Edinburgh Spotlight loves living in ‘Festival City’ and already has all these dates in its calendar – here’s the rundown of 2012′s festivals.

Mary King’s Ghost Fest TBC for 2012

Paranormal investigations, celebrity ghost hunts and other spooky goings on at The Real Mary King’s Close.

Ceilidh Culture 16 March – 25 April

Edinburgh’s traditional arts festival, featuring music, dance, storytelling and more.

International Science Festival 31 March- 13 April 2012
The International Science Festival features a host of fun and educational events, lectures and attractions celebrating all things scientific.

Beltane Fire Festival 30 April 2012
Beltane is an ancient Celtic festival and Edinburgh plays host to some colourful and exciting celebrations to mark the date.

Imaginate Festival 7 – 14 May 2012
The Imaginate Festival is Edinburgh’s children’s festival and has loads of plays, activities and fun things to do for youngsters of all ages.

Leith Festival 8 -17 June 2012
Come and celebrate all things Leith at this festival, featuring music, dance, art and other exciting events.

Edinburgh International Film Festival 20 June – 1 July
The Edinburgh Film Festival is an internationally-renowned event on the movie festival circuit and attracts premieres and stars from all over the world.

Edinburgh International Magic Festival 29 June – 6 July 2012

2012 will see Edinburgh host the third International Magic Festival with a range of performers show-casing their magical talents.

Edinburgh Art Festival August 2 – September 2
Edinburgh Art Festival celebrates the visual arts in all its diversity, from world-class exhibitions to strikingly original installations.

Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival 28 July – 6 August 2012
Get your gladrags on and party to the sounds of the Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival, a popular event which attracts international talent.

Edinburgh Fringe Festival 3 - 27 August 2012
Getting bigger, better and – some may say – weirder every year, the Edinburgh Fringe Festival is the highlight of many a festival-goer’s calendar.

Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo 3 – 25 August 2012
Selling out months in advance, the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo is a spectacular event taking place on the Castle Esplanade.

The Edge Music Festival TBC 2012
Adding alternative music to the August festival mix, The Edge Music Festival attracts A-list bands as part of its programme.

Festival of Spirituality and Peace TBC 2012

The Festival of Spirituality and Peace features music, dance, talks and other events highlighting humanitarian issues and causes.

Edinburgh International Festival 10 August – 2 September 2012
The one that started it all, the Edinburgh International Festival is a feast of world-class music, dance and theatrical performances.

Edinburgh International Book Festival 11 - 27 August 2012
This literary event attracts major names in the writing, publishing and political fields to the serene Charlotte Square Gardens setting.

Edinburgh Mela Festival 31 August  - 2nd September 2012

Celebrating the cultural diversity of the city, the Mela Festival brings colour and exotic flair to Edinburgh in August.

Scottish Story Telling Festival 19-28 October
Celebrating the great Scottish oral tradition, the Story Telling Festival showcases the talents of national bards, poets and tale-spinners.

Edinburgh’s Christmas TBC – late November – End Dec 2011
Edinburgh sparkles at Christmas and features events, attractions and shows for all the family to enjoy during the festival season.

Edinburgh’s Hogmanay 30 December 2012 – 2 January 2013
End the year with the biggest street party in the world!

Sitting in a line in front of Nick Wheatley’s colourful painted backdrop, the authors and actors preparing to read through Alasdair Gray’s Fleck shuffle their scripts and look at their feet nervously, like school kids preparing to perform the end-of-term play.

Their tension is understandable however: this sell-out event bringing 2011′s Edinburgh International Book Festival to a close is a world premiere; and they have only had one chance to rehearse it, a couple of hours previously. Fortunately, their fears are unbound – and this sparkling lineup of literary talent breathe life into Gray’s delightfully mischievous script in a one-of-a-kind performance which entertains throughout.

Gray himself takes the part of Nick in this comedic verse play inspired by Goethe’s Faust, portraying the devil with an impish glee as he makes a bet with Aonghas MacNeacail’s soft-spoken and gentlemanly God. Will Self is on typically laconic form as Fleck, the object of the wager; whilst Liz Lochhead narrates the tale of how far we would go to get what we think we desire the most.

Iain Rankin, Alan Bissett and Janice Galloway have short roles: and although they and several others spend most of the piece’s length silent, it is still a joy to behold the 18-strong cast shooting each other glances and laughing at Fleck’s satirical and lyrical script.

