BOOKS HIGHLIGHTS BOOKS HIGHLIGHTS HIGHLIGHTS | BOOKS
Events are listed by city, then date. Submit listings for your event at list.co.uk/add GLASGOW
CRACKING READING OUTWITH FESTIVAL
Edinburgh Bookshop, Thu 12 Sep, edinburghbookshop.com Carter’s Yard Phonics visit the Edinburgh Bookshop for an evening of talks about phonics, how to get children interested in reading, accessible texts and more. Various venues, Dunfermline, Tue 3–Sun 8 Sep, outwithfestival. co.uk Dunfermline-based festival that celebrates comedy, music, literature, theatre and visual art in and around the city.
AN EVENING WITH JAY
ART AND POETRY TO DELIGHT NAIRN BOOK AND ARTS
KRISTOFF
THE SENSES FESTIVAL
Waterstones, Thu 5 Sep, waterstones.com Join New York Times bestselling author Jay Kristoff as he discusses the last instalment in his The Nevernight Chronicles. City Art Centre, Sat 21 Sep, edinburghmuseums.org.uk Former Edinburgh Makar Christine De Luca reads a selection of her poetry, inspired by Victoria Crowe’s paintings.
ADAM MCNELIS: BRAIN-NATTER THE DRIFT
Tennent’s Bar, Sat 14 Sep, thetennentsbarglasgow.co.uk Adam McNelis launches his second book Brain-natter / A Short Story Collection with a night of music, poetry, stand-up comedy and short stories. Traverse Theatre, Thu 10 Oct, hannahlavery.com Spoken word show by Hannah Lavery, exploring the experience of being ‘mixed’ in Scotland. Also touring, see list. co.uk for details.
IN CONVERSATION WITH JOE ARMISTEAD MAUPIN
ABERCROMBIE AND JAMES OSWALD
Waterstones, Thu 19 Sep, waterstones.com Evening of fantasy and crime writing discussion with bestselling authors Joe Abercrombie and James Oswald.
AN EVENING WITH MARY PAULSON-ELLIS
Waterstones, Wed 2 Oct, waterstones.com Celebrate the launch of Mary Paulson-Ellis’ second novel, The Inheritance of Solomon Farthing.
EDINBURGH
ANTHONY O’NEILL: THE DEVIL UPSTAIRS
Waterstones West End, Thu 5 Sep, waterstones.com Launch for Anthony O’Neill’s latest novel, The Devil Upstairs.
AN ILLUSTRATED TREASURY OF
SCOTTISH CASTLE LEGENDS Waterstones West End, Fri 6 Sep, waterstones.com Theresa Breslin and Kate Leiper celebrate the release of their newest book, An Illustrated Treasury of Scottish Castle Legends.
The Queen’s Hall, Thu 10 Oct, thequeenshall.net Author Armistead Maupin reads from his memoir Logical Family. Former naval officer and newspaper reporter Maupin launched his groundbreaking Tales of the City serial in the San Francisco Chronicle in the 1970s. His novels include Maybe the Moon, The Night Listener and, most recently, The Days of Anna Madrigal.
GOLDEN HARE BOOKS FESTIVAL
Various venues, Fri 18–Sun 20 Oct, goldenharebooks.com/festival Debut book festival celebrating all the best books and authors published throughout the year.
OUT OF TOWN
ISLAY BOOK FESTIVAL Various venues, Islay, Thu 29 Aug–Sun 1 Sep, islaybookfestival. co.uk An intimate and friendly festival on the popular whisky isle that caters to Scotland’s love of crime thrillers as well as introducing quirky and challenging books in a programme with something for all ages.
Various venues, Nairn, Mon 9–Sun 15 Sep, nairnfestival.co.uk A range of musical, literary and artistic events with a fringe drawing on the talents of the local creative community. The 2019 programme features a Kids’ Day, workshops, author events, a food fair, poetry readings and competitions in illustration and photography.
ST MONANS COMMUNITY ARTS
FESTIVAL Various venues, St Monans, Sat 14 & Sun 15 Sep, stmonans.org.uk With a strong local community focus, this festival offers a range of spectator and participatory events, with history walks and a camera museum ranking as two of the most popular attractions among a programme of concerts, workshops, visual arts displays and literary events.
BOOK FESTIVAL: WORDS OF WAR
The Black Watch Castle and Museum, Perth, Sat 21 Sep, theblackwatch.co.uk Book festival featuring authors who approach the topic of war, the military, military history and both real and fictional war stories.
AN EVENING WITH PETER ROBINSON
Waterstones, Aberdeen, Mon 23 Sep, waterstones.com Evening with the author of the popular DCI Banks book series, now comprising more than 20 novels.
ALISTAIR MOFFAT: TO THE ISLAND OF TIDES
Topping & Company Booksellers, St Andrews, Wed 25 Sep, toppingbooks.co.uk The Scottish author and historian launches his
Armistead Maupin
newest book, To the Island of Tides: A Journey to Lindisfarne.
NESS BOOK FEST Various venues, Inverness & Fort William, Thu 3–Sat 5 Oct, nessbookfest.wordpress.com Inverness-based book festival that features emerging voices as well as big names in a free programme of events.
BIGGAR LITTLE FESTIVAL Various venues, Biggar, Thu 17– Sun 27 Oct, biggarlittlefestival. com The name is something of a red herring as this small Lanarkshire festival is really punching above its weight with a large programme of varied arts events put on by different community groups and local businesses, plus a couple of big name touring artists booked by the festival committee. Covering comedy, theatre, exhibitions, walks, dance and music of all kinds, the festival offers affordable local access to the arts for all.
XXX BLOODY SCOTLAND Xxxx Xxxx Various venues, Stirling, Fri 20–Sun 22 Sep, bloodyscotland.com An innovative festival drawing on Scotland’s love of the literary macabre and celebrating crime writing by bringing together leading Scottish and international writers, showcasing debut voices and encouraging
new writers. As well as interviews and panels there is a torchlight procession, criminal cabaret, a crime writers’ football match, a quiz and much more. See preview, page 54.
TIDELINES BOOK FESTIVAL
Harbour Arts Centre, Irvine, Thu 26–Sun 29
Sep, tidelinesbookfest. com Irvine-based book festival with a great little line-up of events for kids and adults alike.
WIGTOWN BOOK FESTIVAL
Various venues, Wigtown, Fri 27 Sep–Sun 6 Oct, wigtownbookfestival. com An established and
celebrated feature in the Scottish literary calendar attracting many big names. For ten days, Scotland’s National Book Town buzzes with book events as well as theatre, music and site-specific attractions in quirky venues. A dedicated children’s garden hosts events for younger readers. See preview, page 53.
ROYAL NATIONAL MOD
Various venues, Glasgow, Fri 11–Sat 19 Oct, ancomunn.co.uk The Royal National Mòd is Scotland’s premier Gaelic festival and is famous for celebrating our Gaelic linguistic and cultural heritage. In 2019, the festival takes its celebration to the city of Glasgow. xxxx
H H I I T T L L I I S S T T
1 Sep–31 Oct 2019 THE LIST 55