WordPlay Programme 2009

© STEVEN APPLEBY

5 - 6 SEPTEMBER 2009 ISLESBURGH COMMUNITY CENTRE

WELCOME TO WORDPLAY 2009 Welcome to Wordplay 2009, Shetland’s 8th annual Book Festival.

We hope that there is plenty here for you to savour. We have worked to bring together as broad a mix of book, reading and writing related activities as we can.

Whether your interest lies in discovering the reality that lurks behind crime fiction novels, or indeed if you want to learn how to write crime fiction, or

how to be a ghost writer; if you want to meet Katie Morag, or to find out what it was like to be on tour with Robbie Williams; if you want to take part in a drawing workshop or see and hear a best selling novelist read from his work and ask him questions; if you want to hear some of the country’s finest poets read their poems or go to the Gruffalo’s 10th birthday party there will be something here for you.

Enjoy!

CURATORS GENEVIEVE WHITE Genevieve chose to make Shetland her home in 2005, after several years spent teaching in Central Eastern Europe. Since then, she has written several one act plays, a number of which have been performed in Shetland. Genevieve is currently chair of Serpentine Drama: a local group committed to encouraging new writing.

MATTHEW WRIGHT Originally from Kirkwall, but now lives in

Hamnavoe, Burra. He likes writing, reading, Nintendo Wii and AC/DC. He wrote “Topping Up”, a pamphlet published

by North Idea, won a runners up prize in the 2008 Bridport Prize and is currently working on his first novel.

CHRISTINE HUGHSON Born in Shetland in 1975, her writing is inspired by her childhood, the local characters of these Isles and Shetland’s varied scenery. She has written poetry and prose for as long as she can remember: some good,

some bad and some just plain ugly.

LAURA FRIEDLANDER Grew up in Shetland but spent several years away from the islands pursuing a career in journalism. She returned ‘hame’ four years ago to concentrate on creative writing, mainly poetry and short fiction. Laura’s hobbies include housework, especially ironing, but she is usually too busy writing to indulge these pastimes.

STEVEN APPLEBY CARTOONIST The Guardian, The Times.

WRITER Men: The Truth.

Jim – The Nine Lives of a Dysfunctional Cat. ANIMATOR Animated TV series - Captain Star.

BROADCASTER BBC Radio 4 Steven Appleby’s Normal Life. www.stevenappleby.com

Photo: Simon Buck

LOUIS DE BERNIERES Best selling author of many novels, including Captain Corelli’s Mandolin, 1994, which won the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize for Best Novel.

His latest novel is A Partisan’s Daughter, published in 2008

TICKETS 01595 745555

www.louisdebernieres.co.uk WORDPLAY p4

KEITH BRUMPTON Keith was born in Newcastle, where he still has many family connections but is a Torquay United supporter. He has lived and worked in Manchester, Liverpool, Edinburgh and Glasgow - sunlight is not important to him.

Having written and illustrated many books, and a musical drama about dinosaurs, he more recently created BBC’s TV spy show M.I High, and has worked on several series including 64 Zoo Lane, Balamory and River City. www.keithbrumpton.co.uk

Photo: Tanya White

GERRY CAMBRIDGE A poet, essayist, editor and harmonica player, with a background in natural history photography. As well as his appearances at Wordplay, Gerry will be Creative Writer in Residence for September, working in Shetland’s primary schools.

TICKETS 01595 745555

www.gerrycambridge.com WORDPLAY p6

ANN CLEEVES Ann first visited Shetland more than 30 years ago to work in Fair Isle Bird Observatory. She’s best known for her Vera Stanhope novels and for the Shetland Quartet: Raven Black won the CWA Gold Dagger in 2006. Her books have been translated into a dozen languages. She lives in Tyneside with her husband Tim. www.anncleeves.com

Photo: Mike Newell

HELEN PEPPER Has a background in forensics and has acted as Head of Crime Scene Investigation with Durham Constabulary.

Helen currently teaches at Teesside University and regularly runs workshops with Ann Cleeves.

TICKETS 01595 745555

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GORDON DARGIE A Shetland resident, whose first collection of poems, A Tunnel of Love, was published this year by Kettillonia Press to great acclaim.

Subsequently he has read in the Scottish Poetry Library, with James Robertson and his work has been featured in The Herald and in The Scottish Review of Books.

JOHN FARDELL In addition to writing and illustrating children’s books, John is also a cartoonist, and his work has appeared in various publications including The Independent, The Herald, The List and Viz.

