Glencairn launches second short story competition

THE Glencairn Glass has launched the second instalment of its crime short story competition, in partnership with the Bloody Scotland International Crime Writing Festival and Scottish Field magazine, with a theme of “A crime story set in Scotland”. Last year’s maiden competition attracted entries from talented crime writers across the globe. Over the past three…

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Outlander author Diana Gabaldon in Inverness tomorrow

EDEN Court Theatre in Inverness will host Outlander creator Diana Gabaldon tomorrow for a special event organised by her fans. Hundreds of fans have traveled to the Highland capital from throughout the world for tomorrow’s even, which was set up by local fan group Inverness Outlanders. Gabaldon’s books and subsequent television series have boosted visitor…

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Glasgow Print Studio marks National Poetry Day

TO MARK National Poetry Day, Glasgow Print Studio is holding a preview tonight of a exhibition inspired in part by Scottish poet Sorley MacLean. Artist Ken Currie took inspiration for “Chunnacas na mairbh beò” – “The Dead Have Been Seen Alive” – from MacLean’s poem “Hallaig”, about the clearances on the Isle of Raasay. The…

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14th-century woman’s face revealed by Whithorn Priory

THE face of a 14th-century woman buried on a bed of seashells at Whithorn Priory will be revealed today as part of Wigtown Book Festival. The woman’s features have been recreated in a three-dimensionial (3D) animation, with sound. Her face is being unveiled ahead of “Bishops, Bones, and Burials”, a Whithorn Trust event that will…

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Wigtown Book Festival welcomes fiddlers

MUSICIANS from throughout Dumfries & Galloway joined members of the Scottish Fiddle Orchestra (SFO) for a concert yesterday lunchtime at Wigtown Book Festival. Beth Porter of The Bookshop Band was among the fiddlers taking part, along with her baby, Emmy Please. The SFO was co-founded by the late John Mason, who spent much of his…

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National Theatre of Scotland sets sail with Kidnapped

THE National Theatre of Scotland has unveiled its retelling of Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic novella, Kidnapped. The show will have its world premiere at the Beacon Arts Centre in Greenock on 31 March. It will then go on tour to the Theatre Royal in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Eden Court in Inverness, Perth Theatre, and Northern Stage…

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Book Festival sends ‘Outriders’ on their way

FOUR Scottish writers are teaming up with a quartet of their European contemporaries for Edinburgh International Book Festival’s third “Outriders” project. The programme was launched in 2017, with Scottish writers pairing up with international peers to travel through the Americas and Africa. The writers share stories from their trips at the Edinburgh International Book Festival.…

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Wigtown Book Festival inspires Irish book town

IRELAND could soon get its first “book town” thanks to inspiration from Wigtown Book Festival. Granard in County Longford aims to raise £20,000 for its inaugural literary festival. Wigtown has been hailed as the “perfect model for arts-based economic regeneration”. The Galloway community became “Scotland’s National Book Town” in 1998. Its ten-day Wigtown Book Festival…

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Winners revealed at Bloody Scotland book festival

TWO crime writers carried off the top prizes last night as the Bloody Scotland book festival got underway in Stirling. Alan Parks won the McIlvanney Prize for May God Forgive, while Tariq Ashkanani took the Bloody Scotland Debut Prize with Welcome to Cooper. Ayo Onatade, chair of the McIlvanney Prize judges, described May God Forgive…

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Host named for Outlander author Diana Gabaldon event

THE host has been named for an event in Inverness with Outlander author Diana Gabaldon. Local historian and author Sarah Fraser will interview the writer on stage at Eden Court theatre on 15 October. Fraser appeared in the Men in Kilts television series alongside Outlander stars Sam Heughan and Graham MacTavish “I am very excited…

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