Working with a wide range of partners, Scottish Book Trust, the national charity transforming lives through reading and writing, will deliver a huge range of events and activities across the country for Book Week Scotland. The week-long celebration takes place from 27 November to 3 December, and this year’s theme is Nourish.
There are forty-five events taking place in Edinburgh this year, including: Rachael Lucas in conversation with Catherine Simpson; author of The Bedlam Stacks, Natasha Pulley; writer of bestselling Italian cookbooks Mary Contini; literary critic and author of A Manual for Heartache, Cathy Rentzenbrink; and Sir John Lister-Kay, one of Scotland’s best known naturalists.
Also, Scottish Book Trust will host a Poetry Slam in association with Edinburgh City of Literature at the Scottish Storytelling Centre on 28 November. Top poets Jenny Lindsay, Harry Giles, Andrew Blair and Katie Ailes will battle it out for the 2017 Book Week Scotland Poetry Slam title.
During Book Week, people of all ages and walks of life will come together in libraries, schools, community venues and workplaces, to share and enjoy books and reading. They will be joined in this celebration by Scotland’s authors, poets, playwrights, storytellers and illustrators to bring a packed programme of events and projects to life.
This year, for the first time, Book Week Scotland will include a Virtual Festival, a selection of online events that can be enjoyed and accessed by all, via Scottish Book Trust’s web and social media channels.
Book Week Scotland was initiated by the Scottish Government and is supported by £200,000 from the National Lottery through Creative Scotland Targeted Funding, and £24,000 for events from Scottish Library and Information Council.
Telling it True: an Evening with Rachael Lucas and Catherine Simpson
Monday 27 November, 6:30pm – 7.30pm
Join Rachael Lucas, and Catherine Simpson as they discuss how their lived experiences of autism informed their books. Rachael is a best-selling author whose first YA novel The State of Grace tells the story of a teenage girl with Aspergers figuring out where she fits in, and even if she wants to. Catherine’s book Truestory follows Sam, who has Aspergers, and his mother Alice as they struggle to make life work on the farm Sam refuses to leave. Rachael – who herself has Aspergers – and Catherine both have experience of raising an autistic daughter and the discussion will be led by Catherine’s daughter Nina Mega. This promises to be an event filled with truth, wit and understanding.
For more information about this event:
Fran Campbell
Email: frances.campbell@scottishbooktrust.com
Telephone: 0131 524 0160
Venue:
Waterstones
128 Princes Street, Edinburgh EH2 4AD
Book Week Scotland Poetry Slam 2017
Tuesday 28 November, 7:30pm – 9pm
Co-hosted with Edinburgh City of Literature, and broadcast to other UNESCO cities of literature around the world, this promises to be a pulsating night of competitive live poetry.
This scintillating slam will be contested over three rounds: the poem which nourishes you; the poem you want to share with the world; and the poem you want to feed your younger self.
Book your tickets now for a winter’s feast of poetry during Scotland’s week-long book party.
For more information about this event:
Telephone: 0131 556 9579
Venue:
Scottish Storytelling Centre, Netherbow Theatre
43-45 High St, Edinburgh EH1 1SR
A Manual for Heartache: Cathy Rentzenbrink
Wednesday 29 November, 7pm – 8pm
We will all be affected by grief at some point in our lives and most of us won’t know how to deal with it. Cathy’s new book A Manual for Heartache offers some insight into the lessons she learnt coping with the loss of her brother as a teenager. A chance to hear Cathy, author of the bestselling The Last Act of Love, speak about her new work and answer questions.
For more information about this event:
Fran Campbell
Email: frances.campbell@scottishbooktrust.com
Telephone: 0131 524 0162
Venue:
Scottish Storytelling Centre
43-45 High Street, Edinburgh EH1 1SR
Dear Alfonso: An Italian Feast of Love and Laughter
Tuesday 28 November, 6pm – 7pm
Mary Contini picks up the thread of her family story from 1934 in Naples to the establishment of the family business — Edinburgh’s acclaimed Valvona & Crolla. With her inimitable style she shares stories of exuberant family relationships, mouth-watering recipes and hilarious laughter, painting a vivid picture of life in wartime Italy and Scotland, and the decades immediately after.
For more information about this event:
Ollie Quinn
Email: o.quinn@nls.uk
Telephone: 0131 623 3747
Venue:
National Library of Scotland
George IV Bridge, Edinburgh EH1 1EW
Wednesday 29 November, 6.30pm – 7.30pm
Denise Mina is the author of twelve novels, five graphic novels, three plays, two films and half a pint of short stories. Here, she’ll be speaking about her book, The Long Drop, (winner of the 2017 McIlvanney Prize for the best Scottish crime book of the year) an extraordinarily unsettling, evocative and compelling novel based on true events. Copies of the book will be available on the day, and Denise will be signing books after the event.
For more information about this event:
Telephone: 0131 529 5603
Venue:
Colinton Library
14 Thorburn Road, Colinton Edinburgh EH13 0BQ
A Very Natural Childhood: an Evening with Sir John Lister-Kaye
Wednesday 29 November, 6.30pm – 7:30pm
Sir John Lister-Kaye’s new book, The Dun Cow Rib; a Very Natural Childhood, is a wonderful memoir which tells the story of his boyhood awakening to nature. In 2016 Sir Lister-Kaye was awarded the Scottish Geographical society Geddes Medal, so it is especially fitting that the newly opened Patrick Geddes Centre should play host to this very special event.
For more information about this event:
Fran Campbell
Email: frances.campbell@scottishbooktrust.com
Telephone: 0131 524 0161
Venue:
Patrick Geddes Centre
322 Lawnmarket, Riddles Court
Edinburgh EH1 2PG
For the full list of Edinburgh events, visit Scottish Book Trust’s website.
www.scottishbooktrust.com @scottishbktrust www.facebook.com/scottishbktrust
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