BOOKS | Events Saturday 15
Edinburgh Nothing But the Poem Hemma, 75 Holyrood Road, 629 3327. 11am– 12.30pm. £5 (£3). See Thu 13 Dec. FREE Tom Kitchin: Kitchin Suppers Blackwells, 53–59 South Bridge, 622 8222. 3.30–4.30pm. The local celebrity chef signs copies of his new cookbook. FREE Linda Strachan: Don’t Judge Me Waterstones West End, 128 Princes Street, 226 2666. 6.30–8pm. Linda Strachan reads from and signs copies of her latest young adult book, Don’t Judge Me. Sunday 16
Edinburgh FREE Sandy Clark and Gary Mackay: Classic Hearts Signing Waterstones, Cameron Toll Shopping Centre, 6 Lady Road, 666 1866. 1pm. A tag-team book signing from Edinburgh footballing legends Sandy Clark and Gary Mackay, signing copies of their Hearts-inspired books (that’d be From the Heart and Hearts Dream Team, respectively). FREE Ted Brack Signing: The Game on New Year’s Day Waterstones, 26 Kinnaird Park, 0843 221 0185. 2–3pm. Anticipating the 40th anniversary of Hibs’ historic 1973 7-0 win over Hearts, Ted Brack signs copies of his new Hibs book, The Game on New Year’s Day. Hibs legends Pat Stanton and Lawrie Reilly join. FREE Book Signing: Dougie Bell Lupe Pintos, 24 Leven Street, 228 6241. 7–8pm. Author Dougie Bell talks about his two books Two Cooks and a Suitcase and The Half Canned Cooks at this signing accompanied by chilli and drinks. Booking essential. FREE Rogue Writers Pulp Fiction, 43 Bread Street, 229 4444. 7pm. Informal meet-up and sharing of work for writers, followed by a pint or two, every second Sunday.
Tuesday 18
Edinburgh FREE The Poetry of Joseph Macleod National Library of Scotland, George IV Bridge, 623 3918. 6pm. Andrew Duncan and James Fountain discuss their reissue of three works of Joseph Macleod’s modernist verse.
✽An Evening with Alexander McCall Smith Assembly @ Queen’s Hall, 87–89 Clerk Street, 01738 621031. 7.30pm. £15. A night of jollity with the twinkly-eyed novelist. Enjoy music and literary conversation as McCall Smith introduces lively performances of the music that has either inspired or appeared in his novels, accompanied by plenty of tales and anecdotes from the man himself.
Wednesday 19 Edinburgh A Pint and a Poem Jewel Miners Club, 56 Duddingston Park South, 669 5955. 7.30–10.30pm. £3 suggested donation. Poetry open mic from the Craigmillar Writers’ Group, with other literary surprises and music every third Wednesday of the month. Sign up on the door for five and ten-minute slots.
Thursday 20
Edinburgh ✽FREE Skeptics in the Pub: David Aaronovitch – Voodoo
Histories Updated: New Conspiracy Theories The Banshee Labyrinth, 29–35 Niddry Street, 558 8209. 7.30–9.30pm. Hear from journalist David Aaronovitch about why otherwise rational people often get carried away by conspiracy theories. Aaronovitch has written a book (Voodoo Histories) on this very subject, so he knows his onions.
76 THE LIST 13 Dec 2012–24 Jan 2013
his new Logan MacRae novel Close to the Bone. Booking essential. Café Voices Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. 7pm. £5. A relaxed session of oral storytelling, poetry by memory, music and song. This time, storyteller and author Stuart McHardy leads a session on Pictish stories.
Friday 18
Edinburgh Burns in Song – A Feast of Singing! Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. 2–5pm. £12. A creative and celebratory day for honing your singing skills ready for Burns Night. Rally & Broad Counting House, West Nicolson Street, 07989 508436. 7.30pm. £5. See Fri 21 Dec. Ringing in the new year with a ‘Hangover Special’ (must be some hangover if it’s lasted 18 whole days), featuring JL Williams, Ryan Van Winkle, Alan Bisset and Seafieldroad. Monday 21
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 time the group turns its attentions towards And The Land Lay Still by James Robertson.
