BOOKS HIGHLIGHTS HIGHLIGHTS | BOOKS
Events are listed by city, then date. Submit listings for your event at list.co.uk/add A festival of free events with Scottish authors, storytellers and various literary experts.
GLASGOW LAUNCH
DANIEL SHAND: CROCODILE
AS THE WOMEN LAY DREAMING: A NIGHT WITH DONALD S
MURRAY Waterstones Sauchiehall Street, Mon 12 Nov, waterstones.com Donald S Murray discusses his new novel As the Women Lay Dreaming, based on a survivor of the 1919 Iolaire disaster. The book draws on Murray’s experiences growing up in the Hebrides. Also, Waterstones West End, Edinburgh, Tue 13 Nov, waterstones.com
BEN AARONOVITCH LAUNCHES LIES SLEEPING
Waterstones Argyle Street, Thu 13 Nov, waterstones.com The author of the PC Peter Grant series launches the latest instalment, Lies Sleeping, and it finds the police officer caught in his biggest challenge yet. Aaronovitch will be present to discuss his latest work and chat about all things cops and magic.
Waterstones West End, Thu 8 Nov, waterstones.com The award-winning writer introduces his latest novel Crocodile in a conversation with novelist and editor Moira Forsyth.
COMIC CON SCOTLAND EICC, Sat 10 & Sun 11 Nov, comicconventionscotland.co.uk Scotland’s number one Comic Convention presents a For the Love of 80s theme this year in an ode to the decade that brought us classics like Ghostbusters and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
DIARY OF A WIMPY KID: THE MELTDOWN WITH JEFF KINNEY
Assembly Rooms, Sat 17 Nov, assemblyroomsedinburgh.co.uk The renowned author of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series chats about the newest addition to the series.
HARRY POTTER NIGHT: THE
INSPIRING ENTREPRENEURS: CRIMES OF GRINDELWALD
WORK LIKE A WOMAN Mitchell Library, Thu 15 Nov, glasgowlife.org.uk Mary Portas, AKA The Queen of Shops, presents her new book all about being a woman in the business world, Work Like a Woman: A Manifesto for Change. The event is screened live from the British Library in London.
MARK KERMODE Glasgow Film Theatre, Tue 27 Nov, glasgowfilm.org Film critic Mark Kermode hilariously reminisces about his journey from dreaming of becoming a pop star to becoming the musical director of a major TV show. A book signing follows the event.
EDINBURGH
CRAIGMILLAR BOOK FESTIVAL Various venues, Wed 7–Sat 17 Nov, craigmillar.org.uk.gridhosted.co.uk
Waterstones Ocean Terminal, Sat 17 Nov, waterstones.com Mark the release of the latest Fantastic Beasts’ screenplay and film The Crimes of Grindlewald, with a fun day of games, activities and a fancy dress competition.
NORWAY AND SCOTLAND: POETRY & MUSIC – LINKS
THROUGH CENTURIES
Festival Square, Sun 18 Nov edinburghschristmas.com A night of folk, jazz and spoken word celebrating the historic links between Norway and Scotland.
PERFUMES AND PAGES: LITERARY PERFUMES WITH
ALEX MUSGRAVE
Golden Hare Books, Wed 5 Dec, goldenharebooks.com Alex Musgrave discusses a series of literary perfumes, and the works of literature they derive from.
A WINTER WARMER Scottish Storytelling Centre, Tue 6 Dec, tracscotland.org The Burgh Blatherers present an evening of warming wintry tales accompanied by mulled wine and mince pies.
ART OF THE STORYTELLER: MIDWINTER STORIES & SONGS
Scottish Storytelling Centre, Fri 21 Dec, scottishstorytellingcentre. com The Art of the Storyteller series features an evening discussion on what drives contemporary storytelling. This session looks at seasonal celebration and features David Francis and Janis Mackay, followed by a performance.
