Off the Page Stirling Libraries Book Festival

Stirling Libraries Book FESTIVAL

Alive with Culture

4th-15th May 2017

Welcome Off the Page is now in its 12th year and once again we have a strong programme which gives everyone the opportunity to hear great authors in their own community but also in the centre of Stirling.

This year Alan Bissett has agreed to perform The Moira Monologues for the very first time in Stirling. James Kelman is coming to Stirling too, to talk about his recently filmed novel, Dirt Road, which features Stirling’s Neil Sutcliffe. Other highlights this year include talks from James Robertson, Craig Russell and James Oswald and those Femme Fatale ladies Alex Gray, Lin Anderson and Alanna Knight. Stirling Makar Clive Wright will be performing his poetry at various events. We are featuring a full programme with the Smith Art Gallery including a talk by our Archivist Pam McNicol.

Off the Page will also offer a variety of events for children including Comic-Kids, a celebration of comics , graphic novels and illustration held on Free Comic Book Day, and highly acclaimed author of young adult fiction, Alex Scarrow will be appearing at Bridge of Allan Library.

For younger children, there are free Bookbug Sessions throughout the week, and prize-winning authors Ross Collins and Chae Strathie will be reading their wonderful picture books during the festival.

If digital creation is more up your street, Killin Library will host a showcase of our newest 3D printers.

Off the Page is one of the many cultural events that make Stirling unique. We look forward to seeing you at our events and local libraries where staff are ready to welcome you.

As ever, our thanks go to all our sponsors, partners and supporters who help make it all possible.

Stacey Burlet Director of Children, Communities and Enterprise

Thursday 4th May Pictures at an Exhibition:

A Programme of Words and Music with BBC actor Crawford Logan and pianist Iain Clarke Smith Art Gallery and Museum 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm £12.00 Wine and nibbles will be served in the interval of this unique event, presented by the Friends of the Smith.

Scots Poetry Night with the Stirling Makar Bannockburn Library 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm Free

The Bannockburn Study Group host an evening of Scots poetry with Clive Wright, the Stirling Makar.

During the evening you can enjoy a mixture of original Scots poems, written by the group, followed by readings from the Makar’s work. This is an opportunity to experience the richness of the Scots’ language.

Friday 5th May Poetry Café with Clive Wright and John Coutts Smith Art Gallery and Museum 10:30 am – 12:00 pm Free

The monthly Friday Poetry Café is led by Smith Poet in Residence John Coutts and with Stirling Makar, Clive Wright, it offers the opportunity of sharing the poems you love with others, or just listening to the poems which others like. No previous experience is needed to enjoy the pleasures that poetry brings.

Bookbug Session Bridge of Allan Library 10:30 am – 11:00 am Free

Suggested age: Pre-school with accompanying adult Join us for a Bookbug Session filled with rhymes and songs. Bring your favourite grown-up with you for a snuggle and a story.

Teri Terry

McLaren High School This event is for invited school pupils Teri Terry is the author of the award-winning Slated trilogy, and the stand alone novels Mind Games and Book of Lies. Teri has been shortlisted for a phenomenal 23 awards and has won 17 of them, nearly all voted for by teenage readers. Teri has lived in France, Canada, Australia and England, the latter of which she has made her home. Past careers have included a scientist, a lawyer, optometrist, and in England, various jobs in schools and libraries. Teri spends a lot of time researching the settings for her books and immerses herself in the locations for weeks at a time. For her latest book, Contagion, Teri took inspiration from the rugged and wild Scottish Shetland Islands, Highlands and the beautiful city of Newcastle. Whilst visiting Scotland, Teri discovered Killin and Loch Tay both beautiful, isolated peaceful places where her dark tale took shape.

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Friday 5th May

Saturday 6th May German Bookbug Session Dunblane Library 10:00 am – 11:00 am Free

Alan Bissett The Moira Monologues Tolbooth Theatre 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm £10.00/£8.00 WARNING. Contains language.

Which people actually speak.

She’s back! Glenfiddich Spirit of Scotland Writer of the Year 2013, Alan Bissett performing his cult classic ‘one-woman show’, The Moira Monologues, for the first time in Stirling Meet Moira Bell – ‘the most charismatic character to appear on a Scottish stage in the last decade’ (The Scotsman) – singlemother, part-time cleaner and the hardest woman in Falkirk. Listen in as she recounts to her BFF Babs her hilarious tales of love, and just getting that ‘bawheid next door telt!’

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https://alanbissett.com/plays/the-moiramonologues/

Suggested age: families and pre-school children with a grown-up Join us for a special hour of Bookbug fun and games. We’ll be reading, rhyming and singing, and learning some German as we go!

My Secret Unicorn… with Linda Chapman Mayfield Centre, St Ninians 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm £2.00 Suggested age: 5+ years Linda Chapman learnt to ride when she was three and her first pony was a very stubborn Welsh Mountain pony called Swizzle, who she used to imagine was a unicorn but who unfortunately behaved nothing like Twilight! When she is not writing she spends her time training dogs and teaching drama - and of course riding whenever she can.

Come along to hear Linda talk about her My Secret Unicorn series, and perhaps her brand new Star Friends series too. There will be magical activities and unicorn themed crafts to help the day sparkle!

Legends series. Born in Stirling, Scotland he had a love of drawing and telling stories from a very early age, creating many of the characters that would eventually appear in the Realm Legends books when he was only eight. He is passionate about helping children to discover the delights of creativity through education and tours around schools, libraries and book festivals where he encourages children to use their own imagination through reading, storytelling, illustration and drama.

