Books EVENTS
Edinburgh FREE Blackwell’s Book Quiz Blackwell’s, 53–59 South Bridge, 622 8201. 6pm. Test your literary credentials in teams of up to five members. Please arrive for 5.45pm. Tuesday 7
Glasgow FREE Open Mic Partick Library, 305 Dumbarton Road, 276 1560. 5.45pm. An open mic event organised by The Federation of Writers in Scotland. Book your slot by emailing admin@writersfederation.org.uk. Part of the West End Festival. FREE Sinclair MacLeod: The Reluctant Detective Maryhill Library & Learning Centre, 1508 Maryhill Road, 946 2348. 6.30–7.45pm. MacLeod discusses his latest novel. Edinburgh Let the People Decide: Dennis Canavan in Conversation with Brian Taylor National Library of Scotland, George IV Bridge, 623 3918. 6pm. £4. The politician discusses his new autobiography with journalist Brian Taylor. FREE Nick Thorpe: Urban Worrier Blackwell’s, 53–59 South Bridge, 622 8222. 6.30pm. Journalist and writerly thrillseeker Thorpe introduces his new book.
Thursday 9 Glasgow FREE Behind the Scenes Mitchell Library, North Street, 287 2999. 2.30pm. Guided tour around the impressive Mitchell Library. Booking essential. FREE Graphic Novel Book Group Mono, 12 Kings Court, King Street, 237 1137. 7.30pm. Exactly what it says on the tin, and run by Plan B Books.
Edinburgh ✽✽ FREE Iain M Banks
Waterstone’s West End, 128 Princes Street, 226 2666. 12.30–1.30pm. Sci-fi lit legend signs copies of his latest novel, Surface Detail.
✽✽ Rendez-vous au café Institut Français d’Ecosse, 13 Randolph Crescent, 225 5366. 5.30–6.30pm. £5 (members £3). Poetry recital by David Kinloch, author of poetry collection Finger of a Frenchman. Nothing But . . . Poems by Liz Lochhead Scottish Poetry Library, 5 Crichton’s Close, Canongate, 557 2876. 6–7.30pm. £5 (£3). The SPL’s series of relaxed poetry discussions take on Scots Makar Liz Lochhead as their subject. FREE Testament of a Witch Book Launch Waterstone’s West End, 128 Princes Street, 226 2666. 6.30pm. Douglas Watt launches the second in his series of historical thrillers based around 17th-century advocate John MacKenzie.
Friday 10
Glasgow FREE Reading Allowed Tchai-Ovna House of Tea, 42 Otago Lane, 357 4524. 8pm. Monthly storytelling and poetry evening. Edinburgh A Traveller in Two Worlds Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. 6pm. £6 (£4). A double celebration for the fifth birthday of the Scottish Storytelling Centre and the launch of a new book about traveller and storyteller Duncan Williamson.
Saturday 11
Edinburgh FREE Calder Wood Press Poetry Reading Word Power Bookshop, 43 West Nicolson Street, 662 9112. 11am. Poets Jane Mary Wilde, Mary Johnston and Juliet Wilson read from their work, all published by Calder Wood. 68 THE LIST 26 May–23 Jun 2011
Sunday 12
Glasgow Words Per Minute The Arches, 253 Argyle Street, 565 1000. 4–7pm. £5. Monthly spoken word, and performance event, this time featuring writers from flash fiction magazine Fractured West. Edinburgh FREE Spark! Creativity Showcase The Jazz Bar, 1 Chambers Street, 220 4298. 6pm. See Sun 29.
Monday 13
Edinburgh FREE Proletarian Poets Proclaim Poetry for the People Leith Dockers Club, 17–17a Academy Street Leith, leithfestival.com 7–9pm. Performance poetry on the subject of ‘Our Class, Our Culture’. Part of the Leith Festival. FREE Blind Poetics Blind Poet, 32c West Nicolson Street, 667 4268. 8pm. Host Texture (of Chemical Poets) and invited performers from around the country.
Tuesday 14
Glasgow FREE Sinclair MacLeod: The Reluctant Detective Milton Library, 204 Liddesdale Road, 276 0885. 6.30–7.45pm. See Tue 7. Edinburgh Electric Tales The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 8.30pm. £4 (£3). Comedy and storytelling from Fiona Herbert, Las Zorras, Liz Ely and Ryan Van Winkle.
