Books Events
Events
Events are listed by date, then city. Submit listings at least ten days before publication to suzanne.black@list.co.uk. Listings are compiled by Suzanne Black.
Thursday 13 Glasgow FREE Book Launch: Allan Brown Waterstone’s, 153–157 Sauchiehall Street, 332 9105. 6.30–8pm. Local author Brown’s Inside the Wicker Man is a comedic look at the making of the cult British horror film. Hear him read from the book and get your copy signed.
Edinburgh Nothing but the Poem Scottish Poetry Library, 5 Crichton’s Close, Canongate, 557 2876. 6–7.30pm. £5 (£3). An informal poetry group which removes the pressures of review and criticism to focus instead on the reader’s response to the text. No background knowledge is necessary. With Ryan Van Winkle, Edinburgh’s poetry Reader in Residence.
✽✽ FREE Alan Warner Central Library, George IV Bridge, 242
8100. 6.30pm. Another Edinburgh Reads event. This time writer and musician Doug Johnstone probes Alan Warner (Morvern Callar) about his newest novel, The Stars in the Bright Sky, followed by a book signing. Booking essential. Paisley FREE Read Raw Open Mic Night Paisley Central Library, High Street, 887 3672. 7pm. Poetry nights organised by Read Raw in honour of the 200th anniversary of Robert Tannahill’s death. Submissions to Read Raw’s open poetry competition will be displayed, and the best included in a book.
Friday 14
Glasgow FREE Reading Allowed Tchai Ovna, 42 Otago Lane, 357 4524. 8pm. A monthly event of storytelling and poetry reading.
Saturday 15
Glasgow ✽✽ FREE Radical Independent Book Fair Project CCA, 350
Sauchiehall Street, 352 4900. 11am–9pm. Supporting small press publishers and independent producers, and circulating radical reading materials and information, this mini fair promises counter-culture publications, exciting visuals, vivid films and stimulating political discourse.
Edinburgh FREE Storytime: Margaret Forrester, Lari Don, Angus Corby Waterstone’s West End, 128 Princes Street, 226 2666. 1pm. Waterstone’s celebrates the launch of Floris Books’ new picture range, with Scottish authors Angus Corby, Lari Don and Margaret Forrester on hand to read from their new books.
Sunday 16
Glasgow FREE John Connolly Waterstone’s, 153–157 Sauchiehall Street, 332 9105. 1pm. The bestselling crime author signs his latest novel, The Whisperers. Check out the GreatOffers on page 6
34 THE LIST 13–27 May 2010
Monday 17
Glasgow FREE Read Out! Read In! Feminist Lines of Flight in Art and Politics 350 Sauchiehall Street, 352 4900. 5–7pm. A reading group discussing Kindness, a poem by Sylvia Plath. Open to all but prior reading of the poem is recommended. Rescheduled from 27 April. Creative Writing Class Charlie Reid Centre, 19 Elmbank St, 6–8pm. £6.50 (block of six £30). A series of workshops entitled ‘Discover the Writer Within’. Term starts Mon 8 Feb. Booking essential on 07960 823712 or email prism.atic@virgin.net
Tuesday 18 Glasgow Margaret Macaulay Royal Concert Hall: Strathclyde Suite, 2 Sauchiehall Street, 622 8206. 1pm. £6 (£5 in advance). In The Prisoner of St Kilda Margaret Macaulay uncovers the fascinating true tale of Lady Grange, who was kidnapped from her home in Edinburgh’s New Town in 1732 and exiled on some of Scotland’s remotest islands. FREE Buffalo Bill’s Wild West in Glasgow Mitchell Library, 201 North Street, 287 2999. 6–7pm. Tom Cunningham, author of Your Fathers the Ghosts: Buffalo Bill’s Wild West in Scotland, reveals the stories and truths surrounding Buffalo Bill and his Wild
West Shows in Glasgow at the turn of the century. Edinburgh CPD Day: Creative Storytelling in the Curriculum Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. 10.30am–4.30pm. £32 (network members £26). A day-long course designed to inspire teachers of mid-upper primary or lower secondary school pupils to use stories as the basis for cross-curricular projects. Led by Bea Ferguson and Charlotte Murray. Must be booked in advance. FREE The Lore of Scotland National Library of Scotland, George IV Bridge, 623 3918. 6pm. Sophia Kingshill shares some of Scotland’s many fantastic folkloric tales and legends, taken from her book The Lore of Scotland, co-written with Jennifer Westwood. Must be booked in advance.