Comic-Kids… with Gary Erskine

Tolbooth Theatre 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm £5.00/£3.00 Suggested age: 7+ years/Family Celebrate Free Comic Book Day in style: join us for a day of all things comic, geeky, graphic and cool.

Gary Erskine has worked for Marvel, DC Comics, 2000AD and Image Comics with writers Garth Ennis, Mark Millar, Grant Morrison and Warren Ellis on characters such as Judge Dredd, Captain America and Avengers, and licenses including Star Wars,

Star Trek, Terminator and Doctor Who. He is also the creator of Roller Grrrls with Anna Malady.

Gary will headline the day talking about his own work and offering an insight into the opportunities that comics and art can offer in many industries e.g. book illustrations, character design for games, film and television, theatre production and fashion.

If you’re a budding comic artist, bring along your own portfolio to get some advice from Gary: throughout the day, there will also be the chance to see some of Gary’s own work.

Chris Mitchell is the author of The Realm

Chris will run an illustration workshop during the day, working with participants to show how to develop characters on the page and bring your own ideas to life.

Take part in some comic crafts, practice your storyboarding skills, or recreate some of your favourite comic stars and scenes in Lego! Take some time to discover the new Comics Plus service from Stirling Libraries – all you can read comics and graphic novels on your phone or tablet: free with your library card.

Bring your pocket money and browse the latest in must-have merchandise – we’ll have a wide range of comics and graphic novels too. Don’t forget to show off your favourite costume…there will be prizes for the best!

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Monday 8th May Creative Writing Booklet Launch

Caricature Challenge

Adult Learning Team Event Raploch Community Campus 10:30 am – 11:30 am Free

This event is for invited school pupils.

Come along to the Creative Writing class at Raploch where learners will share some of their writings with you.

Cowie Library

Stories and Crafty Characters Adult Learning Team Event Cowie Nursery and School Community Space 10:15am – 11:40am 1:00pm – 2:30pm This event is closed for 3-5 year olds attending Cowie Nursery (Children must be accompanied by an adult) Parents/carers are invited to join their children in a fantastic fun family session, where children can take part in a range of interactive stories. Together families can then get creative with crafts making characters from the stories and will also have the opportunity to find out more about their local library!

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Pupils from Cowie’s primary schools join local author and artist Chris Mitchell to find out all about the art of caricature, and to learn how to draw their own pieces of art. The finished drawings will be displayed in Cowie Library as a free exhibition – we dare you to come along and see if you recognise yourself?!

Re:Collections

Fallin Library 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm Free Stirling Council Libraries and Archives Service has been working with local library staff to preserve the re-collections of our communities over the last 6 months holding open days at Libraries and inviting people to share their photographs and memories. We have received a great response and people have been very generous in sharing their photographs and giving interviews about the past in their local area with our staff.

Bookbug Session Plean Library 12:15 pm – 12:45 pm Free

Suggested age: Pre-school with accompanying adult Join us for a Bookbug Session filled with rhymes and songs. Bring your favourite grown-up with you for a snuggle and a story.

In this session Archives staff will give an overview of the images and information that we have received as the project has been rolled out across the area with examples of the photographs and excerpts from some of the fascinating interviews. There will also be information on what is next for this exciting project.

Alex Scarrow

Bridge of Allan Library 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm £2.00 Suggested age: Teen/Young Adult/Adult Alex Scarrow used to be a rock guitarist.

After ten years in various unsuccessful bands, he ended up working in the computer games industry as a lead games designer.

In 2006 his first adult novel A Thousand Suns was published by Orion. Since then he has been a full time writer. To date he’s had 5 thrillers published by Orion.

Alex is also the author of the bestselling Timeriders series published by Puffin, which has been sold into over 30 foreign territories. Timeriders was a RedHouse Awards, Catalyst Awards, Hampshire Book winner and a finalist for Galaxy Children’s Book of the Year.

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Monday 8th May

Mark Douglas-Home

Tuesday 9th May Thumble Tumble… with Angela Proctor

Cambusbarron Library 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm £5.00/£3.00 Mark Douglas-Home is a newspaper editor turned author, working as editor of The Herald and The Sunday Times Scotland. When he was Scottish Correspondent of The Independent he reported on the Lockerbie and Piper Alpha disasters.

His journalistic career began as a student in South Africa where he edited the newspaper at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. After the apartheid government banned a number of editions, he was deported from the country.

His Sea Detective novels introduced a new kind of investigator to crime fiction - an oceanographer who tracks floating objects, including dead bodies, at sea.

There have been three books in the series so far: The Sea Detective (2011), The Woman Who Walked IntoThe Sea 2013) and The Malice of Waves which was published in 2016. He is married with two children and lives in Edinburgh.

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https://twitter.com/ markdouglashome?lang=en

Central Library

This event is for invited school pupils Angela Proctor is a successful business woman and author of the hugely popular Thumble Tumble books. The series launched in August 2015 with Thumble Tumble and the Ollpheist, the second book, Thumble Tumble and the Cauldron of Undry hit the shelves on Halloween 2016. The third novel is well underway!

Caricature Challenge Cowie Library

This event is for invited school pupils.

Pupils from Cowie’s primary schools join local author and artist Chris Mitchell to find out all about the art of caricature, and to learn how to draw their own pieces of art. The finished drawings will be displayed in Cowie Library as a free exhibition – we dare you to come along and see if you recognise yourself?!

The adventure began just four years ago when Angela would tell stories to her children about Thumble Tumble, a young witch from the magical Isle of Arran.

The stories tell of Thumble Tumble’s adventures and her battles against the evil ‘Night Witches’.

It was suggested that Angela should write her stories down so that other children might enjoy Thumble Tumble’s adventures – and so she did. The Thumble Tumble books subsequently came to life on Christmas Eve 2014, when a publisher loved Angela’s stories so much they offered to turn them into book… and so the adventure began!

