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CCA, 350 Sauchiehall Street, 352 4900. 7–8.30pm. £6 (£3; SWC members free). The Glasgow-born author talks about writing historical fiction, his latest novel and what has inspired his career. Edinburgh FREE Inky Fingers Open Mic The Forest Café, 141 Lauriston Place, inkyfingersedinburgh@gmail.com 8–11pm. Open mic for literature and spoken word lovers. Email ahead for a chance to perform.
Wednesday 5
Glasgow Wee Write! Mitchell Library, North Street, 287 2999. Times vary. Prices vary. Until Tue 11 Mar. See Kids listings. FREE Malcolm MacKay: The Sudden Arrival of Violence Waterstones, 174 Argyle Street, 248 4814. 7–8pm. The Stornoway-born crime writer discusses the final addition to his Glasgow Trilogy. In discussion with Craig Robertson. Word Play Tron Theatre, 63 Trongate, 552 4267. 8–11pm. £2 suggested donation. Open mic night (five-minute slots) with acoustic music, poetry and prose, hosted by the Word Factory. Edinburgh Joseph D’Lacey: The Book of the Crowman Blackwell’s, 53–59 South Bridge, 622 8222. 6.30–7.30pm. Free, but ticketed. The award-winning fantasy author launches the second book in his Black Feathers series.
St Andrews ✽ StAnza: Scotland’s Poetry Festival Various venues, 01334 475000. Times vary. Prices vary. Until Sun 9 Mar. Scotland’s verse-focused literary fest brings together local and international wordsmiths. Kicks off today with a launch featuring novelist Louis de Bernières, poets Jenny Lewis and Brian Turner and Welsh soprano Angharad Rowlands. See list.co.uk for full listings. Thursday 6
Glasgow FREE Largest, Longest, Oldest, Smallest Mitchell Library, North Street, 287 2999. 2.30–4pm. See some of the Mitchell’s most unique books. Edinburgh FREE World Book Day Tours National Library of Scotland, George IV Bridge, 623 3734. 10am, 11am, noon, 1pm, 3pm & 4pm. A special behind- the-scenes tour for World Book Day. Booking essential. FREE Julie Davidson: Looking for Mrs Livingstone National Library of Scotland, George IV Bridge, 623 3734. 6–7pm. Award-winning journalist Davidson talks about her research into the footsteps of explorer and missionary Mary Livingstone. Booking essential. Ken Macleod: Descent Blackwell’s, 53–59 South Bridge, 622 8222. 6.30– 7.30pm. Free, but ticketed. The science fiction writer introduces his latest, a tale of conspiracy theorists and Big Brother.
St Andrews ✽ StAnza: Scotland’s Poetry Festival Various venues, 01334 475000. Times vary. Prices vary. See Wed 5. Today’s programme includes a ‘Poetry Café’ with Carly Brown and McGuire; a ‘Border Crossings’ session with Michael Pedersen and Hannah Lowe; and ‘The Soldier’s Rucksack’ with Brian Turner. See list.co.uk for full listings.
Friday 7 Edinburgh FREE Donald Smith: Ballad of the Five Marys National Library of Scotland, George IV Bridge, 623 3734.
6pm. The author discusses his historical fiction about the handmaidens of Mary, Queen of Scots. A Women’s History Day event. St Andrews ✽ StAnza: Scotland’s Poetry Festival Various venues, 01334 475000. Times vary. Prices vary. See Wed 5. Today the schedule holds a ‘Poetry Café Breakfast’ themed ‘War and Remembrance’; an intimate ‘Round Table’ reading with Jacob Polley; a ‘Border Crossings’ with Dan O’Brien and Rob A Mackenzie; and scholar Gill Plain and artist Stephen Raw each respond to a favourite poem. See list. co.uk for full listings.
Saturday 8
Launch Glasgow Women’s Glasgow ✽ FREE 21 Revolutions Book Library, 23 Landressy Street, 550 2267. 4–6pm. Following an exhibition and readings programme, the Revolutions publication brings together 21 women artists and 21 women writers to celebrate the history of Glasgow Women’s Library. Contributors Muriel Gray, Kirsty Logan, Louise Welsh and Zoe Strachan give readings.
St Andrews ✽ StAnza: Scotland’s Poetry Festival Various venues, 01334 475000. Times vary. Prices vary. See Wed 5. John Greening hosts an intensive workshop on enjambment; Ron Silliman runs a ‘Round Table’; Robin Cairns explores the legend of Sawney Bean; Rally & Broad host a slam; and Carol Ann Duffy, John Sampson and TJ Dema in this year’s Poetry Centre Stage. See list.co.uk for full listings.
Sunday 9
St Andrews ✽ StAnza: Scotland’s Poetry Festival Various venues, 01334 475000. Times vary. Prices vary. See Wed 5. Paul Muldoon runs a poetry masterclass; Brian Holton and Katherine Kilalea host a ‘Border Crossing’ event, as do Gabeba Baderoon and Sheila Templeton; Jim Causley sets poems to music; and Fife-based troubadour King Creosote closes out the festival at the StAnza Finale, with some help from Captain Beeko, Gummi Bako and Uncle Beesly.
Monday 10 Edinburgh FREE Life Cycle: A Bike Ride Round Scotland and Back to Childhood National Library of Scotland, George IV Bridge, 623 3734. 6–7pm. Gary Sutherland talks about the bicycle trip he and his brother, Stewart, took from the Highlands to Glasgow, covering 1000 miles and years of personal history.
Tuesday 11
Edinburgh Jo Caulfield Presents . . . The Speakeasy Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. 8–10pm. £6. See Comedy listings. Wednesday 12
Glasgow FREE Weegie Wednesdays CCA, 350 Sauchiehall Street, weegiewednesday.org 7.30pm. Forum offering those with a literary interest a chance to talk books and publishing. Contact organisers via the site.