Wednesday 15 Glasgow FREE Weegie Wednesdays The Universal, 57–59 Sauchiehall Lane, 332 8899. 7.30pm. Monthly discussion forum for those interested in books and publishing.
Edinburgh Luath Press Leith Festival Showcase Cruz Bar and Restaurant, 14 The Shore, 553 6699. 6–7pm. Suggested donation £3. Authors on the independent Edinburgh imprint read from their work. Part of the Leith Festival. FREE Poetry Beyond Text: Poetry Whispers Scottish Poetry Library, 5 Crichton’s Close, Canongate, 557 2876. 6pm. Socialise with poets and artists working in reaction to each other’s work.
✽✽ Tessa Ransford & Christine De Luca The Granary, 32–34 The Shore,
Leith, 225 4326. 6.30–7.30pm. Suggested donation £3. Two well-known local poets perform. Part of the Leith Festival. Café Voices Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. 7pm. £4. Storytelling, poetry from memory and traditional tunes with Dave Francis and Ruth Kirkpatrick. Thursday 16
Glasgow FREE Nor’wester Showcase from the Clydebuilt Apprentices CCA, 350 Sauchiehall Street, 352 4900. 7pm. A showcase of work by the young poets on the St Mungo’s Mirrorball poetry apprenticeship scheme. FREE Julie Bertagna: Aurora Hillhead Library, 348 Byres Road, 276 1617. 10.15am. Glaswegian Bertagna presents her new novel Aurora. Part of West End Festival FREE Valve Journal Launch Night Waterstone’s, 153–157 Sauchiehall Street, 332 9105. 6pm. Launch of a new journal created by Strathclyde University writers. FREE Alison Irvine: This Road is Red Royston Library & Learning Centre, 67 Royston Road, 552 1657. 6.30–7.45pm. See Thu 2. FREE 400th Anniversary Celebration of the King James Bible Glasgow University Chapel, University Avenue, 330 4092. 7pm. A reading for seven voices of this influential publication. Part of West End Festival.
Edinburgh FREE Nicola Morgan: Write to be Published Blackwell’s, 53–59 South Bridge, 622 8222. 6.30pm. Talk by author with over 90 published books to her name. FREE A Yorkshireman’s Scotland The Parlour Bar, 142 Duke Street, 555 3848. 7–8pm. Daniel Gray discusses his experiences exploring obscure Scottish towns and their football teams for his book Stramash with Leither editor Billy Gould. Part of the Leith Festival. FREE Trax of My Life The Granary, 32–34 The Shore, Leith, 554 9465. 7.30pm. Free (suggested donation £3). Ian Green of the Greentrax folk label reads from his autobiography, Fuzz to Folk, and plays a song or two from the label’s back catalogue. Part of the Leith Festival.
Melrose ✽✽ Borders Book Festival Wynd Theatre, 7 The Wynd, 0844 357 1060. Times vary. Prices vary. Taking place in the National Trust’s Georgian Harmony Garden, the Borders Book Festival attracts world-class literary figures and sell-out crowds. Day one features Sarah Brown, political commentator Peter Snow, endurance cyclist Mark Beaumont and playwright and novelist Michael Frayn among others.
Friday 17
Glasgow FREE The Better Crack Club Tchai- Ovna House of Tea, 42 Otago Lane, 357 4524. 8pm. Regular storytelling club for adults.
Edinburgh FREE David A Roberts The Village, 16 South Fort Street, 478 7810. 2–3.30pm. Music and poetry from a seasoned performer. Part of the Leith Festival.
Melrose ✽✽ Borders Book Festival Wynd Theatre, 7 The Wynd, 0844 357
1060. Times vary. Prices vary. Turn up this evening to catch appearances including Kirsty Wark, Michael Parkinson and Rory Bremner.
Saturday 18
Glasgow FREE Book Launch: A Notable Ornament Lansdowne Church, 416 Great Western Road, glasgowheritage.org.uk 2pm. Launch of a new book by Gordon R Urquhart looks at the history of Lansdowne Church. Part of West End Festival. Edinburgh Edinburgh Book Fair Radisson Blu Hotel, 80 High Street, 557 9797. 10am–5pm. £1. Dealers from throughout Scotland sell antiquarian and second-hand books, maps and prints.
