Lennoxlove Book Festival SCOTLAND’S BOOK FESTIVALS You may still be reeling in the wake of an incredible summer of events but lest you should forget the charm of Scotland’s more intimate festivals, here’s the lowdown on boutique book festivals that will take you into autumn.
SEPTEMBER Scotland’s fi rst international crime writing festival, Bloody Scotland, celebrated a successful inaugural event over the weekend of 14th - 16th, with big names in this popular genre such as Ian Rankin and Christopher Brookmyre topping the bill.
Experience the joy of reading and literature in spectacular surroundings with a weekend away in the Highlands; September hosts both Spirit of Moray Book Festival (19 - 22) and The Three Lochs Book and Arts Festival (20 - 22). At the ‘tale’ end of the month, Glasgow Poetry Week (28/09 - 07/10) celebrates spoken and written word, with events dotted around the city’s many poetical haunts.
OCTOBER October kicks off with a whole month dedicated to literature in North Lanarkshire as Words (1 - 31) plays host to a mix of well-known authors and emerging talent. Look out for poetry in unusual places! Down on the seasisde, enjoy talks on hot topics in the world of literature as well as author appearances at Portobello Book Festival (5 -7).
It seems 2012 is the year of crime-writing, as another new event launches at Haddo House and other NTS properties in Aberdeenshire. Unsolved (19 - 21) will welcome authors as well as host fi lms, workshops, and crime themed tours. This year’s Scottish International Storytelling Festival (19 - 28) pays homage to Grimms’ Fairy Tales and is guaranteed to light your literary fl ame through live performance and storytelling, thought-provoking discussion and more.
NOVEMBER November boasts its fair share of literary delights too with Lennoxlove Book Festival (2 - 4) pulling in the big names against an exquisite backdrop. Smaller festivals in the same month include Faclan: The Hebridean Book Festival (1 - 3) and Linlithgow Book Festival (2 - 4). The month also welcomes the fi rst ever Book Week Scotland (26 Nov – 2 Dec), which will include a packed programme of free events and projects. And if that’s not enough, look out for festivals into 2013 - highlights include StAnza (St Andrews), Aye Write! (Glasgow), Borders Book Festival and of course, the Edinburgh International Book Festival.
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
CALLANDER R JAZZ AND BLUES FESTIVAL 28-30 Sep t Scotland’s largest rural jazz and blues es festival features more than 50 live e performances from m open mic to headline dline sessions. SCOTTISH MENTAL HEALTH ARTS AND FILM FESTIVAL 1-24 Oct, venues across Scotland Combining high-calibre programming with a worthy cause, the festival aims to challenge and change attitudes towards mental health.
Gifted: The Paper Scultures on Tour
PHOTO © PETER DIBDIN
SCOTLAND LOVES ANIMATION 5-14 Oct, Edinburgh Filmhouse & Glasgow Film Theatre , Promoting worldwide animation via i lm screenings, workshops, exhibitions and international guests - look out for premieres too.
ROYAL NATIONAL MOD 12-19 Oct, various venues, Dunoon 12 In celebration of the Gaelic language, discover In Scotland’s heritage through concerts, shinty and Sc hundreds of competitions in highland dancing, hu instrumental, drama, sport and more. ins ST ANDREWS VOICES ST 18-21 October 18 Va Various venues, St Andrews Br Brand new music festival celebrating the human voice and all its diverse incarnations through a vo series of evening concerts. se
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The year is a partnership between the Scottish Government, Creative Scotland, VisitScotland, EventScotland and VOCAL.