Literary Dundee

News from Literary Dundee - Dundee Literary Festival, Dundee International Book Prize, literary salons, New Writing Dundee and much more

[literarydundee]

Poetry Proclaimers for National Poetry Day!

This Thursday (2nd October) brings National Poetry Day, and in celebration Saturday (4th) sees a plucky band of self-styled Poetry Proclaimers taking to the streets of Dundee to share their words! 

From 2-4pm, 8 wordsmiths from Dundee, Angus, Fife and Aberdeenshire, led by DCA's Writer in Residence Beth Mcdonough, will be dispensing words along with the Scottish Poetry Library's National Poetry Day postcards.

Just head along to outside the front of the DCA any time between 2 and 4pm to squeeze some poetry into your day.

The theme for National Poetry Day this year is 'Remember'. The Scottish Poetry Library have lots of ideas and tips for celebrating yours, from posters to reading a poem in your tea break. 

[literarydundee]

Something for the kids at Dundee Literary Festival, 22nd-26th October 2014

Friday 24th October

11am: Bounce and Tickle, Bonar Hall Rhyme, songs and stories for little ones aged 0-12 months. Come parents, come carers, come babies and join our wee party! Free | tickets

Saturday 25th October!

An action packed drop-in Saturday morning for kids of all ages! Drop in any time from 9.30am for activities and storytelling, and stay for authors Emily Dodd and Pamela Butchart!

Emily Dodd, 10am Cameron the capercaillie thinks he’s the worst dancer in the Scottish Cairngorms but maybe with the help of his new friend, Hazel the squirrel, he’ll be able to dance after all! Fun guaranteed with storyteller, scientist and poet Emily Dodd with her first picturebook! Free, recommended for ages 3-6

Pamela Butchart, 11am One day Izzy and her friends are surprised to find that their teacher, Miss Jones, is actually being nice to them. There can only be one conclusion: she’s been taken over by aliens, and now she wants to make them all aliens too! Pamela Butchart, author of Baby Aliens Got My Teacher, invites you to laugh out loud with stories and activities! Free, recommended for 7+

[literarydundee]

Poetry at Dundee Literary Festival! 22nd-26th October 2014

Poetry fans! Plenty for you to enjoy at this year’s Dundee Literary Festival! We would love to see you here. 

22nd-26th October Full programme: http://issuu.com/dundeelitfest/docs/final/0 Twitter: @literarydundee | web: www.literarydundee.co.uk

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Wednesday 22nd October

7.30pm: Joseph Lee, War Poet, Bonar Hall WWI poet Joseph Lee was famous in his own lifetime, but the Dundonian has since been forgotten. A new anthology of his work will bring him back to public attention. Free | tickets

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Thursday 23rd October

10 - 12am: Pitch Live: Kirsty Gunn and Lindsay MacGregor, Bonar Hall Award-winning author Kirsty Gunn and Lindsay MacGregor will be giving advice on pitching your book to publishers, agents and the wider public. A rare and exciting chance to work with experts to hone your pitch before taking your work out into the world and finding it a home. Free | tickets 1pm: Poem and a Piece: Michael Schmidt, Bonar Hall Born in Mexico in 1947, Michael Schmidt was educated at Harvard and Wadham College, Oxford. He is editorial and managing director of Carcanet Press Limited, the literary publishing house dealing in particular with poetry, and he is general editor of PN Review, the literary journal now in its fourth decade. He’ll tell us more his own poems, and a fascinating and diverse life with words, in conversation with Maggie McKernan. £5 (includes lunch) | tickets

5.30pm: New Writing Showcase MLitt Creative Writers – the cream of the University of Dundee’s MLitt crop strut their stuff. Free, drop in

Friday 24th October

11am: Bounce and Tickle, Bonar Hall Rhyme, songs and stories for little ones aged 0-12 months. Come parents, come carers, come babies and join our wee party! Free | tickets

