Books EVENTS
Wednesday 18
Glasgow FREE Glasgow Poetry Book Group CCA, 350 Sauchiehall Street, 352 4900. 7.30pm. The group discusses Carcanet’s new anthology, New Poetries V, which includes the work of William Letford, Vincenz Serrano and Helen Tookey among many others. An informal discussion where all are welcome. Edinburgh Happy Verse Day Pulp Fiction, 43 Bread Street, 229 4444. 7–10pm. £tbc. Local inksters Babs Melville and Matt McDonald bring you a night of comedy poetry.
Thursday 19
Glasgow ✽✽ FREE Scottish Writers’ Centre Great Debates CCA, 350
Sauchiehall Street, 352 4900. 7pm. The SWC sets the cat among the pigeons with a series of ‘Great Debates’ on hot literary topics. This week, Ewan Morrison asks, in a world of alternative publishing models, if this is ‘The End of Books?’ Morrison is no stranger to the question, having delivered a talk at the Edinburgh International Book Festival and written for the Guardian on the same topic, and published both traditionally in print, as an ebook and app with Cargo Crate, the groundbreaking digital arm of Cargo Publishing, and even via mp3 as part of the (g)host city project at last year’s Fringe. See caption.
Edinburgh Nothing But the Poem Scottish Poetry Library, 5 Crichton’s Close, Canongate, 557 2876. 6–7.30pm. £5 (£3). Poetry discussion forum with no preparation or previous knowledge required, focusing on a different poet each month. Two sessions are now run for each poet (Thu evening and Sat morning) due to popular demand, and as such booking advisable. January’s poet is former US Poet Laureate Billy Collins.
Friday 20
Edinburgh Vladimir Nabokov: Sirin to VN Scotland-Russia Institute, 9 South College St, 668 3635. 6.30pm. £5. A talk on Nabokov by PhD student Michael Rodgers, exploring the writer’s use of pseudonyms and preoccupation with ideas of self. Booking essential. Saturday 21
PREVIEW DISCUSSION SCOTTISH WRITERS’ CENTRE CCA, Glasgow, Thu 5, 19, Sat 28 Jan, Thu 2 Feb
When it comes to getting the literary community ablaze with conversation or putting scribes under the microscope, the Scottish Writers’ Centre seem to have it down to a fine art just now. In Process is their monthly series of events in which a writer pops by to discuss the whys and wherefores of creative writing and how they go about trying to achieve the best results. The opening salvo is delivered by Edinburgh Makar Ron Butlin (Thu 5 Jan) with a talk about how he writes across various genres such as poetry, fiction and opera. In Process event number two features Alasdair Gray’s biographer and author of No Fireworks Rodge Glass teaming up with comics man Dave Turbitt (Thu 2 Feb) to disclose the secrets behind their joint graphic novel, Dougie’s War.
‘Let’s have a heated debate,’ proclaimed Mrs Merton back in her chat show days. The SWC could well have adopted that battle cry for their new series of Great Debates. This month features a question raised by the Gaelic Literature Forum (Sat 28 Jan): ‘How can publishers and educators meet the needs of Gaelic Writers?’ Meanwhile, the series is kicked off by Ewan Morrison (Thu 19 Jan) who asks this conversation- greaser: ‘The end of books?’ The author of short story collection The Last Book You Read and man behind the Tales from the Mall project delivered a talk on this very subject at the 2011 Edinburgh Book Festival and in an age when traditional reading formats are being swiftly remoulded, it’s clearly a pertinent issue. (Brian Donaldson)
Edinburgh Nothing But the Poem Scottish Poetry Library, 5 Crichton’s Close, Canongate, 557 2876. 11am–12.30pm. £5 (£3). See Thu 19.
✽✽ The Alternative 26 National Museum of Scotland, Chambers
Street, 0300 123 6789. 1.30–4.30pm. £10 (£8). The 26 Treasures project recently paired up 26 writers with 26 objects from the National Museum, and the resulting 26 pieces of writing form a ‘treasure trail’ through the museum’s diverse collection. Here 26 people (aged 14+) get the chance to write their own responses to the items for display online. Booking essential. Monday 23
Edinburgh FREE Blackwell Book Group Blackwells, 53–59 South Bridge, 622 8222. 6pm. Share the reading experience with a group of fellow booklovers, with an evening of friendly discussion. This month the group looks at John le Carré’s murky tale of dark dealings in the pharmaceuticals industry, The Constant Gardener. FREE Edinburgh Creative Writers Pulp Fiction, 43 Bread Street, 229 4444. 7–9.30pm. See Mon 9.