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ALLAN GUTHRIE

www.allanguthrie.co.uk

Photo: Dan Phillips

Originally from Orkney, Allan Guthrie has lived in Edinburgh for over twenty years. He is an award-winning crime novelist and a literary agent with Jenny Brown Associates. He has published five novels, the most recent of which is Slammer.

MARK GREIG One of the UK’s preeminent writers for television, Mark has worked on: Ashes to Ashes, Life on Mars, The Bill, The Inspector Lynley Mysteries, Taggart and Tube Tales. He will be in conversation with Ann Cleeves.

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JEN HADFIELD Shetland resident and the author of two prize winning collections of poetry, Almanacs, Bloodaxe 2005, for which she won an Eric Gregory Award, and most famously, Nigh No Place, Bloodaxe 2008, for which she won the coveted TS Eliot prize.

Jen is also Shetland’s Poet Partner. rogueseeds.blogspot.com

MAIRI HEDDERWICK Author of the much loved Katie Morag stories for children, Mairi also writes for adults and her book, A Highland Journey, which retraces the footsteps of artist and writer John T Reid is republished this year.

TICKETS 01595 745555

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STUART McBRIDE

www.stuartmacbride.com

Photo: Karolina Webb

Has gone from asking people if they ‘want fries with that’ to project managing vast IT projects for the oil industry. These days he’s the bestselling author of gruesome crime novels set in Aberdeen, featuring DS Logan McRae. The latest, Blind Eye, published May 2009.

MARK McCRUM The man who chronicled a Robbie Williams tour and lived to tell the tale!

Mark began his career as a travel writer, has written about television, including a book about the series, Castaway, and worked as a ghostwriter.

www.markmccrum.com TICKETS 01595 745555

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DONALD McDONALD Shetland resident: angler, poet and the author of two novels, Antichaos and Palindrome, both published by Lulu.com, Donald’s work has appeared in The New Shetlander and in Pull of the Moon or Bicycle Dreams, an Anthology of Contemporary Shetland Literature.

KEVIN MacNEIL The best selling author of The Stornoway Way, and the Tivoli Prize winning poet who wrote Love and Zen in the Outer Hebrides, makes a welcome return to Wordplay.

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myspace.com/loveandzen WORDPLAY p18

TOM MORTON Broadcaster, musician, songwriter, journalist, radio crofter and novelist. Tom is indeed a man of many talents.

His latest novel, Serpentine, published in 2009, is now available in paperback.

beatcroft.blogspot.com

DONALD S MURRAY In 2008, Donald, a native of the Butt of Lewis, published The Guga Hunters, Birlinn.

The book has attracted great interest, received some very positive reviews and ranks as his greatest success as a writer so far, following on from Speak to us Catriona, Islands Book Trust and From Minch to Muckle Flugga, Kettillonia Press.

TICKETS 01595 745555

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IAIN BANKS @ WORDPLAY 2007

TICKETS WORDPLAY EARLY BIRD BOOKING FULL PRICE:

AUTHOR EVENTS: £5.00/£3.50

CHILDRENS EVENTS: Katie Morag (Mairi Hedderwick); John Fardell; The Man Who Planted Trees; TICKETS PURCHASED BEFORE £3.50 FRIDAY 28 AUGUST. WORKSHOPS: FREE. Booking is advised.

AUTHOR EVENTS: £4/£3.00 CHILDRENS’ EVENTS: £3 TICKETS FROM SHETLAND BOX OFFICE ISLESBURGH COMMUNITY CENTRE 01595 745555

TICKETS 01595 745555

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© STEVEN APPLEBY

EVENTS: SATURDAY 5 SEPTEMBER 1000-1200 TWO HOURS TO KILL Room 10 Workshop Scotland’s leading crime writers (Stuart MacBride and Allan Guthrie) lead a workshop that explores the nuts and bolts of writing crime fiction as they look in detail at technique, style, voice and editing. Free.

1000-1200 NARRATIVE DRAWINGS & CARTOON STRIPS Room 11 Workshop In this workshop Steven Appleby looks in detail at how to tell stories with pictures, and explores the relationship between narrative drawing and cartoon strips. Free.

1000-1030 SHETLAND YOUNG WRITER OF THE YEAR AWARD Room 12 Awards This competition is run annually by Shetland Library and the presentation of the awards has become a fixture of the book festival. Free.