Edinburgh ✽ FREE Tintin in Scots: Library of Scotland, George IV Bridge, 623 3734. 6–7pm. Susan Rennie talks Translating Tintin National
about the experience of translating The Derk Isle, the first ever Tintin book in Scots.
Thursday 13
Glasgow Alex Gray: The Bird that Did Not Sing Waterstones, 153–157 Sauchiehall Street, 332 9105. 6pm. Free, but ticketed. Gray releases her latest DCI Lorimer novel, set during the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games. Edinburgh Café Voices Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. 7–9pm. £5. A relaxed session of oral storytelling, poetry and song. For ‘Voices from the Olive Trees’, Jan Sutch Pickard recounts tree planting and olive harvesting in the West Bank.
Events | BOOKS
Tuesday 18
Glasgow FREE Speakeasy CCA, 350 Sauchiehall Street, 352 4900. 7–8.30pm. Performances of poetry and short stories, in English, Gaelic and Scots from Scottish Writers’ Centre members. Edinburgh Nothing but the Poem The Saltire Society, 9 Fountain Close, 22 High Street, 557 2876. 6–7.30pm. £5 (£4). Poetry discussion forum with no preparation or previous knowledge required. Tonight, read aloud and discuss the poetry of Rita Ann Higgins. FREE Peter Wright: Nature’s Peace National Library of Scotland, George IV Bridge, 623 3734. 6–7pm. Wright gives an illustrated talk on his book, celebrating Scotland’s natural landscapes along the watershed line.
Friday 14 Wednesday 19
Glasgow FREE Read Aloud! Celebrating Commonwealth Women’s Writing Glasgow Women’s Library, 23 Landressy Street, 550 2267. 2–3.30pm. See Fri 21. Kirsty Wark: The Legacy of Elizabeth Pringle Waterstones, 153–157 Sauchiehall Street, 332 9105. 6pm. £3 (loyalty card holders £2). TV presenter Wark launches her new novel, about a solitary woman on the Isle of Arran who is revealed to be more than she seems following her death.
Launch Creative Scotland, Edinburgh ✽ FREE 21 Revolutions Book Waverley Gate, 2–4 Waterloo Place, 0330 333 2000 . 4–6pm. See Sat 8. Tonight, contributors Karen Campbell and Elizabeth Reeder give readings. Caesura The Artisan, 35 London Road, 07719 481092. 7pm. £3. Eclectic and experimental night of poetry, performance and spoken word. Caesura #21 puts Tom Leonard, Sean Burn, Julie Johnstone and Luke Allan up on stage.
Saturday 15 Glasgow FREE Mixing the Colours: Creative Writing Workshop with Magi Gibson Glasgow Women’s Library, 23 Landressy Street, 550 2267. 1–4pm. See Sat 1.
Sunday 16 Glasgow ✽Scottish Poetry Slam Championship Òran Mór, 731– 735 Great Western Road, 357 6200. 7.30pm. £5–£7. Rhymers and rappers get two minutes to convince a tough panel of judges that those other suckers can’t compete with their verbitude. Part of Glasgow International Comedy Festival.
Monday 17
Glasgow ✽ Issue One Comic Book Street, 352 4900. 7pm. Free, but ticketed. See Around Town listings. Symposium CCA, 350 Sauchiehall
Edinburgh FREE Blackwell’s Book Group Blackwell’s, 53–59 South Bridge, 622 8222. 6pm. This month’s book is Silent House by Orhan Pamuk. Stirling Christopher Brookmyre: A Writer’s Journey Smith Art Gallery & Museum, Dumbarton Road, 01786 471917. 7.30–9pm. £5 (includes refreshments). The crime writer talks about becoming a professional writer and his latest novel.
Glasgow James Bannon: Running with the Firm Tron Theatre, 63 Trongate, 552 4267. 8pm. £10–£12. See Comedy listings. Thursday 20
Glasgow Louise Welsh: A Lovely Way to Burn Waterstones, 153–157 Sauchiehall Street, 332 9105. 6pm. £2 (loyalty card holders £1). Scottish crime stalwart releases first in her Plague Times trilogy, which begins as a global plague called ‘the Sweats’ sweeps across London. FREE Michael Malone: Guillotine Choice Waterstones, 174 Argyle Street, 248 4814. 7–8.30pm. Malone launches his new novel, based on the true story of a man in the notorious Devil’s Island penal colony. Edinburgh FREE Christopher Rush: Will – Re-imagining Shakespeare National Library of Scotland, George IV Bridge, 623 3734. 6–7pm. Prof Rush shares his fictional re-imagining of Shakespeare’s life, based on three decades of research. FREE Uuganaa Ramsay: Mongol Looking Glass Books, 36 Simpson Loan, Quartermile, 229 2902. 6.30pm. Mongolia-born Ramsay launches her memoir about having a son born with Down’s Syndrome and having to face the dual meaning of ‘mongol’ in Britain. FREE JL Williams: Locust and Marlin The Saltire Society, 9 Fountain Close, 22 High Street, 556 1836. 7pm. The Edinburgh-based writer launches her newest book of poetry. Albert Camus lit l’Etranger / REMIX Institut Français d’Ecosse, 13 Randolph Crescent, 225 5366. 8.30pm. £8 (members £5). DJ Pierre de Mûelenaere’s set inspired by The Stranger, taking audio samples from Camus’ reading of his text. Plus, visuals from Orchid Bites.
SciEnce at the HeaRt of... EdiNbUrgh 20 Feb–20 Mar 2014 THE LIST 41