AUTHOR LINEUP
SATURDAY
10.30am Alex Gray
Alex Gray, the co-founder with Lin Anderson of Bloody Scotland, the Stirling based festival of Scottish crime writing, has written more than 20 novels. They often feature Detective Chief Inspector Lorimer and have sold a million copies all over the world. She disappointed countless fans when a snow storm prevented her coming here in 2024. Her chair is Radio Scotland presenter Bryan Burnett.
12 noon Fiona J Mackenzie
For some years the Gaelic singer Fiona J Mackenzie was both the archivist and manager at Canna House, the home shared by Margaret Fay Shaw and John Lorne Campbell. So, few authors are better placed to write a new biography of Shaw, who first came from America to settle in a basic cottage on South Uist. Her chair, Rona MacDonald, also hails from that island and is a fellow Gael.
2pm Stephen McGinty
Stephen McGinty is a journalist and author who has written a new book about the tragedy which engulfed Dunblane in March of 1996. After a sustained campaign, the parents and others successfully lobbied for a handgun ban. Stephen has also written Fire in the Night, the Piper Alfa disaster and The Dive, the world’s deepest submarine rescue. Stephen will be chaired by legendary journalist Magnus Linklater
3.30pm Allan Gaw
Allan Gaw is a former doctor and pathologist turned award winning author. The first in his Jack Cuthbert series, and his debut novel, won the Bloody Scotland prize for debut novel of the year in 2024. There are now 4 in the series, the 5th being released this September, just in time for our Book Festival. His chair is BBC Arts Correspondent, Pauline McLean.
SUNDAY.
10.30am Polly Pullar
Polly Pullar is both an amazing wildlife photographer and author. She now lives in rural Perthshire surrounded by an extensive menagerie and where she has planted very many trees. As an enthusiastic supporter and of the natural world she has written extensively about this. Her new book this year is on sheep! Polly is also being chaired by Pauline McLean who is BBC Scotland’s long time arts correspondent.
12 Noon Alice Strang
Alice Strang is a curator with the National Galleries of Scotland who has written a new book about the Scottish colourists, generally Peploe, Cadell, Hunter and Fergusson. She is passionate about modern art, particularly Scottish art as you will find out during her conversation with art writer Jan Patience.
2pm Graeme Macrae Burnet
Graeme Macrae Burnet is a celebrated Scottish author, although he has often lived and worked all over the world. His novel, His Bloody Project was shortlisted for the Booker, since when two more of his novels have made the Booker longlist. Benbecula, a novella, was shortlisted for the Walter Scott prize and is a fictionalised account of a real life murder on that island. Graeme’s chair is the distinguished columnist, Joyce McMillan.
3.30pm Joanna Cherry
The high profile lawyer and former SNP MP Joanna Cherry has written an extraordinary new book entitled Keeping the Dream Alive: An Insider's Account of a Tumultuous Decade in Scottish Politics. As you might imagine, it takes very few prisoners! She will have as her chair the political editor at Scottish Television, Colin Mackay who took over that role 7 years ago.
