The mystery and hunt for the fabled Blue Horse

Dark and atmospheric, this much-anticipated novel set in the art world tells the story of George Newhouse who is a newly appointed art curator at the Public Gallery in Edinburgh. His obsessive search for a missing Dutch masterpiece, the titular Blue Horse, leads him from Edinburgh to London, Venice and New York. The painting’s provenance…

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Bake Off’s Sandi is heading to Scotland

Organisers of the Edinburgh International Book Festival announced an event with national treasure Sandi Toksvig. Sandi will launch her new memoir Between the Stops in conversation with Scottish journalist Ruth Wishart at the Assembly Rooms on George Street on Sunday 3 November. Much like its beloved author, Toksvig’s Between the Stops wittily defies convention. A…

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Successes at inaugural Scots Language Awards

The first annual Scots Language Awards were held on Friday night. Hosted by Alistair Heather and Frieda Morrison, it saw nominees and the audience from right across Scotland head to Glasgow to celebrate the Scots Language, before enjoying live performances from MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards 2018 Singer of The Year Iona Fyfe, musician,…

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The dog whisperer who saves canine lives

Abbie Withers has worked with dogs for 35 years, in film and TV, and now as a behavioural consultant, saving dogs which might otherwise be put to sleep How did you first get started working with dogs? I worked as a vet nurse in the UK and in South Africa and met another nurse who…

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Stirling’s secrets are revealed in a new book

Stirling is Scotland’s smallest Royal City, and also one of its newest. But, strangely, it’s also the ancient capital and one of the most important locations in all of Scottish history. On Monday 30 September, Extremis Publishing is releasing a new book by Murray Cook. With full-colour illustrations, Digging into Stirling’s Past: Uncovering the Secrets…

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A cracking psychological thriller

In this psychological thriller, Breakers, 17-year-old Tyler is the glue that is holding his family together – just. Living in a deprived Edinburgh tower block, with drug addict mum and little sister, Tyler is coerced into a life of crime by his older half-brother, Barry. In a botched-up job, Barry stabs the wife of a…

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Scots language poem wins international poetry prize

A poem in Scots has won the annual £1,500 international Wigtown Prize for poetry for the first time. Shiftin, by Mhairi Owens, was among entries from poets from as far afield as the USA, China, Canada and Ecuador, writing in English, Scots and Scottish Gaelic. This year, the Wigtown Prize was opened up to entries…

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Monsters, goblins, Nessie and more in a fun book

An Illustrated Treasury of Scottish Castle Legends comes from Carnegie-award-winning children’s author Theresa Breslin and artist Kate Leiper, who was longlisted for the Kate Greenway Medal. This is a stunning book of tales centred on some of Scotland’s iconic castles. Secret passages at Edinburgh Castle, mysterious monsters at Glamis, grumpy goblins in Caerlaverock and the…

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Two nights of music coming to a Scottish castle

The National Trust for Scotland’s Castle Fraser will be filled with music for the next two weekends. And the team hope this will encourage visitors to fall in love with music. On 14 September, Fiona Kelly from The Voice UK will be hosting a Night at the Opera. She’ll be performing popular songs from the…

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Celebrating storytelling with cultural exchange

The 2019 Scottish International Storytelling Festival hosts 15 guest artists from Canada, along with 60 Scottish storytellers, as part of its biggest international exchange to date. The group, which includes storytellers, musicians and dancers, represents the rich cultural diversity and heritage of Canada. They will perform in Edinburgh and travel across Scotland, as part of…

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