Aye Write! Festival Programme Announced

The Aye Write! Glasgow Book Festival programme was announced yesterday afternoon, and revealed hopes that this year’s festival may be the best ever. Centred in the Mitchell Library, the 9-day festival will commence on 16th February.

There are to be more than 120 sessions with Scottish and international writers and broadcasters, and this year there is to be a strong focus on encouraging more reading and writing in the west of Scotland. A free week-long children's festival for schools will also take place.

The opening night is devoted to the work of Liz Lochhead, Tom Leonard and William MacIlvanney. Other highlights this year include military historian Antony Beevor, cartoonist Steve Bell and authors Sophie Kinsella and Jenny Colgan of considerable chick-lit fame..

Best-selling author William Boyd, John Burnside, winner of the Scottish Book of the Year in 2006, John Banville, winner of the 2005 Man Booker Prize and novelist Howard Jacobson will also appear.

Broadcaster Michael Buerk will discuss contemporary media, while Kate Adie and Jonathan Kaplan speak about working in the "world's worst areas". Iain Banks's new novel, The Steep Approach to Garbadale will have its first preview, and the festival will also examine the question of slavery at a major debate, which will include black historian Mike Phillips and Clare Short MP, in the slavery abolition act bi-centenary.

Gavin Wallace, head of literature for the Scottish Arts Council, said: "Aye Write! has established itself on Scotland's literary map with remarkable rapidity and flair - it is hard to believe it began only two years ago."

The Scottish Arts Council, which is among festival sponsors, described the 2007 programme as "a belter". Karen Cunningham, director of the festival, said: "Our aim was to create a programme that highlighted the best Glasgow and Scottish writers as well as bring international writers to the city. We are delighted with the quality of our 2007 programme which appeals to all that love writing and books."

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Aye Write! Glasgow Book Festival