Books
Book review – Ghost by Helen Grant
What’s the story? Ghost is the tale of Augusta McAndrew, a girl living on a remote Scottish estate with her elderly grandmother Rose. She knows little of the outside world and has never left the house which the locals believe to be haunted. Her world is totally turned on its head when her Grandmother leaves…
Read MoreNew Robert Louis Stevenson Fellowships
Four authors have been honoured by the Scottish Book Trust. The Trust, the national charity changing lives through reading and writing, has revealed that the four Robert Louis Stevenson Fellowships for 2018 have been awarded to Jenni Fagan, David Keenan, Theresa Muñoz and Shane Strachan. The Fellows were selected by a panel, which changes every…
Read MoreReview: A History of Scotland’s Landscapes
What’s the story? Seeking to decode Scotland’s city and rural landscapes, Fiona Watson and Piers Dixon show us how to ‘read’ the environment around us. As they take us through the history of Scotland’s hills, lochs, roads and buildings, the reader is taught how identify historic features in the modern landscape. Highlights From the outset…
Read MoreScots writer Maggie Ritchie shortlisted for prize
A Scots writer has been shortlisted for the prestigious Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize 2018. Maggie Ritchie’s literary romantic thriller Looking for Evelyn is one of six novels recognised by the prize, which celebrates the best adventure writing. Maggie said: ‘I’m so pleased that Saraband agreed to publish Looking for Evelyn, so pleased people are…
Read MoreBook review – Maggie’s Mittens is a charming story
What’s the story? This is a charming tale of a young girl who, in spite of her mother’s wishes, doesn’t want to wear her hot, fuzzy mittens… While on a tour of some of Scotland’s most picturesque destinations, including St Andrews’ Old Course, Maggie hopes to find a new home for her horrible mittens. Scottish…
Read MoreQueen of Crime will join their silver celebrations
Scotland’s Queen of Crime is to join the birthday celebrations for the Friends of Innerpeffray Library. Friends of Innerpeffray Library in Perthshire are 25 this year, to celebrate and further support the library they have some special events planned. Val McDermid will speak in the chapel on the evening of 14 June. Val has sold…
Read MoreRead all about it as Wigtown marks 20 years as book town
Scotland’s national book town is celebrating its 20th anniversary this week. In 1998, Wigtown in Dumfries and Galloway was declared Scotland’s National Book Town – a move that transformed its fortunes after years of decline. The closure of a large creamery and a distillery had seen the fortunes of the rural Dumfries and Galloway town…
Read MoreGreat storytelling is just out of this world
What’s the story? Three classic Doctor Who stories from the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s have been given the audiobook treatment. This trio of adventures in time and space were originally novelised during the seventies and eighties, but are now brought to vivid life thanks to some dynamic narration and fantastic sound design. Highlights Genesis of…
Read MoreBoswell Festival of biography was fully booked
This year’s all-star guests at the Boswell Book Festival have given it a resounding thumbs up. TV’s Gogglebox star and Festival author Mary Killen perfectly captured the mood of this year’s Boswell Book Festival at Dumfries House in Ayrshire, when she said: ‘I had no idea how wonderful it would be!’ This year’s festival was…
Read MoreTalk will discuss reintroduction of lynx to Scotland
A discussion about the potential of reintroducing the lynx to Scotland is taking place next month. Ecologist Dr David Hetherington will talk about his new book The Lynx and Us, at the Aigas field centre in Invernesshire. The Lynx and Us features stunning photography of wild lynx from Laurent Geslin – and looks to inform…
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