Dr Murray Cook: Latest Discoveries in Stirling Archaeology

Re:Collections

Killin Library 11:00 am – 1:00 pm Free

Smith Art Gallery and Museum 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm £5.00/£3.00 Murray Cook is constantly investigating archaeological sites in and around Stirling. This talk will feature his investigations and discoveries over the last year.

Mike Nicholson

Callander Library 11:00 am – 12:00 pm £2.00 Suggested age: 4+ years

Tickets for this event are limited – available only from Callander Library.

Mike Nicholson won the Kelpies Prize for new Scottish children’s fiction in 2005. He is the author of many humorous children’s books including the Museum Mystery Squad series, and the Thistle Street picture books for younger children, which introduce the fun of Scots words through rhyme as characters find themselves in humorous situations. Mike lives in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Stirling Council Libraries and Archives Service has been working with local library staff to preserve the recollections of our communities over the last 6 months holding open days at Libraries and inviting people to share their photographs and memories. We have received a great response and people have been very generous in sharing their photographs and giving interviews about the past in their local area with our staff.

In this session, Archives staff will give an overview of the images and information that we have received as the project has been rolled out across the area with examples of the photographs and excerpts from some of the fascinating interviews. There will also be information on what is next for this exciting project.

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Tuesday 9th May Mac and Bob… with Alan Windram Fallin Library 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm £2.00 Suggested age: 4+ years

Tickets for this event are limited – available only from Fallin Library.

As a child Alan was always making up stories in his head, having adventures, building gang huts and play acting. Alan created the character of Mac (very loosely based on Old MacDonald) originally as a piece of live theatre – Molly, Mac and his dog Bob got up to all sorts of adventures on stage and now Mac has moved from the stage to the page.

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An author visit from Alan (in character as Mac!) is an action-packed show, giving young children an entertaining introduction to live theatre, with storytelling, songs and fun to encourage them in their reading and the use of their own wonderful imaginations.

Ellie Dean

Bannockburn Library 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm £5.00/£3.00 We are delighted to welcome The Top Ten Sunday Times Bestselling Author Ellie Dean to Bannockburn Library.

Ellie is travelling all the way from her family home in Eastbourne and will talk about her hugely popular and heartwarming Beach View Boarding House series which began with There’ll Be Blue Skies. The latest instalment Until You Come Home continues the story and like the others is set during the turmoil of the Second World War. http://www.ellie-dean.co.uk/

My wee journal…

Plean Library 3:15 pm – 4:15 pm Free Suggested age: 8 - 12 years

Tickets for this event are limited – available only from Plean Library Using the example of 12 year old Gargunnock girl, Viola Stirling’s nature diary from 1919, join Neil Dickson from Stirling Council Archives to create your very own authentic looking journal… ready to fill with your own notes and observations.

Craig Robertson

St. Ninians Library 7:00pm – 8:00pm £5.00/£3.00 Craig Robertson is a local author who was brought up in St. Ninians before enjoying a 20 year long career in journalism with a Scottish Sunday newspaper, and is now an international bestselling novelist.

During his time in journalism Craig interviewed three Prime Ministers and reported on major stories including 9/11, the Dunblane tragedy, the Omagh bombing and the disappearance of Madeleine McCann.

Craig is the author of seven crime novels.

His first novel, Random, was shortlisted for the 2010 CWA New Blood Dagger, longlisted for the 2011 Crime Novel of the Year and was a Sunday Times bestseller.

His latest book, Murderabilia, revolves around the grisly pursuit of collecting items related to serial killers. http://craigrobertsonbooks.co.uk/

explores the brevity of life, the agonising demands of love and the lure of the open road. It is also a beautiful book about the power of music and all that it can offer. A film version is under way, with Stirling’s own Neil Sutcliffe in the lead role as a young accordionist encountering the musical traditions of the Southern heartland.

James Kelman with The Dirt Roadsters and Neil Sutcliffe Tolbooth Theatre 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm £10.00/£8.00 A unique opportunity to see James Kelman in Stirling. For this performance Kelman is working with musicians. He will discuss and read extracts from Dirt Road, with musical accompaniment from The Dirt Roadsters band, featuring special guest Neil Sutcliffe.

James Kelman was shortlisted for the Booker Prize in 1989 with his novel, A Disaffection, which also won the James Tait Black Memorial Prize for Fiction. He went on to win the Booker Prize five years later with How Late it Was, How Late: Stories, before being shortlisted for the Man Booker International Prize in 2009 and 2011. In 2012 he won the Saltire Book of the Year award for Mo Said She was Quirky.

This new novel, Dirt Road, is set in USA.

From the understated serenity of Kelman’s prose emerges a devastating emotional power, as its 16 year old protagonist journeys towards zydeco country. He 9

Wednesday 10th May How Can Books Help You Relax?

Adult Learning Team Event St Ninians Library 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm Free

We Have Big Plans For You – Stirling’s Dean of Guild plans 1893–1975 Smith Art Gallery and Museum 12:00pm – 1:00pm £5.00/£3.00

Bookbug Session Central Library 11:00 am – 11:30 am Free

Suggested age: Pre-school with accompanying adult Join us for a Bookbug Session filled with rhymes and songs. Bring your favourite grown-up with you for a snuggle and a story.

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This talk examines an underused local historical resource: the plans of Stirling’s Dean of Guild court give a fascinating insight into some of Stirling’s best known buildings including some designed by local architects including John Allan. The talk will be illustrated with images of plans showing well known buildings, often as you have never seen them before.

