Book Festival for Elgin

Date Added - 06/08/09

A book festival to promote reading and celebrate Scotland's rich literary diversity is to be held in Elgin next month.

The three-day event will feature some of the country's leading writers and could pave the way for the festival to become an annual event.

It will cater for all ages and tastes in reading, with sessions for pre-school youngsters, schoolchildren, families and adults.

The festival, which will run from September 17 to 19, will take place at Elgin library and will be launched by Moray MP Angus Robertson.

It has been organised by Moray Council's libraries service in collaboration with award-winning bookshop Yeadon's, which has branches in Elgin and Banchory, and as a partnership event involving a range of sponsors.

The festival is also a cornerstone of the council's Get Moray Reading campaign.

Around a dozen of Scotland's most celebrated writers, publishers and illustrators will take part and tickets for the talks and workshops are certain to be in great demand.

Among those who will feature in the festival programme are former journalist and columnist Jack Webster, children's illustrator Barrie Appleby, Elgin-based biographer Laura Jackson and novelist Joan Lingard, who was made an MBE for services to children's literature.

Others taking part include traditional storyteller Jess Smith and Colin Will, who has been Moray libraries' poetry partner since 2008.

Sheila Campbell, principal librarian at Elgin library, said the festival would help put Moray on the literary map.

"The aim is to celebrate Scottish writing, publishing and illustration and to promote the enjoyment of reading," she said.

"There is potential for this exciting programme to become an annual literary event with key partners working together to celebrate and promote Scottish literature for all ages and interests."

A leaflet has been produced containing details of the full programme and booking for individual events - all of which are free of charge - is essential. The booking office at Elgin library will be open from August 18.