NEW WRITERS AWARDS SHOWCASE
The Jam House, Thu 24 Jan, thejamhouse.com Hear some of Scotland’s most exciting new writers perform their work live at Scottish Book Trust’s New Writers Awards celebration.
BURNS SUPPER Royal Yacht Britannia, Fri 25 & Sat 26 Jan, royalyachtbritannia.co.uk Celebrate the birthday of our national bard onboard the Royal Yacht Britannia. The night features food, dancing and the classic ‘Address to a Haggis’.
OUT OF TOWN
DAVID MACPHAIL: TOP-SECRET
GRANDAD AND ME Loch Leven Community Campus, Kinross, Tue 20 Nov, pkc.gov.uk Children’s author David MacPhail explains how to use mind maps to plot a story. Suitable for ages 8 and above.
MASTERCHEF’S GARY MACLEAN Waterstones, Oban, Tue 20 Nov, waterstones.com The Masterchef: The Professionals champion comes in-store as part of the Book Week Scotland celebrations to talk about kitchen techniques and his new book Kitchen Essentials: The Joy of Home Cooking.
A TASTE OF . . . CHOCOLATE Kirkcaldy Galleries, Thu 22 Nov, onfife.com Combine two of the sweetest
Leila Aboulela
things in life at this chocolate and reading multi-sensory pairing evening.
AN AFTERNOON WITH LEILA ABOULELA
The Barn, Aberdeen, Thu 22 Nov, thebarnarts.co.uk The Caine Prize winner, known for novels The Translator and Lyrics Alley, hosts a reading session.
ANN CLEEVES: WILD FIRE Loch Leven Community Campus, Kinross, Thu 22 Nov, anncleeves. com The crime writer and creator of the Shetland series chats about her life in writing and what the final instalment of her much-loved series might hold.
COVE AND KILCREGGAN BOOK FESTIVAL
Cove Burgh Hall, Cove, Sat 24 & Sun 25 Nov, coveburghhall.org.uk Unique festival of books that takes place during Book Week Scotland. Headline authors at this year’s festival include Ian Rankin and Jon Snow.
DREAMS FOR THE FUTURE Various venues, Dumfries, Fri 30 Nov–Sun 2 Dec, peterpanmoatbrae. org/dreams-for-the-future Jump into the next adventure in the ‘enchanted land’ that inspired the timeless story of Peter Pan. A three-day festival by the JMB Creatives.
FUNBOX: ONCE UPON A TIME His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen, Sun 13 Jan aberdeenperformingarts.com An immersive family storytelling experience where all your favourite fairytales have gone wrong, and it’s up to the Funbox gang to set them back to rights. Also touring, see list.co.uk for details.
EDINBURGH’S INDEPENDENT &
RADICAL BOOK FAIR Assembly Roxy, Edinburgh, Thu 1–Sun 4 Nov, assemblyfestival.com/ roxy A festival of ideas hosted by the folks at Lighthouse Bookshop. It showcases publishers and speakers with an emphasis on small and
independent presses and writings from outside the mainstream.
KILLTOPIA LAUNCH Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Sat 3 Nov, glasgowconcerthalls. com BHP comics are teaming up with Rai Con to launch Dave Cook and Craig Paton’s new
book, Killiopia. The event takes the form of a retro gaming party and a ticket to the event includes a copy of the book.
BOOK WEEK SCOTLAND
Various venues, Scotland, Mon 19–Sun 25 Nov, scottishbooktrust. com/book-week-
scotland A national book festival for Scotland courtesy of Creative Scotland, the Scottish Book Trust and many other collaborators across the country. A packed programme of star-studded author events, kids’ activities and the distribution of free books all combine to form a week-long
national celebration of reading.
BURNS FOR BEGINNERS
Edinburgh Castle, Sun 27–Wed 30 Jan, edinburghcastle.gov.uk Ever wondered why people make so much fuss about Robert Burns? Come and find out in this informal introduction to the bard.
H I T L I S T
1 Nov 2018–31 Jan 2019 THE LIST 85