Pam McNicol works at Stirling Council Archives caring for the historic records owned by the Council and donated by members of the community in the Stirling Council area.

Do you fancy taking a break from all the stresses and strains of day to day life?

Come along and find out how books can help you relax. This session offers you the opportunity to find out what’s available at your library to help you de-stress including self-help books and relaxation CDs. Learn some mindfulness techniques and learn to let go whilst listening to some relaxing music. Or why not try some relaxing colouring or dot to dots?

James Robertson

Doune Library 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm £5.00/£3.00

Helen MacKinven

Stuart Reid

Strathallan Court 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm Free

Doune Library 3:30 pm – 5:00 pm £2.00

Helen MacKinven writes contemporary Scottish fiction, with a particular interest in exploring themes such as social class and identity, using black comedy and featuring Scots dialect.

Suggested age: 8+ years

Come along to hear Helen read from her latest novel, Buy Buy Baby. It’s a funny and moving story about two women united by the same desire – they desperately want to have a baby.

Enter Dan, a total charmer with a solution to their problems…but only if they’re willing to pay the price on every level! Expect to be entertained! https://helenmackinven.wordpress. com/

Stuart Reid is one of the busiest authors in Britain today, having performed at 700 schools, libraries and book festivals in the last three years; his presentations are enthusiastic and inspirational, engaging pupils with audience participation, fun and energy.

Stuart’s Gorgeous George books are written to encourage children, especially boys and reluctant readers to want to read more often. They are yucky, funny, imaginative and exciting enough to engage even the most reluctant of readers. His author events focus on the joys of reading and how brilliant books can be.

Acclaimed author James Robertson won the Saltire Society Book of the Year Award in 2010 for his novel And the Land Lay Still and his novel The Professor of Truth was shortlisted for the prize in 2013. His novel The Testament of Gideon Mack, long-listed for the 2006 Man Booker Prize was described as a ‘skilful blend of religion, the supernatural and mental illness. To add more strings to his bow, Robertson is also the author of short stories, most recently 365: Stories as well as poetry collections and translates popular children’s books from English into Scots.

He runs the independent publishing house, Kettillonia and co-founded the Scots language children’s books imprint Itchy Coo with fellow author Matthew Fitt. His latest book is To Be Continued, set in the weeks that followed the Scottish Independence Referendum in 2014.

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Wednesday 10th May Markus Stitz in partnership with the Stirling Cycle Hub Dunblane Library 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm £5.00/£3.00 In August 2016 Markus Stitz became the first person to circumnavigate the world on a singlespeed bike. In less than a year he cycled 21,500 miles through 26 countries and more than 38 times up Mount Everest, all unsupported, with as little gear as possible and no choice to switch gears. With pictures and videos he will bring the journey alive, and will tell you how a daily commute from Edinburgh to Bridge of Allan can be the best training for an epic adventure.

Stirling Cycle Hub will be offering a free led ride to the venue and back to Stirling train station. This will follow the National Cycle Network with Markus Stitz joining on the return journey.

Departing 6.30pm from Stirling Cycle Hub (Stirling train station).

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www.markusstitz.com

How to Get Published: Taking the plunge?

The pros and cons of self-publishing your work Lesser Albert Hall 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm £5.00/£3.00 It can take years to get published in the traditional way and many never get there at all. Self-publishing has therefore recently become something of a phenomenon. Increased access to technology and uptake of social media has enabled some aspiring writers to build communities of fans with enough critical mass to make publishers sit up and take notice. Authors such as Amanda Hocking,

Keith Houghton, Adam Croft and, most famously, E.L. James, created their initial success through self-publishing before being signed up by major publishers.

According to Publishers’ Weekly, in 2014 self-published books represented 31% of e-book sales on Amazon’s Kindle Store.

And this isn’t the only source, with Kobo, CreateSpace and Smashwords all helping people publish their own work at low cost and for much higher royalties than traditional publishing. But in 2016, Amazon admitted that only 40 of its self-published authors earned significant money through publishing their work. So what are the pros and cons of this new approach to finding an audience? New York Times best-selling author Samantha Young leads our panel on making the most of self-publishing. https://authorsamanthayoung.com/

Thursday 11th May Ross Collins

East Plean Primary School

This event is for invited school pupils.

Ross Collins was born in Glasgow, Scotland quite a while ago. At that time he would eat anything and resembled a currant bun. As he grew up he was fond of drawing, the bionic man and precariously swinging backwards on chairs.

For reasons best known to themselves, Glasgow School of Art gave him a first in Illustration when he graduated in 1994.

In the same year he won the MacMillan Children’s Book Prize for his first book ‘The Sea Hole’. Since then, Ross has returned to Scotland where he has illustrated over 100 books and written a dozen or so. Children in over 20 countries seem to like them.

Ross has won many awards and prizes for his books, including winning the Scottish Children’s Book Award for Robot Rumpus in 2015, and There’s A Bear On My Chair was shortlisted for the 2017 Bookbug Picture Book Prize.

Wonderful World of Bears Dunblane Library 10:30 am – 11:15 am Free

Suggested age: Pre-school with accompanying adult “Come along to Dunblane Library and help us to celebrate the wonderful world of bears with stories, crafts, treats and more. Don’t forget to bring your favourite teddy bear!”

Therapy Ponies Scotland

Bannockburn Library 11:00 am – 12:00 pm £2.00 Tickets for this event are limited – available only from Bannockburn Library Therapy Ponies Scotland offer therapeutic visits to nursing and care homes, hospitals and libraries with their very special Miniature Shetland Ponies – let them make you smile!

We’ll be having a special story time all about horses and ponies, and then we’ll hear how the ponies can help us to relax and be happy while we spend some time reading with our special visitors.

