Aberdeen City Libraries hosts a week of free talks by authors

18 November 2016

Aberdeen City Libraries is celebrating Book Week Scotland next week by hosting a series of free talks by noted authors at the Central Library on Rosemount Viaduct.

The week kicks off with a talk by historical fiction author Simon Scarrow at 7pm on Monday 21 November. Simon, author of a series of novels about the Imperial Roman army will be talking about his inspirations and his latest work, Invictus

The talk will be followed by a Q&A session and copies of Simon’s books will be available to purchase on the night.

 A further two free talks take place at the same venue when Malachy Tallack discusses latest book The Un-Discovered Islands at 6.30pm on Wednesday 23 November and Aberdeen-based Egyptian author Leila Aboulela talks about her work and how she came to be a writer at 2.30pm on Saturday 26 November.

Malachy is a critically acclaimed author and received the New Writers Award in 2014 and the Robert Louis Stevenson Fellowship in 2015. One of his books has been featured as a BBC Radio 4 Book of the Week and he regularly contributes to print and online papers and magazines including The New Statesman, The Guardian and The Island Review.

 Leila, whose internationally acclaimed works include Minaret and Lyrics Alley, in addition to her latest title The Kindness of Enemies, said: "Aberdeen Central Library is one of my favourite places in the city. It's been pivotal to my development and enrichment as a writer I love walking up the library's grand steps in anticipation of all the wonderful books I will take home with me to read. I’m looking forward to the event.”

 The talks will also be followed by Q&A sessions and book signings, with copies of Malachy and Leila’s titles available to purchase afterwards.

 Councillor Angela Taylor, Education and Children’s Services Committee said: “It’s great that we are supporting Book Week Scotland with a series of talks from such noted authors, including Leila, who now lives in Aberdeen.

 “It’s not every day you get an opportunity to learn from authors at first hand about their inspiration and work so I’d like to thank Aberdeen City Libraries for their hard work in arranging what I am sure will be three very popular events”.

 Booking is essential for the events and places can be reserved by contacting Aberdeen City Libraries on libraryevents@aberdeencity.gov.uk or phone 01224 652500.