1030-1115 FISHERMEN’S LIVES Room 12 Reading John Cumming, Laureen Johnson, James Sinclair, Mark Ryan Smith, Charlie Simpson and Lise Sinclair, six of Shetlands finest writers read from a work in progress, developed in collaboration with Shetland fishermen.

£5/£3.50.

TICKETS 01595 745555

1045-1145 KATIE MORAG Room 16 Reading Katie Morag comes to Shetland for a rare visit, in the company of her author, Mairi Hedderwick.

Ages 7-12. £3.50.

1215-1315 MARK McCRUM: A WRITER’S LIFE Room 16 Talk The man who went on tour with Robbie Williams and lived to tell the tale, talks about his thirty years of life as a travel writer and ghost writer. £5/£3.50 EARLY BIRD PRICES AVAILABLE see p22

1215-1315 DRAWING Room 10 Workshop Illustrator, storyteller and writer of books for children, including Chariots on Fire and Curse of the Vampire Squirrels, Keith Brumpton leads a workshop on drawing.

Come and join the fun, materials provided.

Ages 5-8. Free.

1230-1330 LUNCH TIME THEATRE Room 11 Drama Short, two character plays written especially for Wordplay, performed by members of Serpentine Drama Group. Free.

WORDPLAY p24

WILL SELF @ WORDPLAY 2008

1330-1430 ANN CLEEVES + CSI HELEN PEPPER Room 16 Talk Come to the crime scene from different perspectives. For Ann, the scene is the jumping off point of the novel. It sets the tone, develops the plot, establishes character.

For Helen it means the beginning of a painstaking professional investigation… £5/£3.50.

1400-1445 KEVIN MACNEIL + GORDON DARGIE Room 12 Reading + Q&A Two fine writers, each an inspiring performer of his own work read their poetry and answer questions. £5/£3.50.

TICKETS 01595 745555

1500-1600 LOUIS DE BERNIERES Room 16 Reading + Q&A The best selling author of Captain Corelli’s Mandolin, gives a special reading of one of his short stories, talks about his life as a writer and answers questions. £5/£3.50

1500-1545 JOHN FARDELL Room 12 Interactive Show Childrens author, Manfred the Baddie, The Flight of the Silver Turtles, leads his audience on an interactive journey through his work as a writer & illustrator: come along and join in with the fun. Materials supplied. Families welcome. £3.50.

1615-1715 LANDSCAPE: FACT AND FICTION Room 12 Reading + Q&A Tom Morton, Donald McDonald and Donald S Murray read from their work and discuss the importance of place to their fiction and nonfiction. £5/£3.50 1630-1730 THE MAN WHO PLANTED TREES Room 16 Show Puppet State Theatre present their hit show for everyone over the age of seven. £3.50.

www.puppetstate.com

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EVENTS: SUNDAY 6 SEPTEMBER 1000-1130 NUTS AND BOLTS – MARK MCCRUM Room 10 Workshop McCrum shares thirty years of experience and gives a hands-on look at how to survive as a writer; the mechanics of getting commissioned; the truth about selling to newspapers; being a ghost writer… Free.

1000-1200 POETRY WRITING Room 11 Workshop Gerry Cambridge calls on his vast experience and many talents as poet, photographer and harmonica player to deliver a workshop with a difference. Free.

1000-1100 THE GRUMPY SAILOR Radio Room Book Launch A new picture book for bairns, written by Janice Armstrong and illustrated by Meilo So. Published by So Co Books. Free.

1100-1200 THE MAN WHO PLANTED TREES Room 16 Show Puppet State Theatre present their hit show for everyone over the age of seven. £3.50.

www.puppetstate.com

TICKETS 01595 745555

1100-1200 A HIGHLAND JOURNEY Room 12 Talk/Reading Come with Mairi Hedderwick and retrace the footsteps of John T Reid, the Victorian artist and author of Art and Rambles in Shetland, in his journey round the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. £5/£3.50.

1200-1245 MARK GREIG + ANN CLEEVES Room 12 In Conversation A leading television writer, Life on Mars, The Bill, Ashes to Ashes, Taggart, and best selling crime author, Ann Cleeves, Raven Black, White Nights,

Red Bones talk about their experiences of writing: the things they have in common and the different demands that are placed on them by their respective disciplines. £5/£3.50.

1230-1300 KATIE MORAG Room 16 Reading A special session for pre school and early primary bairns (and their adults!), led by author and illustrator, Mairi Hedderwick. £3.50.

