Ian Rankin set to appear at Colonsay Book Festival - on his birthday

IAN Rankin has agreed to headline Scotland’s smallest book festival – despite it clashing with his birthday.

The crime writer is heading for the island of Colonsay next spring after organisers hailed the success of a pilot event held this year.

Liz Lochhead, Alexander ­McCall Smith, James Robertson and Margaret Elphinstone were among the initial guests.

Now Rankin has agreed to ­appear at next year’s festival, just a few months after the release of his latest novel Standing in ­Another Man’s Grave marking the ­return of his Inspector ­­Rebus character, in November.

The three-day event on the ­remote Hebridean island in April will coincide with his 53rd birthday.

He will be joined by Candia McWilliam, John Burnside, Sara Sheridan, Maggie Ferguson and Angus Peter Campbell.
Dilly Emslie, director of the ­Colonsay Book Festival, said: “We’re absolutely thrilled to have secured such a terrific line-up for our 2013 event and there’s great excitement on the island in anticipation of another unforgettable literary weekend next spring.

“This year’s inaugural book festival surpassed all our expectations and 2013 is shaping up to be just as successful.”