5.30pm: Writing Showcase: Scottish Book Trust, Ms Battenberg’s Tea Room, Bonar Hall Scottish Book Trust’s New Writer Awardees – Edinburgh- based poet Andrew Sclater; Edinburgh-based novelist Lynsey May, Dundee’s own Rob Currie, and Lucy Ribchester, whose debut novel The Hourglass Factory will be published in 2015 by Simon & Schuster. Free, drop in

6.30pm: Books for Doctors and Doctors in Books, Bonar Hall Sir Kenneth Calman, Diana Hendry and Lesley Morrison Doctors and illness lie at the heart of many great stories, from Irvine Welsh to Robert Burns, and their connection goes deeper than just the page. Examining the link between words and medicine are the hugely influential Sir Kenneth Calman, who uncovers this relationship in his new book, A Doctor’s Line. Tools of the Trade is an anthology of poetry published by the Scottish Poetry Library and issued to every graduating medic in Scotland in 2014, introduced today by poet Diana Hendry and Lesley Morrison. Please join us! £3/2 | tickets: full price | concessions

  8.30pm: Culture Laser Live, Bonar Hall Weekly podcast series, The Multi-Coloured Culture Laser, enters the festival fray for a night of performance, discussion, drinking, and hilarious October action. Host Ryan Van Winkle, poet and cultural behemoth from the United States of America via Auld Reekie, welcomes a selection of guests to take to the sofa with him for some beautiful bookish chat. A podcast experience for your ears & your hearts– done live and before your very eyes. Free | tickets

Saturday 25th October

10am: Whaleback City Walking Tour, meet at Bonar Hall Dundee’s first Makar (poet laureate for the city) W.N. (Bill) Herbert invites you on a tour of Dundee by poetry. Co-editor of Whaleback City, Bill will take you on a tour of our city of Discovery in verse in this illuminating morning in the company of the city’s finest wordsmiths, present, past and lang deid. £3/2 | tickets: full price:  | concessions

1pm: Poem and a Piece: Tom Pow and Brian Johnstone, Bonar Hall Tom Pow’s six months as writer in residence at the National Library of Scotland Map Library in Edinburgh inspired his latest collection, Concerning the Atlas of Scotland: one for map lovers as well as poetry fans. Brian Johnstone’s third full collection, Dry Stone Work, is personal and exploratory, full of rural landscapes, music, movies, Europe and the distant past. A lunchtime adventure guaranteed from the comfort of the Bonar Hall. £5 (includes lunch) | tickets

5.30pm: Writing Showcase: Nethergate Writers, Ms Battenberg’s Tea Room, Bonar Hall Nethergate writers – a long-standing creative writing group who meet regularly under the auspices of the University of Dundee’s Continuing Education Department, will read from their latest anthology of new work, Watermarks. Free, drop in

9pm: New Portsound, Bonar Hall New Portsound has been running for six years in the far-off outpost of Newport on Tay. Dedicated to bringing quality new Scottish independent music to an appreciative and intimate crowd, New Portsound is delighted to host a night as part of the Dundee Literary Festival. The enthralling line up will be announced soon, but expect an exciting combination of music, spoken word and visuals. £4/3: tickets: full price | concessions 

Sunday 26th October

1pm: Kei Miller: Poem and a Piece, Bonar Hall Kei Miller, born in Jamaica in 1978, writes across a range of genres: poetry, novels, books of short stories and essays. His poetry has been shortlisted for awards such as John Llewellyn Rhys Prize, the Dylan Thomas Prize and the Scottish Book of the Year. An unforgettable performer, today Kei will read from his 2014 collection, The Cartographer Tries to Map a Way to Zion, which was shortlisted for the Forward Prize for Best Collection 2014. A wonderful performer. In partnership with the Department of Geography £5 (includes lunch) | tickets

2pm: J.O. Morgan & Ishbel McFarlane, Bonar Hall

It begins with crows, black flecks against the blue

 ‘J. O. Morgan’s At Maldon is a riff on the Old English poem: inventive, striking and memorable. And a reminder that Morgan is one of the most original poets around.’ – Andrew Motion. Come hear the whole glorious poem out loud, co-performed for the first time in full with actor Ishbel McFarlane.

