Following the success of last year’s workshop, we take inspiration from what’s around us to kick start and develop our creative writing. First time and seasoned writers all welcome. The workshop is led by two local writers, M Louise Kelly and Sheila M Averbuch.
Tickets for all Portobello Book Festival events are free and can be picked up from Portobello Library in Rosefield Avenue.
Join David Francis and a host of artistes for what promises to be a very entertaining evening of words and music inspired by books, and books inspired by music.
There will be musical contributions inspired by books from Rosie Nimmo, Lee Patterson, Doug Johnstone, Dave Francis, Eileen Penman, Steven Palmer, Carlos Arredondo, Lisa Rigby and Penny Stone. You can also look forward to hearing writing inspired by songs from a variety of local writers.
REFRESHMENTS will be available.
Tickets for all Portobello Book Festival events are free and can be picked up from Portobello Library in Rosefield Avenue.
Our first event features authors Archie Foley and Peter E Ross introducing a selection of personal stories and reminiscences from their new book Footprints in the Sand – local history from the Portobello Reporter.
The accounts of events, places and individuals reveal Portobello not just as a holiday resort but also as a community where people lived and worked. Readings by Archie and Margaret Munro.
Local transport can be provided for those who need it. Contact Portobello Library for information.
Tickets for all Portobello Book Festival events are free and can be picked up from Portobello Library in Rosefield Avenue.
The wait is over! The programme for the 2017 Portobello Book Festival, 6th-8th October, has now been revealed. We have a busier programme than ever this year and are very excited to be welcoming our authors, contributors and guests. Tickets to all events are, as always, free and will be available next week from Portobello Library.
Click the link below to see the full programme and look out for more info about each individual event over the coming weeks.
BLACKWELL’S BOOKSHOP
Books by participating authors will be available.
Tickets for all events can be collected in person from
Portobello Library from 4th September. Some tickets
will be available at venues 15 minutes before events.
PORTOBELLO BOOK FESTIVAL
is organized by local enthusiasts and Portobello Library.
If you have ideas or would like to be involved, please contact:
portobellobookfestival@gmail.com
VENUES
PORTOBELLO LIBRARY
14 Rosefield Avenue, Portobello EH15 1AU
PORTOBELLO BAPTIST CHURCH HALL
189 Portobello High Street, Edinburgh EH15 1EU
DALRIADA
77 Promenade, Portobello EH15 2EL
The programme for this year’s festival running from 6-8th October will be launched on 1st September. Check back here for details of all the wonderful events we will be running this year and all the fabulous authors who will be appearing.
Local photographer Jon Davey was dashing between events on Saturday and has kindly sent us some of his photos to share. You can find out more about Jon and his photography by visiting www.jondaveyphotography.co.uk
A selection of photos from another brilliant weekend at the Portobello Book Festival. Thank you to everyone who came along, to all those who chaired the events and especially to the fantastic authors who took part.
A selection of photos from just some of the events on Saturday. These are all from a phone and much better photos will follow from many more of the events.
Saturday was a beautiful day in Portobello which was just perfect for the Writer’s Workshop led by Rebecca McKinney. Everyone went down to the beach for a bit of inspiration. This obviously worked as the quality and range of work produced was amazing.
Catherine Hokin and Ajay Close spoke about what inspired them to write about women who shaped history in a session chaired by Viv Cree. Catherine’s debut novel Blood and Roses looks at the fascinating story of medieval Queen Margaret of Anjou. Ajay’s A Petrol Scented Spring follows the extraordinary exploits of Edinburgh suffragette Arabella Scott.
Novelist Catherine Simpson (Truestory) chatted with Isla Dewar about her many books and inspirations in a really entertaining session. Isla spoke about her heroines, both living and on the page, and told us a little about the novel she’s working on now which is set in Portobello.
We were delighted to have Man Book shortlisted author Graeme Macrae Burnet (His Bloody Project) joining us along with Mary Paulson-Ellis (The Other Mrs Walker). Their session was called Messing with the Mind and they discussed how they got into the mysterious minds of their characters and the exploration of secrets, lies and deception.
Lesley Kelly (A Fine House in Trinity) and Alison Baillie (Sewing the Shadows Together) took part in a session about North Edinburgh Noir ably chaired by Caroline Dunford. They spoke about the joys and pitfalls of setting crime stories in places they know really well. They discussed what inspired them and what the reaction has been in the places their crime novels are set: Portobello, Leith and Trinity!
Portobello Book Festival isn’t just for adults! Children from the local primary schools enjoyed visits from some authors this morning too.
The primary 4 pupils from the local cluster all went to Towerbank to hear Sir Chris Hoy talk about his children’s books Flying Fergus.
Brunstane Primary were treated to ‘Can’t -Dance-Cameron’ storytelling, science, football with pine cones and dancing from Aunty Emily (Emily Dodd)
Primary 6A and 6B at Duddingston Primary were entertained by Lari Don as she read from her latest book, Spellchasers, and encouraged them to use their imaginations to create their own exciting adventure stories. You don’t need to worry if you are ever in a sticky situation with these children – they have plenty creative ideas to help you escape!
With just a short while to go before the Portobello Book Festival begins, we are delighted that there has been so much interest in the events we have planned. So much interest, in fact, that some events have only a handful of tickets left! Remember, the only way to get tickets is to collect them from the library. So don’t leave it too late to pop in and find out if there any tickets left for events you are interested in.
Portobello Book Festival 