Having enchanted children and adults alike, one of the world's best-selling authors will cast her spell over Haddington at this year's Lennoxlove Book Festival, the Courier can reveal.

JK Rowling will headline this year's event, in the only public appearance she will make in Scotland this year to publicise her first book for adults, 'The Casual Vacancy'.

After securing the world-famous author of the Harry Potter series, the festival's co-director Alistair Moffat was confident this year's line-up would be the "best yet" - with a loyalty scheme being introduced to offer 'Friends' of the festival priority booking.

He said: "Having one of the best-known writers in the world at Lennoxlove Book Festival is a great coup for us, and for East Lothian. "We are delighted to have secured her, and to be able to offer the Friends of the festival - who have supported it so loyally - priority booking." And he added: "'Best yet' is a very dangerous phrase, but I am confident in proclaiming that this year's festival programme is, undoubtedly, the best yet.

"JK Rowling will be followed by a procession of wonderful writers, entertainers and thinkers, all to be announced on September 13. We look forward to welcoming everyone to East Lothian in November." JK Rowling will discuss her new book, one of the most eagerly anticipated releases of the year, live on the main stage of Lennoxlove on the festival's opening night on November 2, with live video streaming to a second venue at the festival.

This is the fourth year of Lennoxlove Book Festival at Lennoxlove House, by Haddington. It will be staging some 35 events during November 2-4 with a wide variety of authors and performers, for adults and families.

The Casual Vacancy is a big departure for the Edinburgh-based author of the Harry Potter novels, which have sold more than 450 million copies worldwide, are translated into 74 languages, and have been turned into eight blockbuster films. Set in the fictional English town of Pagford, The Casual Vacancy deals with the aftermath of the sudden death of a local councillor, whose empty seat on the parish council soon becomes the catalyst for a town at war: rich at war with poor, teenagers at war with their parents, wives at war with their husbands, teachers at war with their pupils.

JK Rowling will be joined by a clutch of other stars including well-known faces from public life and the stage and screen, as well as the world of books.

The full book festival programme will be announced next Thursday at www.lennoxlovebookfestival.com and here in the Courier.

Tickets for the event and the rest of this year's programme will go on sale to the public that day, but there will be early booking for Friends of Lennoxlove Book Festival from Tuesday. Friends now have until Monday to join up to the scheme by phone.There will be a limit to the number of Friends able to join, and the number of tickets they are able to purchase, to ensure tickets are available fairly.

To become a Friend and take advantage of the priority booking for the JK Rowling event, call the booking line: 0844 357 7611 (credit card payments only). The Friends 2012 membership booking line opened yesterday (Thursday), 10am-5pm. It will be open during the same times today (Friday) and on Monday.

Friends membership costs �12 for single membership or �18 for joint membership, and as well as the priority booking, offers member benefits such as a discount in the festival bookshop, and an invitation to the opening party.