A L Kennedy portrays May, Fleck’s love interest, and the knowing and self-aware looks between her and Self invoke much laughter from the audience, helping turn things from mere recital into a performance to be enjoyed. And indeed, the entire ensemble soon relax into the easy flow of Gray’s words, and within a few minutes seem to be having as much fun as the audience.

As they file out of the tent with perhaps more than a little sense of relief, the authors and actors of Fleck have treated us to a unique performance; a collaboration and live event to remember, and a fitting end to a highly successful, enlightening and – above all – entertaining Festival.

In much the same way as he turns his back on his starting point on one of his infamous ‘psychogeographic’ walks, Will Self revealed that his latest novel will leave behind the worlds of metaphor and simile, instead focusing on describing things exactly as they are. Though, with his inimitable turn of phrase and his thesaurus-threatening vocabulary, it will be interesting to see if he manages to resist the urge.

However he decides to write, Self is bound to entertain, evidenced by the reading of a fantastical and caustic passage from Walking To Hollywood, his genre-defying trio of fictionalised memoir-like travelogues. Articulating the feelings we all experience when faced by rudeness and a lack of decorum, the writing didn’t so much jump off the page as execute a flying kick to the head: the self-effacing mockery balancing the vitriolic bile of the frustration in a visual and visceral piece of prose.

Self then went on to answer questions about the evils of television and how his appearances on the box have a disproportionate impact on the public’s perception of him; and their expectation that they can walk up to him and strike up conversation. More seriously, he discussed how the amplified Self in Walking To Hollywood reflected his true character; and explained how he answered criticism that he was becoming as much of a celebrity as those he parodies in the book.

With an effortlessly louche wit and a dry humour that leaves no sacred cows untipped, an hour of Self is always a pleasure; and often an education. And although the reading and subsequent discussion may not have shed much new light on things, learning that he is once again turning his healthy disrespect to another topic – with or without metaphors – is good news indeed.

With his tales of childhood mischief, Eoin Colfer entertained a packed audience of youngsters and parents with an hour that was more a light-hearted comedy stand-up routine than a normal Book Festival session.

One of a large Irish family, Colfer revealed that his brother Donal was the inspiration for teenage criminal mastermind Artemis Fowl, his sibling’s ability to get himself and others out of trouble reaching legendary status as they grew up. Then perhaps less flatteringly, Colfer also explained how another of his brothers inspired the character of Mulch Diggums, the flatulent dwarf…

Proving to be a born storyteller on and off the page, Colfer’s humourous anecdotes kept everyone entertained, with many parents in the audience nodding sympathetically as he recounted the exploits of his own children. Midway through the session, he was joined onstage by Artemis Fowl himself; and the two then went on to answer questions from the crowd – everything from the intricacies behind what happened to minor characters in the series, to when we could expect to see a movie version of his best-selling series of books.

The varied format was rounded off with a Fowl-inspired music video, allowing Colfer to escape and prepare himself for the rush of devoted young fans keen to get him to sign copies of the books. And with a boundless imagination and an ability to appeal to his young audience’s senses of wonder and mischief, Colfer seems destined to inspire many more followers as he continues to document the adventures of everyone’s favourite young criminal.

John Hegarty – Advertising Guru is an easy sell, Tuesday 23rd August 2011.

Sir John Hegarty is not afraid to stand out from the crowd – in fact he’s spent most of his life doing so – both individually through his work in advertising and subsequent industry accolades, but also for his clients. And taking to the stage in a striking powder-blue suit, lined with a silk ‘stamp’ pattern, his appearance at the book festival was to be no exception.

After a brief introduction by Andrew Franklin, Hegarty took to the lectern and started by telling the packed audience that he felt ‘a phoney’ standing in front of them all as a writer. He was by trade, an Art Director – basically he did the pictures and had usually relied on copywriters to provide the words. Copywriters, he went on to tell, including the equally admired Charles Saatchi and Barbara Noakes.

So how did he tackle the 60 thousand-word requirement for his book ‘Turning Intelligence Into Magic’? Well, once his publisher had told him that it was simply a matter of “describing the pictures” it became easier. And Hegarty has an enviable portfolio of ‘pictures’ to write about, being responsible for some of the most influential and awarded advertising produced in the last 45 years.

Illustrated by some of these ads, he told how ‘Irreverence’ had powered his ideas, and indeed continues to do so. In fact irreverence, he argued, had been driving creativity since the renaissance – where work was commissioned to make people believe in things like authority and religion. And irreverent creativity is also apparent in great feats of design and architecture, like the Guggenheim in NY and the Pompidou Centre in Paris.

