2012

Ready Steady Festival

Joanne 2012, Home , ,

Nearly there… The Portobello Book Festival 2012 starts tomorrow – here’s the full programme

The Portobello Book Festival starts this Friday, 5th October, and there’ll be a whole weekend of readings and chances to hear about and talk about books with people who love them as much as you do.

Our Gala Opening, “The Library at Night”, is shaping up to be a great mix of published and unpublished writers reading their own work, actors presenting material and talented musicians linking it all together. There are still a few tickets left (but not too many) so do come along. And better still, there’ll be a chance to hear about (and maybe support) the charity Book Aid International who’ll be coming to talk to us too.

And don’t forget there’s a chance to show your support for Libraries by coming to the “What are Libraries For?” event on Sunday (3.30 – 5.00). It’s chaired by MSP Kenny MacAskill, and will give you the chance to hear the views of an award winning novelist (Nicola Morgan), Edinburgh’s Schools librarian guru (Cleo Jones), knowledgeable local librarian (Heather Morrison) and a valued and informed library user (Stuart Fraser). There’ll be plenty time for your views and questions too. So come along (Portobello Library, 3.30pm, Sunday 7th Oct).

Sat 6th October: Writing Workshop

Joanne 2012, Home ,

As part of the 2012 Portobello Book Festival we are running a writer’s workshop, led by a local writer, Marianne Paget.

This interactive writing workshop aims to inspire your writing by –
bringing together local writers to share experience and to exchanging tips on what when, and where to write; encouraging you to flex your writing muscles with some fun, on-the-spot exercises; examining how to give and receive feedback on writing in order to improve it, and supporting you in identifying your writing goals for the future.
Workshop is Free

Maximum 16 places.
Sign up via Portobello Library

Writing competition: The Library at night

Joanne 2012, Home , , ,

The Library at Night – this is the theme of the opening event of the 2012
Portobello Book Festival. We are planning a rich programme of spoken word –
poetry and prose – with guest contributors from Portobello and beyond. There’ll
be music too! We’d like to hear your response (no more than 500 words please)
on what ‘the library at night’ conjures up for you, whatever age or background.
It could be fantasy, comedy, opinion or based loosely on your own experience.

Some of the responses will be chosen for ‘performance’ at the opening event –
by the author or somebody else. So, go on, have a go! You will be supporting the
Book Festival and it could be fun.

Closing date: 3rd September 2012
Hand in to : Heather at Portobello library or email to portobellobookfestival@gmail.com