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Thursday 11th May Ross Collins

John Coutts and Oswald’s Book of Poetry

Dunblane Library 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm £2.00 Suggested age: 3+ years

Smith Art Gallery and Museum 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm Free Today’s event sees the launch of two new poetry books written by the Poet in Residence at the Smith, John Coutts.

Oswald the Cat’s Book of Poems 1 and 2 are designed to help teachers and children in primary schools enjoy and write poetry.

These books, funded by the Friends of the Smith, will be in all of Stirling’s primary schools. Come and enjoy a bit of rhythm and rhyme.

Bookbug Session

Balfron Library 2:15 pm – 3:00 pm Free

Suggested age: Pre-school with accompanying adult

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Join us for a Bookbug Session filled with rhymes and songs. Bring your favourite grown-up with you for a snuggle and a story. Stay for a little longer than usual and take part in a crafty activity afterwards.

Scottish Cartoon Art Studio…with Terry Anderson Cowie Library 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm £2.00 Suggested age: 9+ years The Scottish Cartoon Art Studio is a team of professional cartoonists and caricaturists based in Glasgow.

Terry Anderson is the Studio Coordinator, and is an adept caricaturist producing both quick-fire drawings as live entertainment and fully rendered pieces for presentation and exhibition.

He also specialises in: character design, visual minutes and cartoon workshops for children and adults. Join Terry at Cowie Library for a fascinating workshop on heroes and villains…just bring your imagination, we’ll provide the paper!

Ross Collins was born in Glasgow, Scotland quite a while ago. At that time he would eat anything and resembled a currant bun. As he grew up he was fond of drawing, the bionic man and precariously swinging backwards on chairs.

For reasons best known to themselves, Glasgow School of Art gave him a first in Illustration when he graduated in 1994.

In the same year he won the MacMillan Children’s Book Prize for his first book ‘The Sea Hole’. Since then, Ross has returned to Scotland where he has illustrated over 100 books and written a dozen or so. Children in over 20 countries seem to like them.

Ross has won many awards and prizes for his books, including winning the Scottish Children’s Book Award for Robot Rumpus in 2015, and There’s A Bear On My Chair was shortlisted for the 2017 Bookbug Picture Book Prize.

An Evening of Poetry

Tolbooth Attic 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm £5.00/£3.00

Craig Russell and James Oswald Central Library 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm £5.00/£3.00 Craig Russell’s novels have been translated into twenty-three languages worldwide and dramatised for television and radio.

Craig was a finalist for the 2012 Bloody Scotland Crime Book of the Year and the 2013 Ellis Peters Historical Dagger. Craig’s novel The Ghosts of Altona won the 2015 Bloody Scotland Crime Book of the Year.

His Jan Fabel novels have been adapted for television and broadcast in Germany.

The film version of novel 4 in the series is due to begin filming in March 2017. The rights to the Lennox series is under option to the BBC and the rights to Biblical have been acquired for a major television series

in the UK and the US. Craig will be appearing at this event with James Oswald, the author of the Inspector McLean series of crimes novels Natural Causes, The Book of Souls, The Hangman’s Song, Deadman’s Bones, Prayer for the Dead and The Damage Done. His new novel Written in Bones was published in February 2017.

Stirling Makar, Clive Wright, and Stirling local poet, Chris Powici editor of literary magazine Northwords Now will present an evening of poetry with the finalists from our poetry competition Off the Stanza.

Come along and hear some of the winning poems and find out who has won the competition in 2017. Clive and Chris will also perform at this event.

James is also the author of the epic fantasy series The Ballad of Sir Benfro as well as working on comic strips, short stories and blogs. http://www.craigrussell.com/ http://jamesoswald.co.uk/ www.sirbenfro.blogspot.com 15

Thursday 11th May Femme Fatale Alex Gray, Alanna Knight and Lin Anderson Drymen Church Hall 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm £5.00/£3.00

The three ladies of crime who form Femme Fatale are Alanna Knight, Alex Gray and Lin Anderson. Alanna Knight has written more than 70 books since first published in 1968 including historical crime, romance and thrillers. Knight’s historical and current crime series include 19 Inspector Faro and 10 Rose McQuinn novels. In addition Knight has written plays for the stage and radio as well as numerous short stories. The honorary president of both the Scottish Association of Writers and the Edinburgh Writer’s Club and a founding member of the Scottish Crime Writers Association, Alanna was awarded an MBE is for services to literature.

Alex Gray began writing professionally in 1993 and had immediate success with short stories, articles and commissions for BBC radio programmes. She has been awarded the Scottish Association of Writers’ Constable and Pitlochry trophies 16

for her crime writing. A regular on the Scottish bestseller lists, her previous novels include Five Ways to Kill a Man, Glasgow Kiss, Pitch Black, The Riverman, Never Somewhere Else, The Swedish Girl, Keep the Midnight Out, and The Darkest Goodbye. She is the co-founder, with Lin Anderson, of the international Scottish crime writing festival, Bloody Scotland, which had its inaugural year in 2012.

Lin Anderson is best known as the creator of the forensic scientist Rhona Macleod series of crime thriller novels.

A former Chair of the Society of Authors

in Scotland, Lin is also a screenwriter. A movie based on her Dead Close story is going into production this year, and in Lin’s experiences of Cannes and Its film festival provided the setting for her other thriller series featuring private investigator Patrick De Couvoisier. http://www.alannaknight.com/ http://www.alex-gray.com/ http://lin-anderson.blogspot.co.uk/

Friday 12th May James Campbell

Drymen Library This event is for invited school pupils

Catriona Lexy Chaimbeul (Catriona Lexy Campbell) Riverside Primary School This event is for invited school pupils.