During an enthralling hour, he also showed work from his much applauded Levi’s campaign – that not only did remarkable things for the jean manufacturer, but was also responsible for making boxer shorts the fashion essential that it is today, through to the early work for Audi and the inception of the strapline, ‘Vorsprung Durch Technik’.

Hegarty also told that he thought creativity was not an occupation as such, but a pre-occupation, and explained how he didn’t just notice everyday things and events, but saw and noted them for future use; and his disappointment and frustration at how some of his team today prefer to experience life through YouTube, rather than reality.

Further wisdom was liberally sprinkled through his talk. Soundbites and lessons such as; The importance of recognising facts; The strength of telling the truth; The impact of self publicity; And how ‘good’ is the enemy of ‘great’.

Ending on how his own agency arrived at their ‘black sheep’ logo, and slogan ‘when the world ziggs, zag’, he left his audience thinking about his own philosophy – that ‘the greatest art form, is life itself’.

By Tony Bibby

Joan Bakewell chaired an edifying discussion between philosopher Julian Baggini and social historian Andrew Robinson, on the vast topic of Creativity.

Her opening question “What about Creativity then?” was first addressed by Baggini, who introduced the audience to some initial thinking from his book, ‘The Ego Trick’. Engaging them with ‘The self, and who we are’ he spoke about what makes us special, individual, unique and ultimately, creative.

“Maybe free will is the ability for the self, as a system, to generate its own decisions. Unforced and ignoring instinct”, he said, as he took us through his theories of free will, conscious control and the making of choices.

He also touched on how we are ‘bundles’ of elements – with no ‘I’ to centrally control things, going on to explain the 2 parts of the essence of self, arguing that we actually have no central control. What makes us what we are, is the system of emotions, desires and subsequent actions, which in turn generate extraordinary ideas, decisions and creativity itself. Names such as DaVinci and Einstein with lessons from each were dropped into the mix to illustrate his convincing discourse.

Compared to Baggini’s “philosophical” accounts, by his own admission, when Andrew Robinson took his turn at the lectern his were more “biographical”.

He opened his account with a story about double Nobel prize winner, Linus Pauling, who when once asked why he had so many great ideas, responded with “I have many ideas, I just throw away the bad ones”.

He continued to discuss why some of the best ideas happen suddenly – In a flash? And then raised the notion that the very word ‘creative’ had been over used to the point that it was now debased.

Robinson littered his address with some of the illustrious Creatives that while an author, biographer and journalist he’d had the fortune to work with. Creative forces such as Nobel winner Phil Anderson, photographer Cartier-Bresson, scientist Arthur C Clarke, filmmaker Lyndsay Anderson – and went on to suggest that the one thing that linked their creativity – was versatility.

We were given examples of this versatility with photographer Cartier-Bresson who while famously known for his printed image, had also an accomplished artistic background, and indeed a want to be famous painter. And Arthur C. Clarke, whose successful creative talents spanned the worlds of writing as well as great scientific thinking.

All of the people Robinson mentioned were all versatile in their creative delivery, and reasoned that it was this breadth that was crucial when it came down to defining genius.

Other theories skimmed during the illuminating hour included whether or not the death of a parent had a direct correlation to producing exception; and, with the abundance of knowledge available today, the quest is not to absorb it all, but to gather and make sense of it all.

Expertly chaired by Joan Bakewell, the final 10 minutes of an incredibly thought-packed hour gave chance for the audience to offer their thoughts, comments and questions to the panel.

Neither writer read from their book, but during the 60 minutes, each gave enough away to suggest that both have added their own great ideas and insight to a very great topic.

By his own admission, when Andrew Robinson took his turn at the lecturn, compared to Julians ‘philosophical’ accounts – his were more biographical.

Reviewed on Monday 22nd August 2011 by Tony Bibby

Five minutes into reading an amusing but otherwise inoffensive passage from her latest novel The Blue Book, A L Kennedy watches with bemusement as someone stands up and leaves the RBS Main Theatre, complaining this was not what she expected.

Fortunately, the remainder of the crowd knew exactly what to expect: the pithy, humourous and often visceral style of writing which Kennedy delivered with aplomb at this Open University Event of the Edinburgh International Book Festival.

The Blue Book has a fake spiritualist medium as one of its central trio of characters, and this prompted a lively discussion about the ethics and dodgy practices of TV psychics and other charlatans. Having spent three years researching stage magic and cold reading techniques for the novel, Kennedy recounted the time she met Derren Brown (a ‘very smart’ and ‘very nice’ man, apparently).

