SATURDAY 8th OCTOBER

WRITING WORKSHOP: REBECCA MCKINNEY

10.30am-12.30pm                 PORTOBELLO BAPTIST CHURCH CAFÉ

Crosscurrents: writing inspired by the sea

What does the sea mean to you? Sunny holidays, storm surges, separation, connection? In this two-hour workshop, Rebecca, author of Blast Radius, will use the sights, sounds and smells of the sea to inspire creativity, awaken the senses and capture vibrant images. We will visit the Promenade so dress for all weathers and bring pen, paper and imagination. Writers of all levels welcome.

BRIDGES OVER THE FORTH  11.00am-12.00 noon  LIBRARY  UPSTAIRS  

Michael Meighan has written widely about the local and industrial history of Scotland. From his book Forth Bridges Through Time he talks about the history and heritage of the iconic bridges and other crossings that have spanned the river.

Chair:  Peter Ross

BOOKBUG 11.30am-12.00 noon      LIBRARY

Bookbug returns to the Book Festival for a half hour of fun, songs and rhymes.

SPANISH BOOKBUG 12.15-1.15pm    LIBRARY

Bookbug goes international! Join Sonia for Spanish songs and rhymes.

FILMISH  12.15-1.15pm     LIBRARY UPSTAIRS

Portobello-based comic artist Edward Ross, recently back from success at Toronto Comic Arts Festival 2016, discusses his debut graphic novel Filmish: A Graphic Journey Through Film, an engaging look at the history of cinema and the fascinating stories behind our favourite films.

Chair: Stephen Goodall

DANGEROUS WOMEN 1.00-2.30pm       PORTOBELLO BAPTIST CHURCH CAFÉ

Novelists Ajay Close and Catherine Hokin talk about what inspired them to write about women who shaped history. Catherine explores the fascinating story of medieval Queen Margaret of Anjou in her debut novel Blood and Roses.  Ajay’s A Petrol Scented Spring follows the extraordinary exploits of Edinburgh suffragette Arabella Scott.

Chair: Viv Cree

AN OLD LADY TALKING THE BLUES 1.30-2.30pm       LIBRARY UPSTAIRS

Novelists Isla Dewar, Women Talking Dirty, and Catherine Simpson, Truestory, discuss their adventures while writing, the catharsis they’ve experienced and problems they’ve encountered. They exchange views on favourite books, favourite bits of books, books they’d wish they’d written and books they’d like to write. Find out about their heroines, both living and on the page, and about the characters they admire, fear, love and hate.

KNOW YOUR PLACE 2.45-3.45pm    PORTOBELLO BAPTIST CHURCH CAFÉ

Sean Bradley is Chair of the Edinburgh Old Town Development Trust, publisher and editor of The Evergreen: A New Season in the North, a journal in four volumes based on polymath and urban planner Patrick Geddes’s 19^th century Evergreens. He will discuss the continuing relevance of Geddes’s work in urban renewal.

Chair: Bill Jameson

MESSING WITH THE MIND 2.45-4.15pm  LIBRARY UPSTAIRS

Mary Paulson-Ellis, debut author of The Other Mrs Walker, 

joins Graeme Macrae Burnet, whose His Bloody Project has been long listed for the 2016 Man Booker Prize, to talk about what inspired them to write their novels. They’ll discuss how they got into the mysterious minds of their characters and the appeal of psychological thrillers and the exploration of secrets, lies and deception. 

Chair: Graeme Howard

NORTH EDINBURGH NOIR 4.30-6.00pm  LIBRARY UPSTAIRS

Lesley Kelly, A Fine House in Trinity, and Alison Baillie, Sewing the Shadows Together, talk about the joys and pitfalls of setting crime stories in places they know really well. Come along to find out what inspired them and what the reaction has been to the places their crime novels are set: Portobello, Leith and Trinity!  

Chair: Caroline Dunford

BOOK QUIZ  8.00-10.00pm at the DALRIADA on the prom

£1 entry per person. No ticket required

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The programme for the Portobello Book Festival was officially launched tonight in a packed Dalriada on the prom. Authors, people chairing, organisers and past contributors all got together to hear Mae Shaw tell us about the busy and exciting programme of events planned for next month.

The book festival has grown over its 8 years from a small local community event to a larger local community event. It is run by local volunteers with a passion for books and reading who want to share their enthusiasm. It prides itself on being a free event – no-one is paid to take part and no-one pays to come along (though donations are always welcome!). As always, you can expect an eclectic mix of events with something for everyone. There are authors who have been nominated for prizes such as the Man Booker Prize and the McIlvanney Prize. You can enjoy events focussing on Tartan Noir novels, graphic novels, novels with a historical slant or listen to authors talk politics and much more besides. There is also a schools programme with events taking place in the local primaries and Portobello High School. There is even a school event with an ex-Olympian turned author – you can probably guess who! The festival is supported by Blackwell’s Book Shop who will be running bookstalls during the course of the event where you can buy books from the authors who are appearing.

Over the next few days the programme will be revealed with copies available to pick up in Portobello Library and tickets for all events available from next week. So first of all, here’s what you can look forward to on Friday 7th October. These events all take place in the library.

12.30-1.30pm                                                       

PORTOBELLO POTS AND PEOPLE

Sharing memories of the Buchan Potteries. Gavin May gives an informal talk on this iconic Portobello industry.

55+ Local transport provided: contact Portobello Library for information.

6.00-7.00pm                                                            

JOHN CURTICE

John Curtice is Professor of Politics at Strathclyde University and President of the British Polling Council. Well known for his expert analysis, his many publications include Has Devolution Worked? He will discuss the significance of polls and the recent upheaval in our political landscape.

Chair: Jane Meagher

8.00-10.30pm                                                                             

OPENING EVENT – WE’RE A’ JOCK TAMSON’S BAIRNS

Join David Francis and a host of local writers for an evening of words, music and conviviality, with special guests Liz Lochhead, poet, playwright, translator and broadcaster, and Patsy Seddon, Scottish Harp player and singer extraordinaire.                            

This year’s Portobello Book Festival dates have been announced. The festival will run from Friday 7th October to Sunday 9th October 2016.

The team are busy putting together the programme and it looks like it’s going to be another exciting festival!

Check back shortly to see who’s coming and find out how to get tickets.