Catriona is originally from the Isle of Lewis and has worked in the Gaelic arts since early childhood as a writer, actor, poet, performer and theatre maker.

She says “my writing covers a range of age groups and skill levels in the Gaelic language. I have written books for young children, teenagers, Gaelic learners and fluent speakers. My aim is to create literature that is contemporary, accessible and entertaining.”

James performs his comedy shows for children all over the place and has visited over two and a half thousand schools with his unique, hilarious performance which blends storytelling and talking about writing.

He has four books out at the moment in his Boyface series and two more coming in 2018. James lives in Suffolk with his wife, many children, dog and chickens.

He is six foot and one inch tall and enjoys writing about himself in the third person.

Before he was a writer he wanted to be a duck!

E. B. Colin

Strathblane Primary School

This event is for invited school pupils E. B. Colin is the author of Pyrate’s boy, a dangerously fast paced, historical novel which details the adventures of Silas on his travels from the West Indies to the west coast of Scotland. Life on the high seas isn’t easy for Silas, pyrate’s boy on pyrate ship The Tenacity…what awaits him in Scotland?

A former journalist, E. B. Colin lives in Glasgow: she now lectures in Creative Writing at Strathclyde University while writing novels and short stories for children and adults, and BBC radio plays. Her work has been shortlisted for a British Book Award, a Saltire Award and a Scottish Arts Council Book of the Year Award.

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Friday 12th May Professor Paul Rodgers on Disrupting Dementia

Smith Art Gallery and Museum 10:30 am – 12:00 pm £5.00/£3.00

Mobile Maker Space: 3D printing workshop Killin Primary School

This event is for invited school pupils Stirling Libraries Mobile Maker Space team are bringing the 3D printers to Killin!

We’ll deliver workshops for Killin Primary School pupils, which bring together the magic of Roald Dahl’s writing with an opportunity to get involved with digital creation.

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There will be the chance to hear excerpts all about chocolate from some of Roald Dahl’s books, and time to work together to develop ideas for a chocolate bar design for every pupil. We’ll introduce the 3D printers and digital creation software – no previous knowledge or experience is required – and use these tools to design and print our own fantastic chocolate bars.

The “Disrupting Dementia” exhibition was shown at the Smith earlier this year.

Professor Paul Rodgers of the University of Lancaster returns to give some insights into the project, which started from the belief that the design process should be there primarily to serve the needs of people. The project involved Rodgers visiting 17 different Alzheimer Scotland centres, travelling over 2,000 miles from Kilmarnock in the south to Shetland in the north and Stornoway in the west to Bonnyrigg in the east. At each location, Rodgers co-designed tartans with people living with dementia. In total, Rodgers worked with over 130 people across Scotland helping them to design their individual version of the “Disrupting Dementia” tartan.

Vintage Crafts and Coffee Morning Balfron Library 11:00 am – 1:00 pm

Free (to book a place call Balfron Library 01360 440407) Come along for some delicious cakes with coffee or tea, while having the opportunity to learn how to create pretty vintage crochet pieces. Our experienced crafter, Justyna Carey, will provide some guidance and ideas to start your crochet adventure. She will also bring along some lovely examples of her work. If you have your own crochet hook, please bring it with you! There will be a small number of starter packs available to purchase on the day.

Come along and learn a new skill while enjoying a tasty treat (or two!).

James Campbell

Mobile Maker Space: 3D printing showcase Killin Library 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm Free

Join the team from Stirling Libraries Mobile Maker Space and see our 3D printers in action. Come and hear what we’ve been doing with them so far, and tell us how you think the technology could work for you…

Millie Gray

Cowie Library 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm £5.00/£3.00 Millie Gray wrote her first family saga based in Leith at the age of seventy five. Since then she has been contracted to write a book every year - she is now working on book number nine. Millie, an addictive people watcher, has always been a storyteller and this activity she still loves doing and will continue to do so until no one wants to listen any more. All her novels feature strong women who face adversity yet somehow manage to triumph.

Raploch Campus, Expressive Arts Hall 4:30 pm – 5:30 pm £2.00

Magi Gibson Launch of her latest poetry collection Bridge of Allan Library 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm Free

In her latest collection, Washing Hugh MacDiarmid’s Socks, former Stirling Makar and prize-winning poet Magi Gibson kicks ass and heals wounds with poems that are feisty and funny, earthy and tender.

There are poems about the painful, messy, glorious business of life, and especially the lives of women. Magi sees the brilliant surface detail, and what lies beneath.

By turns insightful, intimate, witty and tender she explores what it is to be a fully engaged human in today’s confusing world. There’s her aggressive neighbour.

Her guilt over a lipstick. A lamb in need of rescue. A thoughtful graffiti artist. Elegiac poems on the deaths of her parents.

A letter of solidarity to Sappho. Not to mention those dirty socks. http://www.magigibson.co.uk/

Suggested age: 8+ years James Campbell is a comedian who can usually be found teaching comedy workshops to children and young people, or performing in his Comedy4Kids shows.

He has performed at the Royal Albert Hall in front of the Queen, and appeared on children’s television programme Blue Peter and The Big Book Babble.

James performs his comedy shows for children all over the place and has visited over two and a half thousand schools with his unique, hilarious performance which blends storytelling and talking about writing. He has four books out at the moment in his Boyface series and two more coming in 2018. James lives in Suffolk with his family, some chickens and a really silly dog. He is six foot and one inch tall and enjoys writing about himself in the third person. Before he was a writer he wanted to be a duck!

