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Events are listed by date, then city. Submit listings at least 14 days before publication by using our ‘Add an Event’ service at list.co.uk. Listings are compiled by Jaclyn Arndt. ✽ Indicates Hitlist entry Thursday 15
Edinburgh ✽FREE The Business The Pleasance, 60 Pleasance, 650 4673.
2–6pm. An expert panel explores the business side of writing, followed by a round of student readings. With Jenni Fagan, Jenny Brown, Chris Emry, Francis Bickmore, Stuart Kelly, Claire Askew, Peggy Hughes and Kevin Williamson. Jane MacKenzie: Daughter of Catalonia Blackwell’s, 53–59 South Bridge, 622 8222. 6.30pm. Free but ticketed. The launch of MacKenzie’s debut novel, set in war-torn France. FREE Witold Szablowski: The Assassin from Apricot City Word Power Bookshop, 43 West Nicolson Street, 662 9112. 6.30pm. Polish journalist talks about his latest book, looking at Turkey’s underbelly. Café Voices Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. 7–9pm. £5. Session of storytelling, poetry and song. Tonight it’s ‘Barbecued Husbands!’, based on myths sourced by anthropologist Bett Mindlin, with Brazilian storyteller Ana Lines.
Friday 16 Glasgow Word Play Riverside Museum, 100 Pointhouse Place, 287 2660. 1–4pm. £2 suggested donation. A special ‘busking session’ of the open mic night in Riverside’s ‘subway’, hosted by the Word Factory. FREE Kate Tough: Head for the Edge, Keep Walking Waterstones, 174 Argyle Street, 248 4814. 7–8.30pm. Launch of debut novel about the trials and tribulations of a thirtysomething.
Edinburgh FREE 40 Years of Scottish Publishing: 1974–2014 Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. 10am–6pm (closed Sun). Until Sat 7 Jun. Publishing Scotland turns 40 and this exhibition celebrates the highs of Scotland’s publishing history.
✽FREE Penguin Popularity Main Library, University of Edinburgh,
30 George Square, 650 3384. 11.30am– 12.30pm. Check out Edinburgh Uni’s rare books collection and learn more about the ‘Penguin Revolution’ – when the publisher’s paperbacks revolutionised the industry. See preview, page 53. Part of Festival of Museums.
Sunday 18
Glasgow ✽The RTP Downsized – Live The Bungo, 17–21 Nithsdale Road, 423 0023. 2pm. £3. Actors read selections from the graphic novel version of Robert Tressell’s 1914 political novel The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists.
Edinburgh Appletree Writing Courses The Whole Works, Jackson Close, 209 Royal Mile, appletreewriters.co.uk 10.30am– 4.30pm. £40. Learn from those who have done it before. Today: ‘Into the Unknown . . . ’ with Pete Lancaster, about exploring our world through words and imagination.
Monday 19 Glasgow FREE Poetry Café | Seeds of Thought Stereo, 20–28 Renfield Lane, 222 2254. 5–7pm. Pick a poem from a menu and have it delivered to your table, right from the poet who wrote it.
SPOKEN WORD RALLY & BROAD: THE AMPERSAND EDITION The Bongo Club, Edinburgh ●●●●●
‘Tonight is all about collaboration,’ says Jenny Lindsay, one half of the evening’s hosts Rally & Broad. Their regular cabaret of words, music and lyrical delights creates a string of unique events through the collision of a variety of people.
The Ampersand Edition is a celebration of creation and unpredictability, pairing collaborators and leaving them to their own devices. Ryan Van Winkle’s poetry entwines wonderfully with Lake Montgomery’s soulful vocals, as ex-Babygod Gerry Campbell and choreographer Ruth Mills create a jarring mixture.
Rally & Broad (aka Lindsay and fellow poet Rachel McCrum) perform
together for the first time, alternating between their personal brands of poetry on past relationships. It’s when Toby Mottershead (Black Diamond Express) and Lach (Anti-folk) collaborate that art births chaos; from stoner tales to Jim Morrison being Batman, their anarchic brand of music ends the evening with hilarity. Rally & Broad is a monthly celebration of rich talent in both Edinburgh and Glasgow, and their growth is constant. Later this month they’ll host Alan Bissett, Tolu Ogunlesi and Luke Wright as part of a stellar lineup, continuing to be a beacon of brilliance on the live lit scene. (Heather McDaid) ■ Rally & Broad are at the Counting House, Edinburgh, Fri 23 May.