Following another passage from the book, containing instructions and advice on how to conduct yourself when sitting alone in a coffee shop or restauarant, Kennedy took a few questions from the floor before taking her leave: and any powers of persuasion to read The Blue Book came from the quality of the writing itself, rather than any snakeoiled trickery.

Comic book author Grant Morrison posits the view that superheroes – and the utopian / idealist future they often represent – are an antidote to the more commonly-held view that the world is doomed in this entertaining discussion with Herald & Times Group Arts Editor Alan Morrison at the Edinburgh International Book Festival.

The ‘go-to guy’ for the industry when they are wanting to reboot or reconstruct a well-known character, Morrison has written a history of the medium in his new book Supergods, which examines the heroes through their classic beginnings, then on through what he calls their teenage and adolescent phases; to the present day, when they are in their 20s and have a sexy new girlfriend in the shape of Hollywood.

Early on during the writing of Supergods, Morrison decided to weave his own biographical tale into the narrative. With a passion for comics and a fascination with real-life magic and paganism – not to mention being one of the highest-regarded writers in the field – the end result is a book which looks at heroes from several angles.

Taking questions from the floor, Morrison covered the impact of Hollywood and new technology on the comic industry, the difference in archetypes of Superman and Batman, and the sexual fetishism behind Wonder Woman.

With an obvious expertise in and passion for the medium, his view that superheroes – rather than simply being two-dimensional characters in spandex – are creations we should aspire to and learn from, was also acompelling one.

Simon Garfield

In his latest book ‘Just My Type’, Simon Garfiled entertains the reader with over 200 stories associated with type and selected fonts. And with over 100,000+ fonts describing our world today, he’s not short of a story or two.

Simon’s natural wit and humorous delivery engaged his audience from the off – with a quick peek into the world of Comic Sans, and how it dominates every PC font library, which he then balanced neatly with observations, and indeed support, of the ‘anti-comic sans’ movement.

While compiling the book, Simon has not only researched interesting facts, like those attributed to the dubious Mr Eric Gill and his ‘experimental’ goings on before inventing the font Gill Sans – but he’s also met and interviewed people like Margaret Calvert, the typographer and designer responsible for many of the UK’s roadsigns. He also told us of an interview with Sir Paul McCartney, but you should read the book to find out what ‘Macca’ had to say about the beautiful elongated T in the his band’s logo.

The hour with Simon passed quickly as he engaged his audience with accounts as varied as use of pangrams, and the fonts used in the US elections which saw Barack Obama lead his campaign with the bold use of the font Gotham, Hilary Clintons use of Baskerville and John McCains use of the ‘weaker’ font, Optima. Optima, Simon tells us, being the standard font used across perfumes and pharmaceutical products. Not really the ideal choice for a presidential election campaign.

Simon’s audience left Charlotte Square – both entertained, and also encouraged to explore their own PC font collections.

Friday 19 August – 2:30pm – Peppers Theatre, Edinburgh Book Festival

Review by Tony Bibby –  www.AnthonyBibby.com

Reading selections from her autobiographical memoir Paradoxical Undressing, Kristin Hersh is as engaging sitting down talking as she is when onstage singing with her band Throwing Muses.

Telling an audience of thirty and fortysomethings how her songs seem to exist outside her own head, and touching matter-of-factly on her battle with schizophrenia, Hersh describes her writing – based on her teenage diaries – as covering several phases of her life. The teenage, the psychotic, the pregnant: her eloquent and poetic words provide a glimpse of life on the road with a rock band who never once bowed to the pressures of the mainstream of the music industry.

Indeed, that industry seems to be a bete-noire for Hersh, who describes its demise at the hands of digital downloads and free sharing with relish. Unsurprising from a singer-songwriter whose band produced some of the most startling and leftfield music of their time; and who continue to do so without compromise.

Hersh also reveals a particular affinity for Scotland and Edinburgh, explaining that her love for Scottish people’s truthfulness and poetic nature was the reason she choose to first read her memoirs aloud in Glasgow; and recalling the time she wrote the song Your Ghost alone at night in an Edinburgh hotel room.

Genuine and honest without a trace of an ego, Kristin Hersh causes Edinburgh to warm to her even more with this revealing and enjoyable talk; showing the woman behind the music to be just as fascinating as the lyrics she pens.

Neil Gaiman at the book signing

Referring to fairytales as what we’re left with when myths decay, Gaiman goes on to describe them as stories where all that matters is the ‘what happened next’; stories without characters, only characteristics. This prompts points to be raised about the differences between male and female heroes in classic fairytale: with Gaiman reaching the conclusion that the women are a lot more patient.

