Books
Wigtown Book Festival reveals line-up
WIGTOWN Book Festival has unveiled its online programme, which includes the world premier of author Alexander McCall Smith’s Ninian’s Gift song cycle Other highlights across the ten-day virtual festival include Alastair Campbell, Maggie O’Farrell, and Andrew Marr. More than 80 guests will take part in the festival, which aims to promote local businesses affected by…
Read MoreBloody Scotland names McIlvanney Prize finalists
FOUR writers have been shortlisted for The McIlvanney Prize. The winner will be announced on 18 September as part of the Bloody Scotland International Crime Writing Festival. This year’s finalists are Andrew James Greig for Whirligig, Francine Toon for Pine, Doug Johnstone for A Dark Matter, and “Ambrose Parry” – husband-and-wife team Chris Brookmyre and…
Read MoreBook festival hails global audience
THOUSANDS of viewers from throughout the world have tuned in to watch live sessions from the Edinburgh International Book Festival online. People have watched the performances from as far away as Algeria, Brazil and Nigeria. Highlights from the first few days of the virtual festival have included Ian Rankin, Julia Donaldson, Hilary Mantel, and Bumi…
Read MoreBorders Book Festival unveils August shows
ACTIVIST and entrepreneur Jeremiah Emmanuel, broadcaster and novelist Sally Magnusson, and author and ex-bishop Richard Holloway are among the writers appearing as part of the Borders Book Festival’s online programme during August. All the talks will be free to watch over the internet, with all of July’s events still available to watch online too. Family…
Read MoreAuthors pick top lockdown crime novels
Ahead of the Bloody Scotland International Crime Writing Festival, which begins online on 18 September, authors Alex Gray and Gordon Brown – who writes as Morgan Cry – pick their favourite lockdown books. Alex Gray Three books that were really good during lockdown days include Kate Atkinson’s Big Sky. A terrific read, thoroughly enjoyable, beautifully written and quirky.…
Read MoreBorders Book Festival unveils virtual programme
PERFORMANCE poet Joseph Coelho, illustrator Fiona Lumbers and author Jill Calder lead the line-up of online children’s events at this month’s Borders Book Festival. Coelho and Lumbers will talk about the latest installment in their Luna Loves series, while Calder will lead a drawing and book-making workshop. Online events for adults include broadcaster Kirsty Wark…
Read MoreIrish author scoops Walter Scott Prize
A NOVEL that explores the marriage of artists Edward and Jo Hopper has been awarded the Walter Scott Prize For Historical Fiction. Irish author Christine Dwyer Hickey’s The Narrow Landwas unveiled as the winner on Friday night. Normally, the prize would be awarded as part of the Borders Book Festival in Melrose but, due to the…
Read MoreOutlander star Sam Heughan reflects on his Steiner school days
HOLLYWOOD heartthrob Sam Heughan has spoken about his time as a pupil at the Edinburgh Steiner School during a new online video interview. The star of Outlander, the television series based on the historical fantasy books by Diana Gabaldon, said: “The Steiner education gives you this understanding about the world; that you are not being…
Read MoreBirds of a feather….
While most small businesses have been poleaxed by the pandemic, it has led to a remarkable growth in sales for one fledgling Scottish business. Edinburgh-based Rare Birds Book Club, a book subscription service aimed at women, has seen a 52% increase in sales since the lockdown. The company’s offering, which is a monthly book delivery…
Read MoreA guide to the nation’s breweries and distilleries
A comprehensive and colourful guide to over 340 breweries, cider mills, vineyards and distilleries across Britain is set for release. Recent years have seen a huge increase in the number of these places all over the country not only operating but also welcoming visitors, from small single-man producers working from home to large, world-famous labels,…
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