Wednesday 19 Glasgow FREE Don’t Eat the Mic Tchai Ovna, 42 Otago Lane, 357 4524. 8pm. Fortnightly readings of poetry and short stories.
Thursday 20
Glasgow ✽✽ FREE Lesley McDowell in conversation with Lesley
Riddoch Waterstone’s, 153–157 Sauchiehall Street, 332 9105. 6.30–8pm.
AL Kennedy Not content with being an acclaimed and beloved author of non-fiction books such as On Bullfighting, novels of the calibre of Everything You Need and short story collections with titles such as Night Geometry and the Garscadden Trains, Alison Kennedy has turned her hand to the decidedly different craft of stand-up comedy. For this NLS Inspirations event, she will be revealing the books and writers who have had a profound effect on her own literature. ■ National Library of Scotland, Edinburgh, Wed 26 May.
McDowell discusses her new book Between the Sheets, a saucy look at the lives and loves of nine of the 20th century’s greatest female writers, and will sign copies afterwards. Edinburgh FREE Invitation to the Dance: Poetry reading National Gallery Complex, The Mound, 624 6200. 12.45–1.15pm. Enjoy a selection of poems on the subject of dance, from wedding waltzes to jive and jitterbug, read by Robyn Marsack, director of the Scottish Poetry Library. Rakugo in Edinburgh Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. 7–9.30pm. £5 (£3). Rakugo is a form of Japanese verbal entertainment in which a storyteller sits on the stage and uses a paper fan and a small cloth as props to share a long and complicated comical story. Includes a Q&A and drinks reception.
Saturday 22
Glasgow ✽✽ FREE Radical Independent Book Fair Project CCA, 350
Sauchiehall Street, 352 4900. 11am–9pm. See Sat 15.
Paisley FREE Read Raw Open Mic Night Paisley Arts Centre, New Street, 887 1010. 7pm. See Thu 13.
Monday 24
Glasgow Creative Writing Class Charlie Reid Centre, 19 Elmbank St, 6–8pm. £6.50 (block of six £30). See Mon 17. Edinburgh FREE Blackwell Book Group Blackwell, 53–59 South Bridge, 622 8206. 6pm. The second instalment of this new book group turns its attentions to William Goldman’s swashbuckling fairytale The Princess Bride. Email events.edinburgh@blackwell.co.uk to register for the group and get a discount on the chosen book.
Tuesday 25
Glasgow ✽✽ Conversation Pieces: Norman Maclean Royal Concert Hall, 2
Sauchiehall Street, 353 8000. 1pm. £6 (£5 in advance). The comedian and musician talks about his frank and funny autobiography, The Leper’s Bell: The Autobiography of a Changeling.
Wednesday 26
Edinburgh ✽✽ FREE Inspirations at NLS: AL Kennedy National Library of
Scotland, George IV Bridge, 623 3918. 6pm. The Scottish author and comedian talks about the writers and other influences that make her excited.
Thursday 27
Edinburgh FREE Geoff Coyle: The Riches beneath our Feet Blackwell, 53–59 South Bridge, 622 8206. 6.30pm. Professor Geoff Coyle’s new book is an intimate account of how mining helped shape Britain. From tales of miners’ lives to mine conditions and disasters, Coyle’s mining background allows a personal insight into the subject. Please arrive for 6.15pm. Ayr Burns an’ a’ that Various venues, 01292 616265. Times vary. Prices vary. Expect a whole host of music, song, poetry, art, Ayrstrike (the largest coarse fishing competition in Scotland) and Ayrplay, the Burns Showcase for New Bands Competition 2010.