When asked about his method of writing, Gaiman admits he tends to have something in his head which he can’t get out, needing to write about it in order to understand it. One of his most well-known novels, American Gods, started with a single image; suggesting that he is firmly in the discovery writing camp, rather than an intricate plotter.

He puts the surprise elements and twists and turns in his recent works down to his experience in writing episodic comicbook stories – where an author doesn’t have the luxury of going back and being able to change previously-written material; although comics are a lot more open to the ‘cool stuff’ which allow for fantastical explanations and plot twists.

After some discussion about the experience of writing for Doctor Who, Gaiman answers questions from an eager audience, covering the intricacies of the DC Comics’ universe; collaborations which have been less than successful; and the joy of being able to wrap up previous material’s loose ends in sequels.

Perhaps the most interesting question comes when he is asked if he’s ever thought he may take the scary and dark elements of his fiction too far. Revealing he decided not to include a chapter of children’s book Coraline on the grounds he thought it too scary, he still steadfastly refuses to censor himself. And besides, he says, the young readers seem to be good judges – with kids often having a better sense of reality than adults.

As Gaiman leaves to start whittling down a signing queue which stretches around the Gardens, this firm Festival favourite has once again – like a true storyteller – entertained, delighted and enlightened.

Technologist, blogger, activist and science fiction author Cory Doctorow raised the question of whether sci-fi predicts the future or influences it, in yesterday’s fascinating talk at the Edinburgh International Book Festival.

In his latest novel Makers, Doctorow imagines a future where the economy has broken down, and society has returned to the days of artisans and autonomy, with people being able to manufacture anything they want – and can imagine – from discarded tech, information on the internet and 3D printer technology.

Encouraging the audience to record the event using whatever technology was at their disposal, Doctorow discussed economic history and trends since the days of the industrial revolution; and the opportunities presented by the latest technology, proving to be a learned and knowledgeable speaker – even more so when the talk gave way to questions from the floor.

Here, he responded with intelligence, charm and wit to questions on topics as varied as World Bank policies, the scarcity of natural resources and the possible uses of 3D printing technology once it makes its way into the mainstream.

Although he didn’t read from his work, Doctorow’s measured intelligence and enthusiasm for his subject matter shone through, no doubt encouraging many in the audience to seek out Makers for themselves – and, influenced by its premise and with its Creative Commons licensing – perhaps even fashion something of their own from its raw material.

The calm serenity of Charlotte Square is perhaps not where you would normally expect talk of revolution to hang in the air, but during 2011′s Edinburgh International Book Festival, the power of words to inspire and incite action will feature heavily in Festival Director Nick Barley’s programme.

Talking - and reading - about a revolution - 2011's Edinburgh International Book Festival

Guest curator and BBC Special Correspondent Allan Little will present the Revolution in the 21st Century strand of the event, focusing not only on books but also how technology advances have allowed information and ideas to spread in places where they would otherwise have struggled to be read.

Over and above this theme, this year the event features an impressive list of literary giants – as you would expect from what has now become the world’s largest festival of this kind.

Local authors like Alexander McCall Smith, Iain Banks and Sara Sheridan rub shoulders with world-renowned wordsmiths such as Michael Ondaatje (launching his new novel The Cat’s Table at the Festival), US author and poet Sapphire (revealing her long-awaited follow-up to 1996′s Push) and author of Longitude, Dava Sobel.

With the rise in popularity of children’s and young adult fiction, the dedicated kids’ section of the programe – curated by Children’s Laureate Julia Donaldson – also features some famous names: including Artemis Fowl author Eoin Colfer and Young Bond creator Charlie Higson.

Cult and subculture authors also feature strongly, including master of the modern-day fairytale Neil Gaiman; influential tech blogger and sci-fi author Cory Doctorow; and comic book scriptwriter Grant Morrison.

This year sees the return of the popular Unbound late-night performance events; as well as the First Book Awards, for authors debuting novels and short story collections. Add to that the ever-popular Spiegeltent, book signings, workshops and other events and the Edinburgh International Book Festival 2011 is all set to be one of the best yet.

And it closes this year with an event which has all the hallmarks of presenting an opportunity for one of those “I was there” moments. Alasdair Gray first published Lanark 30 years ago: and on 29 August, his new work Fleck – inspired by the story of Faust – receives it world premiere public reading. Performed by Gray himself as the Devil, it also features a sparkling array of talent, including Ian Rankin, Will Self, AL Kennedy and Liz Lochead amongst others.