£3/2 | tickets: full price | concessions  

[literarydundee]

One-to-One development for writers

One-to-One Professional Development Planning sessions for Writers

with accredited coach Philippa Johnston

  Saturday 19 July 2014, Dundee

(session times: 10 – 12, 12.30 – 2.30, 3 – 5)

  Map out the route to achieving your writing goals on a one-to-one basis with accredited coach Philippa Johnston.

  Writing is a solitary pursuit. As writers, you are usually juggling your writing with lots of other work and family commitments. What professional development planning offers is an opportunity to step back for a moment from the hurly burly of daily life and spend some time reflecting on where you want to get to as a writer, with the help of someone experienced, impartial and supportive.

  You’re in charge – I’m here to help you to unravel the different strands of what you currently do, define and prioritize your goals, explore options and then start to develop a clear and realistic plan of action to achieve them. It’s all about helping you find your own solutions rather than providing you with answers but I will signpost you to the various sources of support that you can draw on.

  ‘I found the process helpful and inspiring. Philippa has a brilliant knack for helping you pin down quite unspecific ideas and shaping them into definite goals.’

  Philippa Johnston is a Cultural Leadership PCT Accredited Coach and an Associate Member of the Association for Coaching UK. She has many years of experience helping writers move forward professionally and achieve their goals and until recently led The Writer’s Compass, the professional development arm of NAWE.

  Cost: £35 (special discounted rate – usually £50) or £65 if you’d like to book a follow-up session by Skype as well (usually £90) Also available: a face-to-face session followed by two half-hour coaching sessions by Skype/telephone £50.

  To book: For further information and to book a session, email Philippa [email protected] or ring 01337 842513 / 07939 312829

  Sessions also available in Edinburgh and Glasgow.

[literarydundee]

Fife Writes Cafe! Thursday 17th April, 7.30pm

Fife Writes is the new writing group created, through Louise Trow, by Fife Cultural Trust, part of Create in Fife.

Their first event will take place on Thursday 17 April 2014 in The Woodside Hotel in Aberdour, starting at 7.30pm and finishing around 9pm. The doors will open at 7pm. Tom Hubbard will be the first speaker for this new series. Tom is a novelist, an internationally renowned poet and academic. He was born in and, after much international travel and working abroad, now resides in Kirkcaldy. The Fife Writes Café offers an opportunity to unwind, relax and listen, as you sip coffee. As the event will be the first there will be the opportunity, if you wish, to briefly introduce yourself, to assist with your networking. The event is open to you and your friends but, as numbers may be limited, please email your booking of numbers to George Sinclair: [email protected]

[literarydundee]

Who Dun It! Thursday (and final!) clue!

As part of Dundee Rep’s Who Dun It? Week, an Agatha Christie inspired Treasure Hunt! We’ll be releasing a clue every day from Monday 3rd until Thursday 6th March, at 11am. The clues will be released each day on Twitter and Facebook. All you have to do is crack the clue, find the book in the participating libraries of the day, and take it to the library desk to claim your spoils… On Friday, we’ll put all 8 winners’ names in a hat and draw at random: the winner will receive two tickets for And Then There Were None at the Rep, and dinner for two!

Today’s clue…

As easily as 1-2-3 The victims fall alphabetically

  Blackouts and blood upon his hem Makes one man think that it must be him

  But Poirot, from whom the truth can't hide Doesn't need a railway guide...

Today’s libraries: Fintry and Broughty Ferry

Good luck!

[literarydundee]

Who Dun It! Wednesday clue!

