literary places in Liverpool, Leeds, Sheffield and Cumbria.