What better way to close the pages on what promises to be a standout – and revolutionary – chapter of the Edinburgh International Book Festival’s already impressive story to date?

The full programme is now available online at the Edinburgh International Book Festival website. The Festival runs from 13-29 August in Charlotte Square Gardens. Tickets go on sale at 8:30am on 26 June.

Will Self’s weapon of choice is his inimitably erudite vocabulary: he is unashamed to let loose multi-syllabled salvos into his writing – and into the audience at this entertaining and characteristically acerbic event at the Book Festival.

Reading three passages from his recent fictionalised travelogue “Walking To Hollywood”, Self strode around the platform unaccompanied, spitting out his literary vitriol and wit. The chosen readings – each from a separate section of the three-part work – covered such Hunter S Thompson-esque topics as walking around a sweltering Los Angeles in a Barbour jacket; fantasising about playing Scrabble whilst plunging to one’s death from the Golden Gate Bridge; and a ponderous meander along an eroding section of the English coastline whilst contemplating the theme of loss.

Self’s writing is unmistakable in its construction, socio-political references and language. When reading, we get the sense he has a love / hate relationship with his writing, rolling his tongue around the words with measured consideration before spitting them out venomously.

Each reading is interspersed with some anecdotes and observations, with some typically Self-ish comments reserved for Peter Mandelson, whose talk at the RBS Main Theatre immediately preceded Self’s own. His mental agility is of Olympic calibre, and he is as entertaining here as he is in print – if not more so.

Accordingly, Q&A sessions with Will Self are always a delight; sadly last night’s was brief, allowing him to exercise his imagination and wit on only a few subjects. The topic of his potential deification as some kind of languid and louche literary god was a thought that very obviously entertained Self’s mischievous intellect – don’t be surprised therefore if the concept ends up in his next novel.

Edinburgh Book Festival
Friday 27th August

Michael Jacobs is the author of several travel books including Factory of Light: Tales from my Andalucian Village. In his new book, ‘Andes’, Jacobs discusses his most recent journey to a part of the world which has fascinated explorers and travel writers for centuries, in a session introduced by Rosemary Burnett.
 
We learn that Jacobs studied art history at the Courtauld Institute in London and that he has been passionate about Spain and South America for most of his life: his grandfather went to work in Bolivia and Chile, and in his fifties, Jacobs decides to head to South America to trace his grandfather’s footsteps.
 
With an interesting set of photos from the trip, and Jacob’s obvious passion and affection for his personal journey, the audience is enthralled. We hear about the vastness of the Andes range (around 5,500 miles long) and the climactic extremes of countries such as Chile. Jacobs also entertains us with anecdotes about the characters he has met on his travels, as well as his references to charismatic South American revolutionaries, such as 19th Century Simon Bolivar: we learn of Bolivar’s battles and even about his dog.
 
When asked by an audience member about politics and changes in South America, Jacobs observes that the countries he visited seem to be constantly changing, with the need to be constantly affirming their identity – this is illustrated by several examples in the book. The Andes trip took the author six months and was timed so that he would be in Tierra Del Fuego in the winter, which he describes as “cold, bleak and desolate.” A highlight of the trip is meeting up with friend and fellow author Chris Stuart (author of Driving Over Lemons), and their chance sighting of a flock of condors take to the sky.
 
Jacob’s passion and enthusiasm for his subject infects the audience to such a degree that by the end, several are heard declaring their intentions to organise trips to various parts of South America: an inspiring session indeed.

David Shrigley, Edinburgh Book Festival, Scottish Power Tent, 17th August  

“Fill the page.” Contemporary artist David Shrigley aims to produce thirty drawings a day. The artist’s prolific output is celebrated in a definitive collection of his humorous, thought-provoking and sometimes sinister work, brought together in a new book, entitled “What the Hell Are You Doing?”
 
Introduced by Katrina Brown, Shrigley opened the door to his world, talking us through a visual presentation of some old and new work, from illustrations to photos to artwork for a CD cover and an animated clip.
 
Shrigley allowed the enthusiastic audience a brief and fascinating glimpse into the way he works, his ideas, the journey from words to visual ideas, and entertaining stories behind the evolution of a diverse body of work which ranges from art exhibitions and postcards to videos for Blur and Pringle knitwear and illustrations for the Guardian and Independent newspapers.
 
Anecdotes ranged from his experiences of producing drawings for the New Statesman and ensuing jokes about Blair, Brown and Cameron; a story about a Glasgow teenager with a tattoo based on his artwork; and – for someone whose use of words in his art is so personal – an intriguing tale of staying in a house in France, where the owner had labelled all of the objects in the house, from sponges to step ladders to the number of cups and plates on a shelf.
 