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Friday 12th May

Saturday 13th May The Livewires and Triptych

Balfron Library 7:00 pm – 9:30 pm £5.00 Come and hear two bands in your local library. The Livewires are a young, versatile, three-piece hard rock band formed in the village of Balfron in mid/ late 2015. The Livewires have been well received in both Glasgow and Stirling as well as hosting their own local gigs.

The band are also excited to be in the planning stages of an E.P. release in early 2017.

Adventure Time Party Cambusbarron Library 1:30 pm – 3:00 pm £2.00 Suggested age: 8+ years

Triptych are an alternative rock band from central Scotland that formed in 2012.

Scottish Book Trust Writing Workshop with Fiona Thackeray

Their first single Standby was released in November of 2015, and their debut EP In The Chaos was released in August 2016.

Bannockburn Library 10:30 am – 12:00 pm Free but booking essential via Eventbrite Join Fiona for a writing workshop on the theme of Nourish as part of the Scottish Book Trust’s annual writing campaign.

Tickets are only available from Eventbrite, please contact www.scottishbooktrust.com/nourish for tickets.

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If you feel like spending some time in the Tree Fort with Finn, Jake and BMO, this is the perfect place to be. Browse our collection of Adventure Time books, take part in the super-fan quiz and create some cool crafts that would fit right in to the Land of Ooo.

Douglas Jackson

Callander Library 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm £5.00/£3.00 Douglas Jackson spent 36 years in journalism before leaving The Scotsman in 2009 to become a full-time writer. He has written nine historical novels and four thrillers (under the name James Douglas) and his novels have been published in twelve languages. His latest book, Saviour of Rome, the seventh Gaius Valerius Verrens adventure, was published in August 2016, and the next, Glory of Rome, will be out in August 2017.

Douglas lives in Bridge of Allan. http://www.douglas-jackson.net/

Off the Page Ceilidh

Tolbooth Theatre 7:30pm – 9:30pm £8.00/£6.00 Family ticket £20.00 Our Off the Page Ceilidh is back with music from the Riverside Ceilidh Band and words and music in Gaelic and English from Owen Sutcliffe. The night will be a celebration of Scottish music and dance interspersed with literary anecdotes in Gaelic and English.

Owen Sutcliffe was born and grew up in Stirling, in a household full of music.

An accomplished poet in both English and Gaelic, Owen also performs as hip-hop emcee CRPNTR, staking his claim in the currently thriving Scottish rap scene.

Having won the 2011 Sorley McLean National Poetry Prize for his poem - ‘Beul an Latha’ (The Mouth of the Day) - Owen subsequently moved to Ayr and University in order to expand his horizons.

After an acclaimed performance at previous year’s Off The Page, Owen will return this year to perform a selection of his Gaelic and English poetry, and perhaps even a song or two; you’d be wise to see what all the fuss is about. sponsored by the Stirling Council Adult Learning Team

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My wee journal…

Strathblane Library 3:15 pm – 4:15 pm Free Suggested age: 8 - 12 years

Tickets for this event are limited – available only from Strathblane Library

Chae Strathie

Balfron Library 11:00 am – 12:00 pm £2.00 Suggested age: 4+ years

Tickets for this event are limited – available only from Balfron Library

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Chae Strathie grew up in the beautiful World Heritage village of New Lanark in central Scotland and he has worked as a reporter and sub-editor for The Sunday Post. His award-winning children’s books include The Loon on the Moon, Jumblebum and more recently, Gorilla Loves Vanilla and Dear Dinosaur. Chae lives in a small coastal village in Fife with his wife Corinna, daughter Eilidh, a one-eyed cat, two twoeyed cats, a goldfish (full complement of eyes also) and numerous uninvited spiders (eyes: lots).

Using the example of 12 year old Gargunnock girl, Viola Stirling’s nature diary from 1919, join Neil Dickson from Stirling Council Archives to create your very own authentic looking journal…ready to fill with your own notes and observations.

Week Long Events

Monday 15th May

Week Long Events Random Reads 18th April – 15th May Cowane Centre

Quick Read books will be available from the Cowane Centre from 18th April, for learners registered with Employability and Adult Learning. Read the random book and write a review for other learners.

Bicentenary Exhibition - Alexander ‘Greek’ Thomson 7th April – 12th May Balfron Library

The stunning photographs by Phil Sayer with complimentary images from other sources

at a glance

Date

Event

Venue

Time

Price

Thursday 4th May

Pictures at an Exhibition: Crawford Logan and Iain Clarke Scots Poetry Night with the Stirling Makar

Smith Art Gallery and Museum

7:30pm – 9:00pm

£12:00

Bannockburn Library

7:00pm - 8:30pm

Free

Bookbug Session Poetry Café with Smith Poet in Residence Dr John J Coutts Teri Terry The Moira Monologues with Alan Bissett

Bridge of Allan Library

10:30am - 11:00am

Free

Smith Art Gallery and Museum

10:30am – 12:00pm

Free

McLaren High School

Schools Programme

Schools

Tolbooth Theatre

7:30pm – 9:00pm

£10/£8

German Bookbug Sessions Comic-Kids Linda Chapman

Dunblane Library

10:00am – 11:00am

Free

Tolbooth Theatre

12:00pm – 4:00pm

£5/£3

Mayfield Centre

2:00pm – 4:00pm

£2

Creative Writing Booklet Launch Stories and Crafty Characters Stories and Crafty Characters Caricature Challenge Bookbug Session Re:collections Alex Scarrow Mark Douglas Home

