Catriona McPherson Book Launch

Thurs 3rd August, 7pm
Ottakers, Dumfries

Launching the second Dandy Gilver mystery from Dumfries and Galloway's very own Queen of Crime, Catriona McPherson. Rsvp to dumfries@ottakers.co.uk.

'The Burry Man's Day'. Catriona's first book, After the Armistice Ball, which goes into paperback on the same day, sold out two hardback print runs and was short-listed for a prestigious Dagger Award last year.

"effortlessly balances the driest wit with melodramatic suspense" The Scotsman
"McPherson is onto a winner" Scotland on Sunday

'After the Armistice Ball' was set in D&G. The new novel takes place on the banks of the Forth but there is a prominent D&G tourist attraction which Catriona has borrowed as a location for a lot of the action. If you can spot which D&G landmark appears in the book, you could win the chance to do the same yourself! Send the answer in by email or post and you will be entered in a draw to have a character with your name appear in the third Dandy Gilver novel next year.

Announcing Poetry Doubles Plus

The acclaimed Poetry Doubles series returns:

Poets from Dumfries and Galloway share the stage with guest poets from all over the world. This time round, our visitors are Simon Armitage, Jean Binta Breeze, Robert Crawford, Tony Curtis, Selima Hill, Kathleen Jamie and Michael Symmons Roberts. They're pairing up with John Manson, Liz Niven, Hugh McMillan, Tom Pow, Rab Wilson, Judi Benson and Douglas Lipton for seven amazing evenings.

This year, the programme includes several extra activities, including novel readings and workshops, and a number of specially commissioned poems from the participating D&G poets.

(all readings start at 7pm)

Wednesday 16th August
Bladnoch Distillery, Wigtown
Robert Crawford & John Manson

3.00 pm Poetry Workshop with Robert Crawford, Newton Stewart Library
Robert will look at what makes a poem work, and get you started on your own.
Don't miss this rare opportunity to learn from one of Scotland's finest poets.


Monday 21st August
Old Well Theatre, Moffat
Jean ‘Binta’ Breeze & Liz Niven

Thursday 24th August
The Studio, Gracefield Arts Centre, Dumfries
Simon Armitage & Hugh McMillan

Thursday 31st August
The Studio, Gracefield Arts Centre, Dumfries
Michael Symmons Roberts & Tom Pow

3.00 Georgetown Library, Dumfries
Michael Symmons Roberts reads from and discusses his first novel 'Patrick’s Alphabet', a dark, philosophical thriller.

Monday 11th September
Robert Burns Centre, Dumfries
Tony Curtis & Rab Wilson

3.00 Poetry Workshop with Tony Curtis
Tony will look at participants’ experiences of poetry and suggest ways of moving forward. Bring along a poem.

Thursday 14th September
Old Well Theatre, Moffat
Selima Hill & Judi Benson


Monday 18th September
Robert Burns Centre, Dumfries
Kathleen Jamie & Douglas Lipton


Tickets £7 per reading £5 concessions (students and those in receipt of benefits) Special offer. All 7 readings for £42 (£30 concession). Workshops and novel reading free with tickets for the poetry readings, £3.00 otherwise.

Summer Writing Roadshow

Are you a poet looking for feedback? A playwright in search of a plot? A beginning writer seeking inspiration, advice and ideas? DGAA is offering a chance for one-to-one writers' surgeries around the region with poet Andrew Forster and playwright/fiction writer Jules Horne.

Tues 25th July
10.00-13.00 Blackaddie Hotel, Sanquhar
14.00-17.00 One-Stop Shop, Manse Rd, Thornhill

Thurs 27th July
10.00-13.00 Stranraer Library
14.00-17.00 Newton Stewart Library

Tues 8th August
10.00-13.00 Lockerbie Library
14.00-17.00 Eskdalemuir School

Thurs 10th August
10.00-13.00 Selkirk Arms Hotel, Kirkcudbright
14.00-17.00 Ken Bridge Hotel, New Galloway

This is a great chance for guidance, tips and a chat about your writing plans and interests. Andrew Forster (Literature Development Officer and poet) and Jules Horne (Virtual Writing Fellow (playwright and fiction writer) will be on hand for some friendly feedback.
This opportunity is aimed at writers at any stage who are looking for inspiration or practical help. There'll be lots of inspiring books to view as well as information sheets to take away. A one-off opportunity - don't miss the boat!

Ring Andrew Forster on 01387 253383 to book a slot.

Bakehouse Bonanza

The Bakehouse presents its new programme:
www.thebakehouse.info


Date: 29 July 2006
Time: 19:30
Poet and musician Alan Franks.
The winner of The Petra Kenny Prize and The Scottish National Poetry Competition returns to The Bakehouse by popular request.

Date: 4—6 August 2006
Time: 10:00—16:00
The Gatehouse Gala.
The Best of Gatehouse - An exhibition of local art and craft.

Date: 26 August 2006
Time: 19:30
An audience with Kenneth White.
The internationally renowned Scottish poet, prose writer, essayist before his appearance at The Edinburgh International Book Festival.


Date: 6 October 2006
Time: 19:30
The Bakehouse @ The Whitehouse Gallery.
Solway Poets John Hudson and Chrys Salt read their work at the Whitehouse Gallery, Kirkcudbright as part of Gaelforce.


Date: 28 October 2006
Time: 19:30
Happy Birthday Bernard.
Internationally renowned poet and playwright Bernard Kops reads at the Bakehouse to celebrate his eightieth birthday and the launch of Markings 23, in which he will feature.


Date: 2 December 2006
Time: 19:30
Poet and Musician Don Paterson.
The recipient of the T S Eliot and Geoffrey Faber Memorial Prizes reads his poetry and sings.

Poetry Postcards in the Woods

Poems on postcards please...

Nature photography by multi-talented Derek Ross is the lovely backdrop for a series of Poetry in the Woods postcards from Dumfries & Galloway, published to mark the launch of the Poetry in the Woods trail in Mabie Forest, just outside Dumfries. It's the finale of a whole slew of Poetry in the Woods events run by poet and ecologist Jackie Galley, with the support of Scottish Natural Heritage and the Forestry Commission Scotland. More on the Mabie Forest Trail launch here.

Bakehouse Workshops: Exchange of Words

Exchange of Words workshops

The Bakehouse
44 High Street
Gatehouse of Fleet
DG7 2HP
Tel: 01557 814196

Elspeth Brown, John Hudson and Chrys Salt will facilitate 3 x one-and-a-half hour workshops at The Bakehouse. There are places for 30 participants @ £10.00 per head. 10 participants to work with the same facilitator throughout the day. Elspeth, John and Chrys are members of the Solway Poets. They are widely published and have performed country-wide in Europe and the USA. Biographies can be found on The Bakehouse Website http://www.thebakehouse.info/ and on the Live Literature Scotland website www.scottishbooktrust.com
Info: 01557 814196 or www.thebakehouse.info

BBC Scotland: Overdue South

Overdue South, a radio play by Jules Horne, is one of three comedies commissioned for BBC Radio Scotland and recorded in front of a live audience at the Traverse Theatre earlier this year. Broadcast times:

Thurs 13th July 1130
Fri 14th July 0030
Sun 16 July 1705

and (for one week only) on the BBC Scotland website.

The play was directed by Marilyn Imrie for Catherine Bailey Ltd and stars Eileen McCallum, Louise Ludgate and Billy Riddoch.