FLASH FICTION
MEETING BUDDHA IN DUMBARTON by Nikki Magennis
I take the luminous one to ASDA. He says nothing much. We get a trolley, walk back and forth. I hold onto my list and steal sidelong glances. His eyes reflect TV screens, icecream, carving knives.
We slow in the pickle aisle between jars of red cabbage and onions, fat brown beads suspended in vinegar. His bare feet are golden. His robe brushes the floor. In the fridges, fish tails curl. The girl at the till counts my change. Freesias bloom by the door. On the garbled Tannoy, I hear a voice ring out. Bags full, I step into the car park. Morning frost evaporates from the ground. I feel lightness, having spent everything.
■ Nikki Magennis’ pamphlet ‘Meeting Buddha in Dumbarton’ is published by Red Squirrel Press.
Events | BOOKS
Tuesday 20
Edinburgh Nothing but the Poem The Saltire Society, 9 Fountain Close, 22 High Street, 557 2876. 6–7.30pm. £5 (£4). Delve into the poetry of Anne Carson. Angus Konstam: Bannockburn Blackwell’s, 53–59 South Bridge, 622 8222. 6.30pm. Free but ticketed. On the 700th anniversary of Bannockburn, Konstam launches his book on the battle. Wednesday 21
Glasgow FREE Arild Tveito Publication Launch CCA, 350 Sauchiehall Street, 352 4900. 6pm. The Oslo artist launches the publication he created after his 2013 residency at CCA and Glasgow Sculpture Studios.
✽The RTP Downsized – Live The Glad Café, 1006A Pollokshaws Road,
636 6119. 7.30pm. £3 (£2). See Sun 18.
Edinburgh Christopher Whatley: Scots and the Union Blackwell’s, 53–59 South Bridge, 622 8222. 6.30pm. Free but ticketed. Whatley’s new book examines the 1707 union. FREE Neil Broadfoot: Falling Fast Looking Glass Books, 36 Simpson Loan, Quartermile, 229 2902. 6.30pm. Broadfoot launches his new noir thriller. Ryan Van Winkle Central Library, 7–9 George IV Bridge, 242 8100. 6.30– 8pm. Free but ticketed. The Edinburgh- based poet reads his verse. Hazel McHaffie: Over My Dead Body Corstorphine Library, 12 Kirk Loan, 529 5628. 6.45–7.45pm. Free but ticketed. Nurse, midwife and novelist McHaffie introduces her new book, about a mother who must decide whether or not to donate her deceased daughter’s organs.
Thursday 22
Glasgow FREE Creative Writing for Adults Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum, Argyle Street, 276 9505. 2–4.15pm. Taster workshop with Brian Whittingham for writers of all levels, taking inspiration from the French Art gallery. Booking essential. FREE Alan Rowan: Moonwalker – Adventures of a Midnight Mountaineer Waterstones, 174 Argyle Street, 248 4814. 7–8.30pm. Rowan launches his book which recounts his adventures amid Britain’s peaks. Edinburgh FREE Meena Kandasamy: The Gypsy Goddess David Hume Tower, George Square, meenakandasamy. com 4pm. Launch of debut novel from poet, writer, activist and translator Kandasamy, about life in 1968 Tamil Nadu as the Communist Party takes control. Organised by Centre for South Asian Studies and Word Power Books. The Golden Hare Literary Salon Golden Hare, 102 West Bow, 629 1396. 6.30pm. £1. Tonight, it’s the Queer Canon Literary Salon – Explore contemporary and historic queer fiction, and discuss the writers who have helped shape the genre. Edinburgh University’s Carole Jones and author Kirsty Logan lead the discussion. Val McDermid: Cross and Burn Central Library, 7–9 George IV Bridge, 242 8100. 7–8pm. Free but ticketed. The crime writing stalwart talks about her most recent tale.
Friday 23
Ayr Burns an’ a’ That! Festival Various venues, burnsfestival.com Times vary. Prices vary. Until Mon 26 May. Festival dedicated to Scotland’s internationally acclaimed poet Robert Burns with a week of music, art, talks and walks. 15 May–12 Jun 2014 THE LIST 55