BOOKS
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WIGTOWN BOOK FESTIVAL Yearly celebration of books welcomes Juno Dawson, Helen Sedgwick, Michel Faber and many more
Scotland’s ofi cial National Book Town, Wigtown is renowned for drawing in hordes of book lovers: year-round thanks to its bustling network of bookshops, and every autumn for its ten-day book festival.
The Wigtown Book Festival returns this year to host around 200 events and activities, from music to visual arts. Highlights include author talks by the likes of Michel Faber, Helen Sedgwick (see review, page 47) and Graeme Macrae Burnet, who’s been longlisted for the Man Booker Prize for His Bloody Project. There are also events with music journalist Sylvia Patterson, comedian Susan Calman and record-breaking cyclist Mark Beaumont, among many others.
Guest festival director Hardeep Singh Kohli will be bringing his pop-up restaurant to the festival on Saturday 24 September, and will also be compering Wigtown’s Got Talent, where anyone can compete for the ‘Golden Pencil’. There are lots of events aimed at younger audiences, including an appearance by YA author Juno Dawson (pictured) and screenings of Paper Towns and Cyberbully. Plus, YouTube star Jen Ross will be leading a YouTube video workshop, Theresa Breslin and Kate Leiper will discuss Scotland’s many mythical creatures and the YA Quiz will see teams battle it out to become festival champions. (Arusa Qureshi) ■ Wigtown Book Festival, various venues, Fri 23 Sep–Sun 2 Oct.
46 THE LIST 1 Sep–3 Nov 2016