Top 10 unmissable events of Book Week Scotland

Book Week Scotland is invading the country, and with this comes a whole host of events to attend. From talks to workshops, with events aimed at adults, children and everything inbetween, there is something for the whole family.

Book Week Scotland 2015 logo

Braw Words and Mingin Stories with Matthew Fitt

At a time when the rest of Britain is only getting to grips with the Scot’s slang, Matthew Fitt will be having fun with Scottish words and language. Learn about Scotland’s dialects and explore tales using Scottish languages.

23 November 09:30

Pumphersyon, West Lothian, West Lothian

Colour me Bookiful: Colouring for Adults Only!

Think that Crayolas are just for the kids? Think again with these adult colouring events. Adult colouring in is one of the biggest trends out there at the moment and its not hard to see why, with many picking up these books as a relaxation tool. Grab your pens, a cup of coffee and cake and while away an hour or two. Colouring materials and refreshments will be provided.

23, 25 & 26 November, 14:00

Dunfermline, Fife

What the Soldiers Read in WWI

Among the cultural activities in which solders engaged on the Western Front, reading was perhaps the most common. But what did the ordinary soldier read? How was literary taste redefined by the conditions of war? Listen to Professor Bill Bell answer these and other questions relating to the role of print in what would come to be called the Great War for civilization.

23 November, 18:00

George IV Bridge, Edinburgh

Crime & Cupcakes: Afternoon Tea with Lin Anderson

Join Lin Anderson in Elgin Library Gallery, transformed for the day into a tearoom. Enjoy tea, sandwiches and cakes and drink and soak up the atmosphere as acclaimed crime writer and founding member of the Bloody Scotland festival, Lin talks about her gritty novels. Cobbs Café will provide the delicious goodies at a bargain price of £7.50 per head.

23 November, 15:00

Elgin, Moray

Paula Hawkins Talks The Girl on the Train

Author of the 2015 bestseller The Girl on the Train, Paula Hawkins is visiting St Andrews as part of her Book Week Scotland tour.

Paula’s debut novel spent 20 weeks at the top of the UK hardback book charts, breaking all previous records and has sold more than 800,000 copies since its release in January. The Girl on the Train tells the gripping story of what happens when you can’t trust your own memories, and witness something shocking.

26 November, 15:00

St Andrews, Fife

Follow the Midgie! Stories and picture with Rebecca Colby and Kate McLelland

Fun for the family, join author Rebecca Colby and illustrator Kate McLelland for a fun afternoon of drawing and storytelling with their bestselling book There Was A Wee Lassie Who Swallowed a Midgie! Follow the pesky midgie on a treasure hunt around the store, learn to draw Kate’s fun characters and find out what the hungry Wee Lassie swallowed next!

28 November, 13:00

Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow

Book Laboratory

In a workshop for the whole family, join a hands on activity session at the state-of-the-art Glucksman Conservation Centre. Try your hand at Japanese paper marbling and bind your own mini-book and discover the science of looking after rare books in a behind-the-scenes tour.

28 November, 13:30

Bedford Road, Aberdeen

Scotland: A History from Earliest Times with Alistair Moffat

Join Alistair Moffat as he explores the history of the Scottish nation, from prehistoric timber halls to inventions and literature. Let him take you on a journey through the drama of battles, the insecurities of change, the impact of loss and the many innovations and explorations that make up our history. Throughout, the tale will be interspersed with stories of the lives of ordinary Scottish folk, the men and women who defined our nation.

29 November, 19:30

MacArts, Bridge Street, MacArts Centre, Galashiels

Creative writing workshop with Professor Bashabi Fraser

Join Professor Bashabi Fraser, Professor of English and Creative Writing at Napier University, a Royal Literary Fund Fellow based at Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh and Honorary Fellow at the Centre for South Asian Studies and the University of Edinburgh, in this creative workshop. Explore how shared memories can be a trigger for the creative movement. Pen and paper needed.

29 November, 10:30

Gatehouse of Fleet, Dumfries and Galloway

A Night With Brian Blessed

There’s no one quite like Brian Blessed: larger than life actor, film star, trained undertaker, unlikely diplomat, secret romantic, martial artist, mountaineer and alleged midwife. He’s also a loud and brilliant storyteller.

An event being held at the Glasgow Film Theatre, Brian will be talking about his new book, Absolute Pandemonium, a riotous journey from his childhood, growing up the son of a miner in Goldthorpe, to a full and frenetic career that has taken him from Z-Cars to playing Prince Vultan in Flash Gordon, to landing the role of Boss Nass on Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace.

Rose Street , Glasgow

29 November , 16:00

Check out the hundreds of other events being held for Book Week Scotland.