Shrigley’s work often prompts debate surrounding the definition of what art is, but what is so intriguing about this artist’s work is its diversity and its surreal qualities, which have managed to reach such a wide audience and amuse and disgust at the same time.
 
Diehard Shrigley fans will clearly be thrilled with this new collection, whilst others will be inspired to discover his work for the first time.

Authors appearing at the Book Festival

SELLING THE STORY – SELLING MORE BOOKS 

A chance conversation at the launch of this year’s Edinburgh International Book Festival between Edinburgh Spotlight and author Angus Whitson, resulted in this preview of the presentation he and co-author Andrew Orr will be giving in the Writer’s Retreat in Charlotte Square on Monday 30^thAugust at 2pm.   They will share their ideas with other writers on how to take responsibility for marketing their books – and sell more!  Their talk is based on their experiences of marketing their book “Sea Dog Bamse, World War II Canine Hero” which has become a Scottish bestseller.  

We explained to Angus about social media presence and use of the internet for marketing purposes and have allowed him a few paragraphs to preview his own event. 

Angus Whitson previews his event. 

Andrew and I first met when we both had fresh complexions and fine heads of hair.  Andrew had joined a medical practice in the east coast of Scotland port of Montrose where I was in business. 

Half a lifetime elapsed before Andrew heard about the true story of Bamse, a World War II Norwegian St Bernard dog who escaped from German-occupied Norway in 1940, accompanying his master who was captain of the Royal Norwegian Navy minesweeper KNM Thorodd, and sailed to Scotland to fight his war for his country’s liberation. 

Bamse displayed a huge affinity with humans of all ages and quickly became a potent symbol of freedom.  Gentle when it mattered and ferocious when those he cared about were threatened, he held together the morale of the young sailors far from home.  As his reputation grew he was elevated from ship’s mascot to mascot of the Royal Norwegian Navy and of all the free Norwegian fighting forces.  

War-time life was not all work and Bamse became fully integrated into the social life of the ship’s crew and towns’ folk of Dundee and Montrose.  He died and is buried in Montrose, where his grave is still cared for by Montrosians who remember him with the greatest affection from their childhood.  

Andrew Orr was fascinated by Bamse’s story and over a period of some three years collected statements about Bamse’s life and achievements from people in Montrose, Dundee, Norway and America who remembered the great dog.  Under the auspices of Montrose Heritage Trust, he chaired the Bamse Project to raise funds for the erection of a statue to commemorate Bamse’s life. 

In 2006 the statue was unveiled at Montrose harbour by HRH Prince Andrew.  The grave and statue have become places of pilgrimage for Norwegian visitors, and the Royal Norwegian Navy who have made official visits to Montrose to honour Bamse’s memory since 1984. 

I started writing professionally in 2000 aged 58.  As a Montrosian I took a great interest in all Andrew’s work and was excited to be asked to collaborate in the writing of Bamse’s story.  Working to a tight deadline “Sea Dog Bamse, World War II Canine Hero” was published in August 2008.  It quickly became a Scottish bestseller and subsequently came out in paperback. 

Andrew and I were ambitious to do our part in publicising our book to reach a wider audience.  As soon as the book had been sent to the publishers for editing we embarked on a focused strategy to sell more books.    

Setting targets, careful record keeping, building relationships, radio and television appearances, monitoring sales all take time and effort.  Not everything works but if you do nothing, nothing will happen. 

The Norwegian fishing port of Honningsvag at North Cape, where Bamse grew up, commissioned a copy of the statue at Montrose, which was unveiled in 2009 on Honningsvag’s quay side; miniatures of the statue are also now on sale – all of which help keep Bamse and his story in the public eye, and sales of the book climbing. 

A touch of “thinking out of the box” helps – Andrew and I designed the commemorative “Sea Dog Bamse, Pride of Norway” tartan.  At this stage we don’t know where it will take us, but a first order for tartan scarves and ties has been placed. 

Be ready to talk about your book and yourself – you never know who you’ll meet. 

Look how I sweet-talked Edinburgh Spotlight  at the Book Festival launch into giving Andrew and me this preview.  O.K., in reality, it was Alison who suggested it, but I must have said something right. 

Overseas markets and rights, book fairs and festivals, networking and selling online – your publisher can’t do it all so, if you want it, get out there and make it happen. 

Thank you Angus, it was a pleasure to meet you. 