✽✽ Supper with Burns The Tass, 1 High Street, 556 9579. 7pm. £20. Storytellers Linda Bandelier and David Campbell preside over a supper of haggis,
50 THE LIST 5 Jan–2 Feb 2012
neeps and tatties (included in the ticket price). Booking recommended. Ages 18+. Booking via the Scottish Storytelling Centre. See feature, page 42. Part of Burnsfest. Tuesday 24
Edinburgh Rogue Writers Pulp Fiction, 43 Bread Street, 229 4444. Times tbc. £tbc. See Tue 10. FREE Inky Fingers The Third Door, 45–47 Lothian Street, 225 6313. 7pm. Regular poetry, song and music session. Email inkyfingersedinburgh@gmail.com if you’re interested in performing.
✽✽ Supper with Burns The Tass, 1 High Street, 556 9579. 7pm. £20. See
Mon 23. Wednesday 25
Edinburgh Robbie Burns Storytellers Pulp Fiction, 43 Bread Street, 229 4444. Times tbc. £tbc. Edinburgh’s newest cult bookshop celebrates Burns Night with an invitation to bring your favourite stories of wonder, fantasy, horror or romance.
✽✽ Supper with Burns The Tass, 1 High Street, 556 9579. 7pm. £20. See
Mon 23.
Lochhead, Mairi Hedderwick and Sue Black are already confirmed for the eighth Pitlochry-based book fest. There’s an emphasis on historical and Scottish writing, with a return of the unique Fearie Tales competition, and a dedicated line-up of kids events as well. Until Sun 5 Feb.
Saturday 28
Glasgow FREE Scottish Writers’ Centre Great Debates CCA, 350 Sauchiehall Street, 352 4900. 7pm. The second Great Debate this month from the SWC. This time the Gaelic Literature Forum poses the question, ‘How can publishers and educators meet the needs of Gaelic Writers?’ See caption.
Edinburgh Write to be Published Christ Church, Morningside Road, 667 3633. 2–3.30pm. £15. Nicola Morgan offers an insight into how she came to have over 90 published books under her belt. Ticket price (must be booked in advance) includes a copy of her eponymous book, which participants are expected to read before the event. In return for your efforts, there’ll be cake and advice. Sunday 29 Edinburgh ✽✽ Shore Poets Venue tbc, shorepoets.org.uk 7.45pm. £4 (£3).
Regular local poetry meet, with readings of new verse and live music. They’ve landed a big fish for the first event of 2012 with Liz Lochhead headlining, plus Ian McDonough and Jennie Renton, and music still tbc.
Monday 30 Edinburgh FREE Edinburgh Creative Writers Pulp Fiction, 43 Bread Street, 229 4444. 7–9.30pm. See Mon 9.
Tuesday 31
Edinburgh FREE Elizabeth Soutar Book Binding Awards National Library of Scotland, George IV Bridge, 623 3918. 6pm. See some of the best examples of creative craft binding around, and witness the announcement of this year’s competition winner. FREE Paul Quigley Blackwells, 53–59 South Bridge, 622 8222. 6pm. Book launch for Quigley’s new book Shifting Ground, a new look at the American Civil War. Booking essential.
Wednesday 1
Edinburgh ✽✽ FREE StAnza Programme Launch National Library of
Scotland, George IV Bridge, 623 3918. 6pm. Find out all about what form the flurry of versifying around St Andrews this March will take, as Eleanor Livingstone of StAnza announces a programme which we already know will include Jackie Kay, Kathleen Jamie, Christopher Reid, Michael Symmons Roberts, Kwame Dawes and Chase Twichell. See caption, page 49.
Thursday 2 Glasgow FREE Scottish Writers’ Centre presents Rodge Glass, In Process CCA, 350 Sauchiehall Street, 352 4900. 7pm. The second of the SWC’s events coaxing writers into explaining their creative process features Glasgow literati and Alasdair Gray biographer Rodge Glass together with artist Dave Turbitt, talking about their co-authored graphic novel, Dougie’s War, which was nominated for the SICBA Graphic Novel of the Year award in 2011. See caption.
Thursday 26 Edinburgh FREE Scott’s Last Expedition: The Men who Came Back National Library of Scotland, George IV Bridge, 623 3918. 6pm. Whereas Scott and Oates died and became famous, some members of the British Antarctic Expedition actually made it back to the UK and recorded their experiences in diaries and autobiographies – hear about their experiences at this adventuresome talk at the library.
Friday 27
Edinburgh Guid Crack Club Waverley Bar, 1 St Mary’s Street, 557 1050. 7.30pm. £3 suggested donation. Regular storytelling club involving song and music aplenty. In seasonal fashion, Kati Waitzmann, Storytelling Fellow with Glasgow Museums, tells tales inspired by the Ayrshire poet. See feature, page 42. Part of Burnsfest.
Pitlochry ✽✽ Winter Words Festival Pitlochry Festival Theatre, Port–na Craig,
01796 484626. Times vary. Prices vary. Literary guests Sir Chris Bonington, Neil Oliver, Sue Lawrence, Dennis Canavan, Liz
Edinburgh ✽✽ FREE Stuart MacBride Blackwells, 53–59 South Bridge, 622
8222. 6.30pm. The crime writer discusses new effort Birthdays for the Dead. Booking essential. See review, page 48.