Books Events

Events Events are listed by date, then city. Submit listings at least ten days before publication to books@list.co.uk. Listings are compiled by Tasmin Campbell.

Thursday 8

Edinburgh FREE The Drawing Book Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. 10am–6pm. Art students, young authors and illustrators from schools across the city who have been working with Vivian French to put together this fun exhibition of animal books and drawings. FREE James Macaulay: Charles Rennie Mackintosh Blackwell, 53–59 South Bridge, 622 8206. 6.30pm. The famed Scottish architect and artist is the subject of this new biography by James Macaulay. Please arrive for 6.15pm.

Livingston ✽✽ FREE Meet Louise Welsh Waterstone’s, The Elements, 308

Almondvale, 01506 435893. 6–7pm. Meet the bestselling local author of The Bullet Trick and The Cutting Room. She will discuss and read from her latest thriller, Naming the Bones, and sign copies afterwards.

Friday 9

Glasgow FREE Meet Jack George Edmunson Waterstone’s, 153–157 Sauchiehall Street, 332 9105. 10am. Jack George Edmunson promotes his new book The Sun Sharer. Edinburgh FREE The Drawing Book Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. 10am–6pm. See Thu 8.

Saturday 10 Edinburgh FREE The Drawing Book Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. 10am–6pm. See Thu 8.

Sunday 11 Edinburgh FREE The Drawing Book Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. See Thu 8. Whimsical Tales of Eroticism Ghillie Dhu, 2 Rutland Place, 222 9930. 6pm. £15. Storyteller Wendy Woolfson spins some cheeky tales while you enjoy a two-course dinner and an arrival cocktail.

Monday 12

Edinburgh FREE The Drawing Book Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. 10am–6pm. See Thu 8. St Andrews FREE Kenny Reid: Golf Talk and Signing Waterstone’s, 103 Market Street, 01334 477893. 7pm. Kenny Reid talks about his new book A Major Obsession and signs copies afterwards.

Tuesday 13

Glasgow ✽✽ FREE Homage to Caledonia: Scotland and the Spanish Civil

War William Patrick Library, 2–4 West High Street, Kirkintilloch, 7pm. Ticketed. Author Daniel Gray discusses his powerful and thought-provoking book on the contribution of Scots to the Spanish Civil War, which ended 70 years ago last year.

Edinburgh FREE The Drawing Book Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. 10am–6pm. See Thu 8.

38 THE LIST 8–22 Jul 2010

St Andrews FREE David Malcolm: Golf Talk and Signing Waterstone’s, 103 Market Street, 01334 477893. 7pm. Author David Malcolm talks about his new book Tom Morris of St Andrews and signs copies afterwards.

Wednesday 14

Edinburgh FREE The Drawing Book Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. 10am–6pm. See Thu 8. FREE Douglas Jackson: Hero of Rome Blackwell, 53–59 South Bridge, 622 8206. 6.30pm. Ticketed. The launch of Douglas Jackson’s new trilogy, an epic dramatised account of Boudicca’s rebellion against the Romans. Please arrive for 6.15pm.

Kilmartin Storytelling Sessions Kilmartin House Museum, 01546 510278. 1.30pm & 2.45pm. £5 (£2). Two 45-minute storytelling sessions to tie in with the Digs and Discoveries exhibition. St Andrews FREE David Purdie and Hugh Dodd: Golf Talk and Signing Waterstone’s, 103 Market Street, 01334 477893. 7pm. The golfing duo discuss their new book The Greatest Game, on the ‘Ancyent and Healthfulle Exercyse of the Golf’, and sign copies afterwards.

Thursday 15

Edinburgh FREE The Drawing Book Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. 10am–6pm. See Thu 8.