Melrose ✽✽ Borders Book Festival Wynd Theatre, 7 The Wynd, 0844 357
1060. Times vary. Prices vary. Saturday at the festival includes the presentation of the Walter Scott Prize for historical fiction, and appearances from John Byrne, novelist David Mitchell, Alexander McCall Smith and Rory McGrath.
Sunday 19
Edinburgh FREE Spark! Creativity Showcase The Jazz Bar, 1 Chambers Street, 220 4298. 6pm. See Sun 29. Poetry at the . . . Store The Store, 37 Guthrie Street, 220 2987. 7.45–9.45pm. £4 (£3). The monthly poetry event presents a ‘Summer Nights Special’.
Melrose ✽✽ Borders Book Festival Wynd Theatre, 7 The Wynd, 0844 357
1060. Times vary. Prices vary. The festival closes with a packed day including Scottish history with Alistair Moffat,
autobiographical memories from Maureen Lipman, Larry Lamb, James Naughtie and Tom Conti, as well as a plethora of kids’ events.
Monday 20 Edinburgh FREE Blackwell’s Book Group Blackwell’s, 53–59 South Bridge, 622 8222. 6pm. June’s meeting heralds a discussion of The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox by Maggie O’Farrell. FREE Polish Book Group McDonald Road Library, 2–4 McDonald Rd, 529 5644. 6pm. Unique book group for anyone with an interest in Polish literature, whether or not you speak the language – all books are available in translation and discussed in English.
Tuesday 21
Glasgow FREE Celebrating Freedom of Expression, with Amnesty International Glasgow Women’s Library, Mitchell Library, 15 Berkeley Street, 248 9969. 2.30–3.30pm. Well known authors stand in solidarity with those of their profession who have suffered the violation of their right to freedom of expression. Part of Refugee Week Scotland. FREE Paul Cuddihy: Saints and Sinners Springburn Library, Kay Street, 276 1690. 6.30pm. See Thu 26. Edinburgh FREE Lines of Flight Scottish Poetry Library, 5 Crichton’s Close, Canongate, 557 2876. 6–8pm. An opportunity to hear readings from three refugee poets based in Scotland: Carlos Arredondo (Chile), Iyad Hayatleh (Palestine), and Qusay Husain (Iraq), followed by a discussion of the links between poetry and community. Part of Refugee Week Scotland.
Wednesday 22 Edinburgh FREE The Golden Hour The Forest Café, 3 Bristo Place, 220 4538. 8pm. Loose cabaret evening with words, music and video madness and your erudite host, Mr Ryan Van Winkle. This month’s guests are short story doctor Tracy Emerson, poets Richie McCaffrey and Gavin Boyd, and musical sorts Doug Johnstone, Jade and the Jacks and BenOfficial.
Thursday 23
Glasgow ✽✽ FREE Scottish PEN Event Partick Library, 305 Dumbarton
Road, 276 1560. 6.30–7.30pm. An event run by the Scottish Writers’ Centre with Dorothy-Grace Elder and Zoe Wicomb of the Writers in Prison Committee, which campaigns on behalf of persecuted and imprisoned writers around the world, including last year’s Nobel Peace Prize Winner, Liu Xiaobo. The event involves readings by Xiaobo and others, followed by a discussion. FREE Sinclair MacLeod: The Reluctant Detective Barmulloch Library, 46 Wallacewell Quadrant, 276 0875. 6.30–7.45pm. See Tue 7.
✽✽ FREE James Robertson William Patrick Library, 2–4 West High
Street Kirkintilloch. 7pm. Robertson gives a talk on his most recent novel And the Land Lay Still. Edinburgh FREE Craig Sterling: Stealing Fire Blackwell’s, 53–59 South Bridge, 622 8222. 6.30pm. Launch of a 21st-century thriller from first-time novelist Sterling. Stone Soup Maggie’s Chamber, Three Sisters, 139 Cowgate, 622 6801. 7.30pm. £6 (£5). Live music and poetry from Davesnewbike and friends. Click Clack Club The Forest Café, 3 Bristo Place, 220 4538. 9pm. By donation. Funky experimental music club. Featuring Steve Kettley’s Odd Times, plus special guests.