Raploch Community Campus

10:30am - 11:30am

Free

Cowie Nursery

Nursery Event

Free

Cowie Nursery

Nursery Event

Free

Cowie Library

Schools Programme

Schools

Plean Library

12:15pm – 12:45pm

Free

Fallin Library

2:00pm – 4:00pm

Free

Bridge of Allan Library

7:00pm – 8:00pm

£2

Cambusbarron Library

7:00pm – 8:00pm

£5/£3

Caricature Challenge Angela Proctor: Thumble Tumble Dr Murray Cook, latest discoveries in Stirling Archaeology Mike Nicolson Re:collections Alan Windram: Mac and Bob Ellie Dean My wee journal Craig Roberston James Kelman

Cowie Library

Schools programme

Schools

Central Library

Schools programme

Schools

Smith Art Gallery and Museum

12:00pm – 1:00pm

£5/£3

Callander Library

11:00am – 12:00pm

£2

Killin Library

11:00am – 1:00pm

Free

Fallin Library

1:30pm – 2:30pm

£2

Bannockburn Library

2:00pm – 3:00pm

£5/£3

Plean Library

3:15pm - 4:15pm

Free

St Ninians Library

7:00pm - 8:00pm

£5/£3

Tolbooth Theatre

7:30pm - 9:00pm

£10/£8

Friday 5th May

Saturday 6th May

Monday 8th May

Tuesday 9th May

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at a glance 24

Date

Event

Venue

Time

Price

Wednesday 10th May

Bookbug Session How Can Books Help You Relax?

Helen MacKinven Stuart Reid James Robertson Markus Stitz How to Get Published: Taking the plunge?

Central Library Smith Art Gallery and Museum St Ninians Library Strathallan Court Doune Library Doune Library Dunblane Library Albert Halls

11:00am – 11:30am 12:00pm – 1:00pm 1:00pm – 2:30pm 2:00pm – 3:00pm 3:30pm – 5:00pm 7:00pm – 8:00pm 7:30pm – 9:00pm 7:30pm – 9:00pm

Free £5/£3 Free Free £2 £5/£3 £5/£3 £5/£3

Thursday 11th May

Ross Collins Therapy Ponies Scotland: Story Time John Coutts and Oswald’s Book of Poetry Bookbug Session Terry Anderson: Scottish Cartoon Art Studio Ross Collins Wonderful World of Books Craig Russell and James Oswald Femme Fatale - Alex Gray, Alanna Knight and Lin Anderson Evening of Poetry

East Plean Primary School Bannockburn Library Smith Art Gallery and Museum Balfron Library Cowie Library Dunblane Library Dunblane Library Central Library Drymen Church Hall Tolbooth Attic

Schools programme 11:00am – 12:00pm 12:00pm – 1:00pm 2:15pm – 3:00pm 4:00pm – 5:00pm 4:00pm – 5:00pm 10:30am-11:15am 7:00pm - 8:00pm 7:30pm - 9:00pm 7:30pm - 9:00pm

Schools £2 Free Free £2 £2 Free £5/£3 £5/£3 £5/£3

Friday 12th May

Catriona Lexy Campbell James Campbell E.B. Colin Mobile maker Space: 3D printing workshop Professor Paul Rodgers on Disrupting Dementia Vintage Crafts and Coffee Morning Mobile Maker Space: 3D printing showcase Millie Gray Magi Gibson Book Launch James Campbell The Livewires and Triptych Live Music

Riverside Primary School Drymen Library Strathblane Primary School Killin Primary School Smith Art Gallery and Museum Balfron Library Killin Library Cowie Library Bridge of Allan Library Raploch Campus Balfron Library

Schools programme Schools programme Schools programme Schools Programme 10:30am - 12:00pm 11:00am – 1:00pm

Schools Schools Schools Schools £5/£3 Free Free £5/£3 Free £2 £5

Pam McNicol on architect John Allan and the buildings of Stirling

12:00pm – 1:00pm 2:00pm – 3:00pm 2:00pm - 3:00pm 4:30pm - 5:30pm 7:00pm - 9:30pm

at a glance

Date

Event

Venue

Time

Price

Saturday 13th May

Scottish Book Trust Writing Event Adventure Time Party Douglas Jackson Off the Page Ceilidh

Bannockburn Library Cambusbarron Library Callander Library Tolbooth Theatre

10:30pm – 12:00pm 1:30pm – 3:00pm 2:00pm - 3:00pm 7:30pm - 9:30pm

Free £2 £5/£3 £8/£6/£20

Monday 15th May

Chae Strathie My wee journal...

Balfron Library Strathblane Library

11:00am - 12:00pm 3:15pm – 4:15pm

£2 Free

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How to Book Tickets for all events can be booked as follows Albert Halls

01786 473544

Tolbooth

01786 274000

Local Libraries Balfron

01360 440407

Bannockburn

01786 812286

Bridge of Allan

01786 833680

Callander

01877 331544

Cambusbarron

01786 473873

Cowie

01786 816269

Doune

01786 841732

Drymen

01360 660751

Dunblane

01786 823125

Fallin

01786 812492

Killin

01567 820571

Plean

General enquiries

Stirling Council Library Service reserves the right to make alterations to the programme as deemed necessary.

Concessions

We would like to thank all of our sponsors for their generous support of the Book Festival. Their contributions are greatly appreciated. University of Stirling, Creative Scotland, Waterstone’s, Adult Learning Team and Stirling Observer.

Library HQ 01786 237535 E: offthepage@stirling.gov.uk Ticket prices reflect concessionary rates.

Refunds

Tickets cannot be exchanged or refunded except in the event of cancellation by Stirling Council Libraries.

Sponsors & supporters

Things to note

Many events have limited places.

To avoid disappointment please book in advance.

01786 816319

St Ninians

01786 472069

Strathblane

01360 770737

Central

01786 237760

If you need help or this information supplied in an alternative format please call 01786 404040.

For information 01786 237535 or www.culturestirling.org/offthepage