EARLY BIRD PRICES AVAILABLE see p22 WORDPLAY p28

1230-1330 LUNCH TIME THEATRE Room 11 Drama Short, two character plays written especially for Wordplay, performed by members of Serpentine Drama Group. Free.

ADRIAN MITCHELL @ WORDPLAY 2008

1345-1500 THE LAND OF STEVEN APPLEBY Room 16 Multimedia Talk The artist, cartoonist, writer, dramatist, broadcaster and animator talks about his imaginary world and how he fuels it from his obsessions then moves it into different areas, including cartoon strips, books, animation, radio, paintings and stage… £5/£3.50.

1400-1600 THE GRUFFALO’S 10TH BIRTHDAY PARTY General Purpose Hall, Ground floor Come along and celebrate The Gruffalo’s 10th Birthday, and take part in a variety of arts and play activities. Free.

1530-1630 ALLAN GUTHRIE + STUART MACBRIDE Room 16 Reading Two of Scotland’s leading crime writers form a killer double act to read from their work and answer your questions. £5/£3.50.

1515-1615 DRAWING Room 10 Workshop Illustrator, storyteller and writer of books for children, including Chariots on Fire and Curse of the Vampire Squirrels, Keith Brumpton leads a workshop on drawing.

Come and join the fun, materials provided.

Ages 9-12. Free.

1600-1645 JEN HADFIELD + GERRY CAMBRIDGE Room 12 Reading + Q&A Two fine poets inspired by their cultural and natural environments read from their work and answer your questions. £5/£3.50.

TICKETS 01595 745555

CHRISTINE MITCHELL & IAIN PIERCY @ WORDPLAY 2008

WORDPLAY & SCREENPLAY FESTIVAL CLUB 10pm-Midnight SATURDAY 5 SEPTEMBER SUNDAY 6 SEPTEMBER

Come for a relaxed late evening mingle and chat with the festival curators and some of the guests.

Room 16 Islesburgh Community Centre TICKETS FROM SHETLAND BOX OFFICE ISLESBURGH COMMUNITY CENTRE 01595 745555

Listen to some of Shetland’s very best songwriters perform a short set in intimate surroundings.

Refreshments available.

Book in advance. Free.

WORDPLAY SAT 5 SEPT 2 HOURS p.23

r10

NUTS + BOLTS p.27

1000

r10

CARTOON STRIPS p.23 1000

r11

POETRY p.27

1000

r11

YOUNG WRITER p.24

1000

r12

GRUMPY SAILOR p.28

1000

RR

FISHERMEN p.24

1030

r12

PLANTED TREES p.28

1100

r16

KATIE MORAG p.24

1045

r16

HIGHLAND JOURNEY p.28

1100

r12

MARK McCRUM p.24

1215

r16

DRAWING p.24

1215

r10

LUNCH THEATRE p.24

1000

SUN 6 SEPT

1230

r11

CLEEVES+PEPPER p.26 1330

r16

MACNEIL+DARGIE p.26 1400

r12

L. DE BERNIERES p.26 1500

r16

JOHN FARDELL p.26

1500

r12

LANDSCAPE p.26

1615

r12

PLANTED TREES p.26

1630

r16

GREIG + CLEEVES p.28 1200

r12

KATIE MORAG p.28

1230

r16

LUNCH THEATRE p.29

1230

r11

STEVEN APPLEBY p.29 1345

r16

THE GRUFFALO p.30

1400

GP

DRAWING p.30

1515

r10

GUTHRIE+MACBRIDE p.30

1530

r16

HADFIELD+CAMBRIDGE 1600 p.30

r12

FULL PRICE TICKETS AUTHOR EVENTS: £5.00/£3.50 CHILDRENS EVENTS £3.50 EARLY BIRD BOOKING Tickets purchased before Fri 28 Aug AUTHOR EVENTS: £4.00/£3.00 CHILDRENS EVENTS: £3.00 rXX: ROOM NUMBER IN ISLESBURGH COMMUNITY CENTRE, LERWICK | RR: RADIO ROOM | GP: GENERAL PURPOSE HALL, GROUND FLOOR Shetland Arts would like to thank all our sponsors, our funders and everyone who has taken part in both festivals whether as a guest or a volunteer for their contribution to the success of Wordplay & Screenplay 2009.

Shetland Arts Development Agency T: +44 (0) 1595 743 843 E: info@shetlandarts.org www.shetlandarts.org

TICKETS FROM SHETLAND BOX OFFICE ISLESBURGH COMMUNITY CENTRE 01595 745555