Highlights | BOOKS
WEE WRITE Mitchell Library, Glasgow, Sat 3 & Sun 4 Mar, ayewrite.com/ weewrite A jam-packed programme of activities and readings for children, families and school pupils. There are performances by Clydebuilt Puppet Theatre, wizarding fun in Harry Potter Magic and the chance to hear the
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story of Glasgow 2018 mascot Bonnie the Seal. See preview, page 66.
Andrews, Sat 3–Sun 11 Mar, stanzapoetry.org A literary festival focusing on verse and featuring readings, performances, slams, workshops, installations and films. Headliners for 2018 include Sinéad Morrissey, Liz Lochhead, Gillian Allnutt and Tara Bergin.
STANZA Various venues, St AYE WRITE!
Various venues, Glasgow, Thu 15–Sun 25 Mar, ayewrite.com Glasgow’s book festival remains committed to celebrating Scottish and international writers and writing. The programme features Maggie O’Farrell, Val McDermid, Brett Anderson, Evan Davis, Graeme Obree and Jo Swinson (pictured). See
preview, page 49. BURNS UNBROKE Summerhall, Edinburgh, until Sat 10 Mar, burnsunbroke.co.uk At this multi-disciplinary arts festival visual artists explore aspects of Burns’s life or work, highlighting his continuing relevance in the 21st century. See preview, page 92.
BOOKS HIGHLIGHTS
Events are listed by city, then date. Submit listings for your event at list.co.uk/add
GLASGOW
OLGA WOJTAS Waterstones Arygle Street, Thu 1 Feb, waterstone.co.uk Olga Wotjas’s debut novel Miss Blaine’s Prefect and The Golden Samovar is a cosy crime homage to Muriel Spark’s The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie. ST MUNGO’S MIRRORBALL SHOWCASE 7 CCA, Thu 1 Feb, cca-glasgow. com The multi-award winning Irish poet Michael Longley reads alongside rising stars Rishi Dastidar and Ciara MacLaverty.
SALLY MAGNUSSON Waterstones Sauchiehall Street, Wed 7 Feb, sallymagnusson.com Sally Magnusson discusses her new book, The Sealwoman’s Gift. The novel reimagines the fate of Asta, a woman who was abducted by pirates with 250 others from their home on a small island off Iceland. AUTHOR WATCH Mitchell Library, Thu 15 & 22 Feb, events.glasgowlife.org.uk A series of talks by authors about their work. On Thu 15 Feb Jerry Brannigan discusses his book Robert Burns in Edinburgh. On Thu 22 Feb children’s book author and illustrator John Rankin reads from his new title A Bear Named Boris.
MURIEL SPARK: A CENTENARY CELEBRATION Mitchell Library, Glasgow, Sat 17 Mar, ayewrite.com Alan Taylor discusses his funny memoir about Muriel Spark, Appointment in Arezzo, with Candia McWilliam and Zoe Strachan, two novelists who have written new forewords to brand new editions of Muriel’s classic novels Robinson and Memento Mori respectively.
BHP FULL COLOUR PROJECT Mitchell Library, Sun 25 Mar, ayewrite.com BHP Comics discuss their Full Colour project, a mentoring programme for young Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic comics creators that will result in a comic anthology.
SABRINA BENAIM Òran Mór, Mon 26 Mar, oran- mor.co.uk Torontonian poet and performance artist, reading from her book Depression & Other Magic Tricks as well as other works. EDINBURGH
CHRIS YOUNG: WALK A MILE Blackwell’s, Thu 1 Feb, bookshop. blackwell.co.uk Author and former social worker Chris Young talks about his debut book Walk a Mile: Tales of a Wandering Loon. When Young was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder he left his job and began a campaign called ‘Walk a Mile In my Shoes’ where he walked the UK coast, without spending any money. FLINT & PITCH PRESENTS: THIS SCRIPT & OTHER DRAFTS Scottish Storytelling Centre, Thu 1 Feb, tracscotland.org Spoken word poet Jenny Lindsay hosts an evening of new work exploring sexual politics, gender, feminism and more.
THE PURPLE, WHITE & GREEN: THE STORY OF THE SCOTTISH SUFFRAGETTES Scottish Storytelling Centre, Tue 6 Feb, tracscotland.org Nicola Wright and Lea Taylor present a piece of storytelling specifically written to mark the centenary of (some) women’s right to vote. WOLVES The Studio at the Edinburgh Festival Theatre, Sat 17 Feb, edtheatres.com/wolves The wolfpack community is set against the dangers of the big bad wolf, in a world of fairy tale imagery swaying between littered and tidied, wild and domestic.
Storytelling with live music from Mairi Campbell. SENSING A STORY Scottish Storytelling Centre, Sat 24 Feb, tracscotland.org A day of inclusive multi-sensory storytelling, immersed in smell, sight, sound and taste. Hear and create sensory stories with Claire Hewitt, Ailie Finlay, Maureen Philip, Pat Graham, Lorna Strachan and Tayberry Tales, in association with Pamis.
STORYSTEPS Scottish Storytelling Centre, Sat 24 Feb, tracscotland.org David Campbell hosts an evening of story and song. CANONGATE STARS & STORIES Royal Mile, until Mar, cityofliterature.com A literary walking trail of 24 light-boxes, featuring quotes and phrases drawn from famous books and publishing figures, and displayed in the windows of businesses along the Canongate.
THE INTERNATIONAL STYLE OF MURIEL SPARK National Library of Scotland, until Sun 13 May, murielspark100.com A virtual journey to the places Muriel Spark called home, with archive material and personal artefacts illustrating her life and work. OUT OF TOWN
HARRY POTTER BOOK NIGHT Various venues, Scotland, Thu 1 Feb, harrypotter.bloomsbury.com/ uk/harry-potter-book-night The fourth annual Harry Potter Book Night takes places in bookshops across the country and features games, quizzes and activities for Potter Fans. This year’s theme is Fantastic Beasts and fancy dress is encouraged. JAMES OSWALD & NEIL BROADFOOT Waterstones, Dunfermline, Fri 9 Feb, waterstones.co.uk Fife farmer
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and mystery writer James Oswald, creator of the Inspector McLean books, discusses his latest novel The Gathering Dark with fellow author Neil Broadfoot. DUNFERMLINE COMIC CON Pittencreif Park, Dunfermline, Sat 3 Mar, littleshopofheroes.co.uk Comic book convention with stalls selling original art and collectables, a cosplay competition and panels with visiting comic artists and writers. Guests include Marc Ellerby, Leslie Hung, John Wagner, Brittney Williams, Neil Slorance and Peter Milligan.
KIRSTY GUNN: CAROLINE’S BIKINI Smith Art Gallery & Museum, Stirling, Mon 19 Mar, stirlingliterarysociety.org.uk Author of the successful novel, The Big Music, Professor Gunn discusses her new novel.
RUTHERGLEN COMIC CON Rutherglen Town Hall, Sat 24 Feb, sllcboxoffice.co.uk A host of traders, selling comics, graphic novels, crafts, art and more. Plus, there’s a cosplay competition, workshops, quizzes and guest comic artists and writers. 1 Feb–31 Mar 2018 THE LIST 51