✽✽ FREE Christine de Luca: North End of Eden Scottish Poetry

Library, 5 Crichton’s Close, Canongate, 225 4326. 6.30pm. Readings of selected works from award-winning poet Christine De Luca’s North End of Eden, which centres on the wildness and beauty of Shetland and insights into its inhabitants. All welcome. Doors at 6pm. FREE Conflict in Relationships: Understand It, Overcome It Blackwell, 53–59 South Bridge, 622 8222. 6.30pm. Ticketed. Sage advice and lively discussion from psychologists and authors Sara Savage and Eolene Boyd-MacMillan, whose new book deals with the best way to relate to the people in your life, even when they’re driving you mental. Please arrive for 6.15pm. FREE Edinburgh Skeptics The Bongo Club, Moray House, 37 Holyrood Road, 558 7604. 8pm. A talk from Kenneth Humphreys, author of Jesus Never Existed, which makes a case for the mythical origins of the bible.

Friday 16

Edinburgh FREE The Drawing Book Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. 10am–6pm. See Thu 8. Writing Your Crime Novel Royal Over- Seas League, 100 Princes Street, 225 1501. £295. A one-day workshop on how to create a thrilling pageturner. Highly acclaimed crime author Tony Black discusses everything from initial ideas to characterisation to plot and craft, and literary agent Allan Guthrie explains how to undertake the difficult task of getting published. Includes lunch and refreshments.

Saturday 17 Edinburgh FREE The Drawing Book Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. 10am–6pm. See Thu 8. Poetry Surgeries with Kona Macphee Scottish Poetry Library, 5 Crichton’s Close, Canongate, 0207 420 9881. 11am–4.45pm. £40 (Poetry Society members £30). The opportunity to discuss

Jeff Lindsay If you are a big fan of the serial killer forensic cop anti-hero of American telly show Dexter, you may

want to meet the mind who created this memorable character in the first place. Or you may want to run a million miles in the opposite direction. Waterstone’s, Glasgow, Wed 21 Jul.

your poetry on a one-to-one basis with published poet Kona Macphee. There are five hour-long slots available throughout the day. See www.poetrysociety.org.uk/content/members hip/surgery for details.

Sunday 18

Edinburgh FREE The Drawing Book Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. See Thu 8.

Monday 19 Edinburgh FREE The Drawing Book Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. 10am–6pm. See Thu 8. FREE Blackwell Book Group Blackwell, 53–59 South Bridge, 622 8222. 6pm. This month’s study is one of English literature’s longest novels: Vikram Seth’s A Suitable Boy, a love story set in post- Independence India. FREE A Major Obsession National Library of Scotland, George IV Bridge, 623 3918. 6pm. Ticketed. Golf obsessive Kenny Reid tells of the fan’s pilgrimage around all of the world’s major golf tournaments, which led to his book, A Major Obsession.

✽✽ Cachín Cachán Cachunga! The Street, 2 Picardy Place, 556 4272.

7.30pm. £3 (£2). A queer and trans night of dance, film, poetry and music. This month features London’s DF Collier reading from her upcoming novel and fun tunes from Alex’s Hilarious Enterprises UnLtd. See Around Town, page 33.

Wednesday 21

Glasgow ✽✽ Meet Jeff Lindsay: Dexter is Delicious Waterstone’s, 153–157 Sauchiehall Street, 332 9105. 6.30–8pm. £3. Everyone’s favourite serial killer (Dexter, that is) gets another outing as Lindsay discusses his latest bestseller.

Edinburgh FREE The Drawing Book Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. 10am–6pm. See Thu 8. Planet of the Apps Ghillie Dhu, 2 Rutland Place, 222 9930. 8pm. £4 (£2). Writers’ Bloc presents a technology- themed session of spoken word entertainment covering everything from internet stalking to burlesque-themed alien abductions, featuring authors Hannu Rajaniemi, Andrew J Wilson, Morag Edward, Andrew C Ferguson, Gavin Inglis and Stefan Pearson.

Tuesday 20 Thursday 22

Edinburgh FREE The Drawing Book Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. 10am–6pm. See Thu 8. Edinburgh FREE The Drawing Book Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. 10am–6pm. See Thu 8.