Aberdeen Libraries to host Book Week Scotland events
24 November 2017
Meet the authors with plenty of stories to tell at a series of free events organised by Aberdeen City Libraries as part of Book Week Scotland (Monday 27 November – Saturday 2 December).
Aberdeen City Council’s Convener of Education and Children’s Services Committee Councillor John Wheeler said: “There is a huge selection of free events and activities on offer for all ages during Book Week Scotland in Aberdeen City Libraries.
“By hosting special events with renowned authors and special sessions for children we want to encourage all ages to experience and enjoy the benefits of reading. The events are bound to be popular so I would encourage early booking to avoid disappointment.”
A Hue And Cry with Shirley McKay
Monday 27 November – 6.30pm-8pm
Central Library, Rosemount Viaduct, Aberdeen
Shirley McKay, author of the Hew Cullan mysteries, will launch the Book Week Scotland celebrations when she visits Central Library to discuss her works and experiences as an historical crime writer.
Shortlisted for the Crime Writers’ Association debut dagger for her first book ‘A Hue and Cry’, Shirley has written five Hew Cullen mysteries set in 16th century Scotland. The books follow the adventures of academic lawyer Hew Cullen at St Andrews University, his friend and physician Giles Locke, and his sister Meg.
Shirley will discuss our fascination for reading crime fiction and history with an illustrated talk on how research into the past has helped to shape her writing including her latest book 1588: A Calendar of Crime set during the year of the Armada as well as a sneak peek of her next book set in 19th Century Edinburgh.
Shirley McKay, author said: “History is enormously suggestive. But for me, it’s not the sweeping landscapes but the smaller details which inform the fiction and inspire imagination – a letter or a diary, a picture or receipt, or (for the 19th century) a newspaper advertisement – the flotsam and jetsam, the bric-a-brac, of lives.”
The hour long talk will include a Q&A session followed by a signing with copies of Shirley’s books available to purchase on the night. Spaces at this free event are limited so booking is essential. To reserve your place, email libraryevents@aberdeencity.gov.uk, phone 01224 652500 or book via Eventbrite https://bwsaclshirleymckay.eventbrite.co.uk
The Growing Season with Helen Sedgwick
Tuesday 28 November – 7pm-8pm
Waterstones, Union Street, Aberdeen
Aberdeen City Libraries in partnership with Waterstones Aberdeen and Scottish Book Trust will host a free talk by author Helen Sedgwick.
Author of the acclaimed first novel The Comet Seekers, Helen Sedgwick has delivered another story which questions the world around us and plants the seed for bigger discussions. Can you conceive a future where women are no longer needed to conceive? In The Growing Season Helen vividly presents a world where this is reality and a synthetic pouch enables anyone to have a child. The free talk will include a Q&A session with copies of Helen’s books available to purchase.
The event is free and booking is essential. To book, please contact Waterstones Aberdeen online or instore on 01224 592440 or via Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/book-week-scotland-the-growing-season-with-helen-sedgwick-tickets-39547923905
Book Week Scotland Storytime with Michelle Sloan
Thursday 30 November – 3.45pm-4.30pm
Cults Library, 429 North Deeside Road, Aberdeen
Join Aberdeen City Libraries for a special story time session this Book Week Scotland.
In addition to reading the titles shortlisted for the Bookbug Picture Book Prize shortlisted author Michelle Sloan, nominated for Fourth Bonniest Baby in Dundee will read from her own book.
There will also be the opportunity to cast your vote for your favourite title at the event in one of our special voting boxes. The story time session is suitable for children aged from three to seven years old.
Booking is essential for this free event as places are limited. To book, contact Cults Library on 01224 868346 or email cultslibrary@aberdeencity.gov.uk
Scribbling In the Margins with Daniel Gray
Saturday 2 December – 2.30pm-4pm
Aberdeen City Libraries will round off Book Week Scotland with a celebration with author and broadcaster Daniel Gray.
Following his successful events at this summer’s Edinburgh International Book Festival Daniel will celebrate the joy of the written word with his new book Scribbles in the Margins: 50 Eternal Delights of Books. He will explain why he thinks there are at least 50 reasons to love reading.
From rediscovering long forgotten childhood favourites; browsing other people’s bookshelves to the escapism books can offer, Daniel, whose works include Saturday 3pm: 50 Eternal Delights of Football and This is Scotland: A country in words and pictures, will discuss what it is about books and reading that makes us love them so much.
Daniel Gray, author and broadcaster, said: “This event will be a celebration of how important it is to be able to lose yourself in words. Sometimes I feel like we need escape from a lot of what happens around us, so Scribbles in the Margins is about those moments when you can hide behind a book. I'll really enjoy bringing the book to life in Aberdeen, and hope people will nod and laugh along. It's especially important for me to be doing an event in a library as libraries are the very reason I fell in love with reading and writing in the first place, and indeed there is a chapter in the book about them.”
The free event will include a Q&A and followed by a book sale and signing. Spaces at this free event are limited so booking is essential. To reserve your place, email libraryevents@aberdeencity.gov.uk, phone 01224 652500 or book via Eventbrite https://bwsacldanielgrey.eventbrite.co.uk
Book Week Scotland is delivered by Scottish Book Trust, which works with a range of partners across the nation to deliver a packed programme of free projects and events during the week bringing all ages and from all walks of life together to celebrate books and reading.