Lots going on for Book Week Scotland 2016

Lots of free events will be taking place next week in East Edinburgh for Book Week Scotland 2016 which runs from 21 to 27 November. You can find out what events are taking place in the list below.

The key focus of the week will once again be a rich and varied events programme for all tastes and ages. Some of the UK’s best-loved writers and illustrators will be visiting libraries in every local authority, a programme funded by the Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC),

As part of the theme of discovery, a brand new Book Generator quiz will be available on the Book Week Scotland website, enabling participants to uncover the perfect book match for themselves or the ideal present for a friend. Celebrities and authors such as Simon Mayo, A.L. Kennedy, Susan Calman and Lemn Sissay will provide additional inspiration by revealing which book they would give to everyone in Scotland for Christmas.

Booklovers far and wide will also be encouraged to take on a Reading Dare, with the joint aim of helping others to begin or continue their reading journey, and of challenging themselves to try something new. Those who need some inspiration can visit www.bookweekscotland.com to try out the Reading Dare Randomiser, which might suggest anything from gifting a book to a stranger, to proposing to the person you love with a line from your favourite poem.

For those who have an interest in discovering new writing talent, 150,000 free copies of a short story and poem collection written by the people of Scotland, Secrets and Confessions, will be handed out during the week via libraries, bookshops and other outlets.

School pupils across the country can also get into the Book Week Scotland spirit, with the three free picture books shortlisted for the Bookbug Picture Book Prize gifted to every Primary 1 pupil in Scotland in the Bookbug P1 Family Bag, and free bags of books, writing materials and counting games gifted to all Primary 2 and Primary 3 pupils. The bags, produced in partnership with Education Scotland and Scottish Government as part of Read, Write, Count, provide fun materials for parents and children to use to have fun learning at home.

Additionally, children across the country can tune in to watch award-winning children’s author and Ruby Redfort creator Lauren Child in a special free Authors Live webcast on 24 November at 11.00am. Several secondary schools will also enjoy a personal visit from hip hop artist Dave Hook of Stanley Odd fame, who will tour schools around the country during the week.

The week will conclude with the unveiling of the nation’s 10 favourite Scottish book to screen adaptations – will cult movie Trainspotting triumph, or will Robbie Coltrane’s Gruffalo snap up the top spot? Voting is open now at www.bookweekscotland.com – film, TV and book fans can choose their number one page to screen adaptation from an eclectic shortlist of 40.

For more information about Book Week Scotland 2016 and how you can get involved, visit www.bookweekscotland.com, where you can find information about all the events taking place in your local area, vote for your favourite book to screen adaptation and discover all sorts of ideas to help you celebrate and share whatever it is you love to read.

Marc Lambert, CEO of Scottish Book Trust, said:

“It’s a fantastically positive endorsement of Scotland’s thriving literary scene that Book Week Scotland is now entering its fifth year, bigger, better and bolder than ever before. Authors, booksellers, libraries, readers and partners too numerous to mention have really taken this national festival to heart and made it what it is – a joyful, democratic and inclusive celebration of reading’s unique capacity for empowerment, enrichment, education, solace, pleasure and growth. The 2016 programme is our best yet, with world-class authors and more programmed events than ever before.”

Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Tourism and External Affairs, Fiona Hyslop, said:

“Book Week Scotland has gone from strength to strength since it was established in 2012, gaining the support of some of Scotland’s leading authors, including Christopher Brookmyre and Liz Lochhead. The importance of reading for pleasure cannot be underestimated, it can be a force for good in so many ways, helping people realise their potential.

“The Scottish Government is committed to encouraging reading in all our communities and, over the last four years, thousands of people have enjoyed events and free books during Book Week Scotland. It’s now a firm fixture in the calendar for thousands, and I encourage people the length and breadth of the country to embrace Book Week Scotland 2016”.

Events happening in East Edinburgh:

• Monday 21 November from 4pm until 7pm in Craigmillar Library:  Craigmillar Library Reading Champion of Champions! Come along and take part in an Olympics-style contest to find out who is the Reading Champion of Champions! Activities will include : book balancing, Storystones & Bananagrams tournaments and a book quiz. There will be prizes for the top scorer in each category and a special prize for the Reading Champion of Champions! Suitable for anyone aged 6+.

• Tuesday 22 November from 6:15pm until 8pm in Craigmillar Library: Performance Workshop with Aitch Giles. A special event in association with Craigmillar Book Festival and #artcore! Aitch Giles is an award-winning Scottish performance poet, writer and game maker. Aitch is joining us for a very exciting evening workshop for anyone who wants to learn how to perform on stage. Whether you’re a creative writer who wants to gain confidence in reading at open mics, or you’re a keen dramatist who wants to improve your on-stage presence, this workshop is for you. Aitch will be offering handy performance techniques through hands-on activities, as well as giving a performance of their own work. Suitable for adults and young adults. The event is free but ticketed, you can get yours here.

• Wednesday 23 November from 5:30pm until 7:30pm in Craigmillar Library: East Neighbourhood Partnership poetry competition and open mic. Shindigs Scottish Artspace are holding an open mic poetry reading event. Suitable for ages 8+. You can read more on our post here.

• Thursday 24 November from 6pm until 7:30pm in the Thistle Foundation’s Centre of Wellbeing, 13 Queens Walk: Everyone Has A Voice That Needs To Be Heard. Alan Ainsley has blogged for many years about his experiences, both following his wife Lou’s terminal cancer diagnosis and his own mental health issues following Lou’s death. He’s now captured some of the issues explored in his blogs in a new film “Everyone Has A Voice That Needs To Be Heard”. This event will see a screening of the film as well as a discussion exploring the issues it raises. Suitable for adults and young adults.

• Friday 25 November from 3:15pm until 4:45pm in Craigmillar Library: Book Week Scotland Games Extravaganza!  Join us on the Friday afternoon of Book Week Scotland for a table-top gaming extravaganza! Learn about the table-top game we’ve been creating in the library with our 10-18s teen Game Club, and have a go at designing your own game characters and game mechanics. We’ll have special guest Kelly Kanayama with us: she’s a comic maker and scholar, a game maker and game geek, and a writer… and she’ll be leading our game-making activities! Suitable for anyone aged 10+!

• Saturday 26 November from 2pm until 4pm in Craigmillar Library: Make your own Mystery Book Sculpture. Craigmillar Library is the lucky home of not one but TWO of the Mystery Book Sculptor’s works of art: two birds made from books! At this drop-in workshop, you can come along and build your very own book sculpture. Recycle old books, build your own work of art, and help make our library beautiful! Special guest artist Eleanor Stewart will be attendance to help you make your creations. Drop in any time before 3.30pm to make a sculpture. Suitable for all ages but children under 8 must be accompanied by an adult. At this event we’ll also announce the names of our two Mystery Sculptor birds, as chosen by members of the public.