Highlights | BOOKS
IRVINE WELSH Waterstones West End, Mon 3 Apr, waterstones.com Irvine Welsh signs paperback copies of his latest novel The Blade Artist, which revisits notorious Trainspotting character Begbie, now living with his wife and two children in America.
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JO NESBO Mitchell Library, Glasgow, Tue 18 Apr, ayewrite.co.uk The Norwegian author discusses the eleventh instalment in his Harry Hole series. The film of the seventh book, The Snowman, is due to be released in October, with Michael Fassbender as detective Hole.
LIMMY: THAT’S YOUR LOT Òran Mór, Glasgow, 7–9, 12, 23, 25 & 26 May, oran-mor. co.uk Join Limmy as he introduces his second book, That’s Your Lot, featuring stories that are dafter and darker than before. Also touring, see list.co.uk/books for details.
OPEN THE DOOR Glasgow Women’s Library, Sat 13 May, womenslibrary.org. uk A new literary festival celebrating an exciting new era of women writers and readers, including writers Val McDermid, Maggie O’Farrell, Kirsty Logan, Leila Aboulela and Zoe Venditozzi. See preview, page 65.
EDINBURGH COMIC CON EICC, Edinburgh, Sat 15 & Sun 16 Apr, heroconventions.com See preview, page 63.
BOOKS HIGHLIGHTS
Events are listed by city, then date. Submit listings for your event at list.co.uk/add
GLASGOW
TALL TALES Tron Theatre, Saturdays, tron. co.uk Storytelling sessions brought to life with props, movement, music, percussion and creative play.
DAN HARDY Waterstones Sauchiehall Street, Tue 4 Apr, waterstones.com UFC fighter-turned-analyst Dan Hardy signs his autobiography, Part Reptile. Also Waterstones West End, Edinburgh, Tue 4 Apr DAWN O’PORTER Waterstones Sauchiehall Street, Tue 11 Apr, waterstones.com The Glamour columnist discusses her new novel The Cows, which tackles friendship, feminism, social media and sex in O’Porter’s frank style. Baileys provides the cocktails.
LAINI TAYLOR Waterstones Sauchiehall Street, Fri 14 Apr, waterstones.com The author of the young adult fantasy series, Daughter of Smoke and Bone introduces her new novel Strange The Dreamer. Also Waterstones West End, Edinburgh, Thu 13 Apr CHRIS BROOKMYRE Mitchell Library, Thu 20 Apr, ayewrite.com Last year, Brookmyre’s seventh Jack Parlabane novel, Black Widow won the McIlvanney Prize for Scottish crime book of the year at Bloody Scotland. Here he discusses the follow up, Want You Gone.
STUART MACBRIDE Waterstones Sauchiehall Street, Thu 20 Apr, waterstones.com The crime author famed for the DS Logan McRae series discusses his latest stand alone novel A Dark So Deadly.
The Wee Spanish Mobile Library
THE WEE SPANISH MOBILE LIBRARY North Kelvin Meadow, Sat 22 Apr, familiasglasgow.blogspot.co.uk La Biciteca celebrate Earth Day in the The Children’s Wood with a special storytelling session. EDINBURGH
SUNDAY STORIES Golden Hare, Sundays, goldenharebooks.com Stories for kids aged 3–7, followed by crafts and games. Each session features a book from the shop’s Children’s Room. ART OF THE STORYTELLER Scottish Storytelling Centre, Wed 1 Apr, tracscotland.org The Art of the Storyteller series continues with Mary Kenny and Marion Kenny. Enjoy an evening of their favourite tales alongside their experiences and inspirations from storytelling past and present.
GOLDEN HARE BOOK CLUB Golden Hare, Tue 25 Apr & Tue 30 May, goldenharebooks.com Get your book on with some fellow bibliophiles at this monthly book group. DISREGARDED HARMONIES: POEMS ON THE ROYAL MILE Scottish Storytelling Centre, Fri 28 Apr, tracscotland.org Ken Cockburn leads you on a walk through the narrow closes, quiet courtyards and secret gardens of the Royal Mile with poetry for company.
HEROES OF INDEPENDENCE: BISHOPS, WARRIORS & KINGMAKERS Scottish Storytelling Centre, Fri 28 Apr, tracscotland.org Kati Waitzmann presents the story of Robert Wishart, Bishop of Glasgow, and William Lamberton, Bishop of St Andrews, who fought with William Wallace and Robert the Bruce in the Wars of Independence.
CAFE VOICES Scottish Storytelling Centre, Thu 13 Apr & Thu 11 May, tracscotland.org A relaxed session of oral storytelling, poetry by memory, music and song. At the April session Calum Lykan shares some tales from his travels in Canada and, in May, Ian Stephen presents stories from his new book, revealing a lifetime’s love affair with sailing.
THE TWO TRUTHS OF THOMAS THE RHYMER Scottish Storytelling Centre, Sat 29 Apr, tracscotland.org Daniel Serridge and James Spence present an evening of mystical folk and autobiographical tales, featuring traditional music. WHY THE BIRDS SING The Saltire Society, Mon 1 May, tracscotland.org Borders poet Ian
McFadyen presents an evening of prose and poems in Scots and English. He’s joined by musical friends Mairi McFadyen, Chris Wright, Zarya Rathe, Ella Leith and David Francis.
ELIZA ROSS’S RAASAY 50 George Square, Sun 7 May, tracscotland.org Joshua Dickson of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland explains the musical importance of the Gaelic collection of Elizabeth Ross, niece of the laird of Raasay. An evening ceilidh and celebration follows the lectures and workshops. OUT OF TOWN
BOOKED! Various venues, West Dunbartonshire, Mon 8–Sat 20 May, bookedfestival.info Free, local literature festival run by West Dunbartonshire Libraries that manages to book some big name authors for its programme of talks, signings and more unusual events.
COASTWORD Various venues, Dunbar, Fri 19– Sun 21 May, coastword.co.uk The literary community comes together to bring a roster of bookish delights to Dunbar for a wee, weekend-long festival. Highlights include authors Val McDermid and Shelley Day, a showcase from Village Pub Theatre and workshops hosted by Janice Galloway, Magi Gibson and Jenny Lindsay. REIMAGINATION: CUMBERNAULD Various venues, Cumbernauld, Fri 19–Sun 21 May, booked. edbookfest.co.uk A new initiative from Edinburgh International Book Festival bringing together writers, artists and theatre makers with the population of Cumbernauld. The three-day event features adult and children’s authors and offers the chance to explore the stories of Cumbernauld and join in discussions on the future of the town.
1 Apr–31 May 2017 THE LIST 67