Tuesday 22
Glasgow Glasgow Science Fiction Writers’ Circle The Ogilvie Centre, 25 Rose Street, gsfwc.wordpress.com 8pm. £2. See Tue 8.
Edinburgh ✽Jo Caulfield Presents. . . The Speakeasy Scottish Storytelling
Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. 8pm. £5. A relaxed evening featuring a diverse bill of artists (magicians, comedians, writers and more) telling true stories from the haunting to the hilarious live on stage, giving some unexpected insights into their worlds. Entertaining your socks off tonight are writer Alan Bissett, magicians Kevin McMahon and Colin McEwan, storyteller Fiona Herbert, poet/author Elspeth Murray, anti-folk musician Lach and comedian Gareth Waugh.
Wednesday 23
Edinburgh Supper with Burns Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. 7–9.30pm. £25. Enjoy your traditional Burns Supper with storytellers Linda Bandelier and David Campbell. A supper of haggis, neeps and tatties is included in the ticket price. Booking recommended. St Boswells FREE Book Group The Main Street Trading Company, Main Street, 01835 824087. 11am & 7pm. The Main Street Trading Company hosts both a daytime and an evening reading group, with a new book and meetings (almost) monthly. The group has great literary taste, discussing The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins in the morning and The Empty Family by Colm Toibin in the evening.
Thursday 24 Edinburgh FREE Robert Burns Selected Poems and Songs Blackwells, 53–59 South Bridge, 622 8222. 6pm. Celebrate the publication of a new collection of Burns’ poems and songs, edited by Robert Irvine, just in time for Burns Night. Supper with Burns Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. 7–9.30pm. £25. See Wed 23.
D R O F W A R C T R A U T S
: O T O H P
FAIL BETTER
Inspired by a quote from Samuel Beckett – ‘Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better’ – Fail Better is a new monthly night of ‘music, poetry, stories, drama, comedy, tragedy, and mibbe the odd short film’. The inaugural event features poetry from William Letford, Calum Rodger and Danni Glover (not that one); comedy from Sarah Cassidy and Ian Macpherson (pictured); and some musical entertainment in the shape of Becci Wallace. With any luck, this will be the first in a long line of such events – and if it happens to go down in flames, well, Beckett’s got them covered. (Niki Boyle) ■ McChuills, Glasgow, Thu 13 Dec.
Friday 21 Thursday 10
Edinburgh ✽Rally & Broad Counting House, West Nicolson Street, 07989 508436. 7.30pm. £5. A literary-flavoured cabaret night, boasting spoken word, ‘live literature’, new music and dancing into the wee small hours. This month features Hannah O’Reilly, Tim Turnbull, Sophia Walker, Kath McMahon and The Church Of When The Shit Hits The Fan, followed by [AWRY✽ Psychegaelic Ceilidh.
Monday 7
Edinburgh FREE Blackwell Book Quiz Blackwells, 53–59 South Bridge, 622 8201. 6pm. Test your literary credentials in teams of up to five members. Please arrive for 5.45pm.
Tuesday 8 Glasgow Glasgow Science Fiction Writers’ Circle The Ogilvie Centre, 25 Rose Street, gsfwc.wordpress.com 8pm. £2. Regular critiquing workshop for writers of all things fantastical. Beginners welcome; email glasgowsfwriters@gsfwc.co.uk in advance to attend.
Edinburgh FREE Joanna Hickson: The Agincourt Bride Blackwells, 53–59 South Bridge, 622 8222. 6.30pm. Author Joanna Hickson comes to speak about her debut historical novel.
Saturday 12
Edinburgh FREE Tracy Griffen Blackwells, 53–59 South Bridge, 622 8222. 2pm. Tracy and her Healthy Yearbook help you stick to those New Year’s Resolutions.
Wednesday 16 Edinburgh A Pint and a Poem Jewel Miners Club, 56 Duddingston Park South, 669 5955. 7.30–10.30pm. £3 suggested donation. See Wed 19.
Thursday 17
Edinburgh ✽FREE Stuart MacBride: Close to the Bone Blackwells, 53–59
South Bridge, 622 8222. 6.30pm. Book launch with Aberdeen crime writer Stuart MacBride, celebrating the publication of