For more information, visit  http://www.bamsemontrose.co.uk/.   Their book is published by Edinburgh based Birlinn. You can visit both of Angus’s websites http://www.manwithtwodogs.com/ and http://www.writehand.co.uk/

You can buy tickets for Angus and Andrew’s event via the International Book Festival website , in person at The Hub, telephone on 0845 373 5888 or in person at the on site box office at Charlotte Square once the Book Festival opens. 

Book Festival Programme

Excellent ticket system at EICC

We previewed the Edinburgh International Book Festival earlier this week, but were excited today as the tickets went on sale, via the web, telephone and in person at the wonderful Edinburgh International Conference Centre. 

Members of the public eager to get their hands on the tickets they wanted started to queue from 4am this morning.  The EICC staff took a picture  before they opened they doors at 8am.  Everyone was given a numbered ticket and were called in order to the box office.

Whilst people waited on their number being called, they could sit in the foyer of the centre and have drinks and breakfast, making the whole process an extremely civilised one.

We attended around 11am and spoke with a few people waiting in the queue who were sitting around exchanging stories with each other and of course, many were reading books. 

Ticket system

The delightful Book Festival staff made a podcast containing interviews with those who were waiting.  You can listen to it here.

We spoke with Edinburgh resident, Mari Hood who arrived around 8am and was given ticket number 156.  She bought her tickets a couple of hours later and only missed out on one of her choices, Seamus Heaney.  Mrs Hood told us: “I thought the whole booking system was very efficient and I am delighted with the tickets I managed to get.” 

“I’m really looking forward to seeing Tariq Ali and Robert Winston and just love the atmosphere at Charlotte Square.”

The Book Festival ticket sales are only at the EICC for today.  The box office continues online andvia telephone.  Ticket sales in person  move to The Hub at the top of the Royal Mile from Monday.

Edinburgh Spotlight can’t wait for the Book Festival to start and will be spending many days in the tranquil and civilised oasis in Charlotte Square.

Waiting area

Food and refreshments whilst waiting

From 14th-30th August, Charlotte Square Gardens will once more be transformed into an oasis of calm amidst the rest of the Festival madness, with the appearance of the Edinburgh International Book Festival.

The tranquil and civilised oasis of the Book Festival

Firmly established in the literary calendar, the Book Festival draws writers from all over the world: from Nobel laureates to first-time authors; from heavyweight Booker winners to children’s authors & illustrators.

All of this takes place in the familiar and much-loved surroundings of Charlotte Square, where the tented Book Festival ‘village’ features theatres, bookshops, cafes and a beautiful mirrored spiegelbar, which this year plays host to the Unbound series of events, where authors are invited to present and discuss their work in new ways in a relaxed and informal setting.

Regular audience favourite, Will Self

Additionally, Barley introduces several new and innovative features, which – as well as the Unbound events mentioned above – include:

• Guest selectors, where special guests such as Guardian cartoonist Steve Bell and Scotland On Sunday literary editor Stuart Kelly curate a series of themed events
• Elsewhere, where 50 authors have been commissioned to write new pieces based on the theme of ‘elsewhere’, the results of which will be published on the Book Festival’s website and also feature in the programme of scheduled events
• Storyshop, which, in collaboration with Edinburgh UNESCO City of Literature, allows new writers to present readings of their own short & micro fiction in the book shop, giving them a unique and exciting chance to have their voices heard at one of the world’s biggest and most respected book festivals

And of course, the festival programme is packed with readings and appearances by festival regulars such as Ian Rankin, Iain Banks and Will Self; as well as rare appearances by the likes of Irish poet Seamus Heaney, Nobel Prize-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz, and world renowned architect Lord Norman Foster.

Local literary hero, Ian Rankin

Together with dozens of events, readings and activities for children; book signings galore; and an atmosphere that is truly special, 2010′s Edinburgh International Book Festival looks set to yet again be an unmissable fixture in Edinburgh’s August festival season.

The box office for events at the Book Festival opens at 08:30 on Saturday 26th June, online and over the telephone. This year, and on the first day of booking only, tickets are also on sale at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre (Venue 150 during the Fringe), where a dedicated numbered ticketing system will be in operation – together with tea and coffee available for those waiting in line.

After the 26th, tickets are also available for purchase at The Hub at the top of the Royal Mile.

Browse the programme and – from the 26th June – order tickets online at the Festival’s website. This year, you can also follow @edbookfest on Twitter.

I want to be Will Self when I grow up, but I fear I’m running out of time. When I told him this at the Book Festival, he said to keep doing what I was doing, as the position would probably be vacant soon…