15 October - Saturday

  • Pulp Fiction 12pm Rob Shearman

    Rob Shearman may be best-known as a writer for Doctor Who – his Doctor Who episode ‘Dalek’ was nominated for the Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation, Short Form in 2006 – but he’s also a theatrical playwright, having worked with Alan Ayckbourn, had a play produced by Francis Ford Coppola, and received several international awards for his work in theatre. We’re thrilled he’s here to read from his latest short story collection, Everyone’s Just So So Special, and to have a blether with Stuart Kelly.

  • Owl & Lion Bindery 12pm - 5pm Bookbinding demonstration

    Four master craftsmen, Tom McEwan, Mark Powell, Matthew Simos and Isabelle Ting gather together for three days to bind a sumptuous full-leather book. Each craftsman will concentrate on his or her area of expertise: Isabelle and Tom will oversee book construction, headbands and gold tooling, Mark will concentrate on relief printing endpapers, whilst Matthew will do silver decoration. This is a rare chance to see the professionals at work. You’re welcome to drop by, ask some questions and see an age-old craft brought to life in front of you.

  • Peter Bell Books 1pm Bruce Durie

    Prof. Bruce Durie is a bear of massive brain, specialising in genealogical studies, heraldry and J. E. P. Muddock (Dick Donovan), one of the most influential Scottish detective story writers, popular before Sherlock Holmes, but now largely forgotten. Bruce will talk on what has been declared to be the first ever poem in Scottis. If you’re after an entertaining hour of massive learning lightly worn, then look no further.

  • Old Saint Paul's Episcopal Church 2.30pm - 5pm Family Legends and WWII-themed Tea Dance

    In partnership with the Scottish Book Trust

    A family-friendly mix of real-life stories, dancing and posters of the Queen, this event is guaranteed to be fun – and you’ll be helping out West Port charity, Artlink. Family Legends was a national story project run by the Scottish Book Trust; people all over Scotland wrote stories about a legend in their own family and a selection were published in a book, Scottish Family Legends, by Luath Press. The stories built a picture of Scotland’s families with moving, funny and fascinating tales emerging about parents, grandparents, siblings and children, legendary cooks and brave soldiers, big characters and quiet heroes. We will be hearing some of the writers reading their wonderful Family Legends.

    And then there’s the tea dance: but what if you don’t know your jitter bug from your Charleston? Come anyway, because the lovely local dance group Edinbop will do a taster lesson to help us all along. Meanwhile, member of ‘Golden’ dance group Corrie de Koster Wolve will also be on hand to get those feet moving in time to the beat. Dressing up encouraged. £3 suggested donation (all proceeds to Artlink).

    Some tickets on the door

  • Edinburgh Books 3.30pm Andy Wightman

    Andy Wightman has worked as a ghillie, environmental scientist and campaigner before becoming a self-employed writer and researcher in 1993. The Poor Had No Lawyers : Who Owns Scotland (And How They Got It) provides an in depth account of how Scotland’s land has been divvied up by the rich and powerful. A fascinating insight from this provocative writer.

  • Peter Bell Books 5pm Bugged

    Are you an eavesdropper? Then don’t be ashamed - you’re not alone. Bugged was a mass participation writing project, featuring ten commissioned writers and attracting prosy and poetic contributions from all round the country, and is now a handsome anthology. Come along for choice cuts from project editor and poet Jo Bell, and poets Rob A. Mackenzie and Helen Addy.

  • Edinburgh Books 7pm Rachael Boast and J. O. Morgan

    Rachael Boast’s debut collection, Sidereal (Picador) has swept its way onto several impressive shortlists, including the Guardian First Book Award and the Forward Best First Collection. J. O. Morgan’s award-winning book length narrative Natural Mechanical (C. B. Editions) had a rapturous response at West Port 2009, and the eagerly awaited follow up, Long Cuts, is now in our midst and ripe for a preview. We can’t wait.

  • Traverse Bar 9pm Traverse Playwrights

    Another day, another exciting collaboration with our favourite theatre. We’re inviting some great playwrights – David Greig, Peter Arnott, Linda McLean and many more – to reveal their secret poems; ones they’ve been penning themselves or their favourites. Open Mic slots available for audience members.

    No ticket required

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