As part of Dundee Rep’s Who Dun It? Week, an Agatha Christie inspired Treasure Hunt! We’ll be releasing a clue every day from Monday 3rd until Thursday 6th March, at 11am. The clues will be released each day on Twitter and Facebook. All you have to do is crack the clue, find the book in the participating libraries of the day, and take it to the library desk to claim your spoils… On Friday, we’ll put all 8 winners’ names in a hat and draw at random: the winner will receive two tickets forAnd Then There Were None at the Rep, and dinner for two!

Today’s clue…

A vicar flees his home, distressed Death has struck his home, unblessed

The hated colonel’s life cut short With little reverence of thought

A sharp-eyed lady sleuth bikes in The first of many times in print…

Today’s libraries: Coldside and Douglas

Good luck!

[literarydundee]

Who Dun It!: Tuesday Clue!

As part of Dundee Rep’s Who Dun It? Week, an Agatha Christie inspired Treasure Hunt! We’ll be releasing a clue every day from Monday 3rd until Thursday 6th March, at 11am. The clues will be released each day on Twitter and Facebook. All you have to do is crack the clue, find the book in the participating libraries of the day, and take it to the library desk to claim your spoils… On Friday, we’ll put all 8 winners’ names in a hat and draw at random: the winner will receive two tickets forAnd Then There Were None at the Rep, and dinner for two!

Today’s clue…

Five travellers stranded in the snow One’s a killer, don’t you know

The police arrive, perhaps in vain He finds the killer’s struck again

He searches on throughout the house For what you’d need to catch a mouse…

Today’s libraries: Blackness and Central Library, Leisure reading section

Good luck!

[literarydundee]

Who Dun It! : Monday clue

As part of Dundee Rep's Who Dun It? Week, an Agatha Christie inspired Treasure Hunt! We'll be releasing a clue every day from Monday 3rd until Thursday 6th March, at 11am. The clues will be released each day on Twitter and Facebook. All you have to do is crack the clue, find the book in the participating libraries of the day, and take it to the library desk to claim your spoils... On Friday, we'll put all 8 winners' names in a hat and draw at random: the winner will receive two tickets for And Then There Were None at the Rep, and dinner for two!

Today's clue...

The frightened traveller begs in vain A lonely death on a famous train

The great detective hunts for clues Which passenger’s story is untrue?

The murderer is the one, of course, Who cannot deal with HP’s sauce…

Today's libraries: Kirkton and Lochee.

Good luck!

[literarydundee]

Event: In Memoriam, in Edinburgh

Following the success of winning the Stephen Fry Award for Excellence in Public Engagement with Research 2013 the team behind In Memoriam have come together with the Royal Society of Edinburgh to present 'In Memoriam', a day of workshops on the subject of death, taking place on Saturday 8th March 2014.

Hosted by the Royal Society of Edinburgh and supported by the University of Dundee, this event will explore human mortality, the body, and how we might consider and prepare for death. There are a range of workshops and pop-in events to choose from including sculpture; storytelling; creative writing; legal issues; social media; tales around dying at home, and the history of the Scottish funeral.

There will also be a number of drop-in installations available to visit throughout the day - installations on the Mexican Day of the Dead and The Lament Room; artworks from the In Memoriam project and readings from Dundee University’s MLitt students. An evening discussion forum at 6pm will follow with Right Reverend Richard Holloway FRSE, Former Bishop of Edinburgh & Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church.

Professor Sue Black OBE FRSE, Professor Kirsty Gunn, Professor Calum Colvin OBE, Professor Murdo MacDonald and Eddie Small will all lead sessions.

This event is free but registration is required in advance.

Further information!

[billherbert23]

Another of the poems which didn’t quite make the final cut into the recent anthology 'Whaleback City' was a piece which first appeared in the Dundee Courier sometime in 1915, attributed to an author known only by his initials 'N.H.'. Many Dundee servicemen contributed poems to the local press...

[literarydundee]

Book launch: Friends in High Places by Eileen Rolland

Eileen Rolland invites you to her book launch tomorrow night in Monifieth! Have you ever lost something precious? If so, you'll know the anguish and anxiety you feel at its loss. You may also know the joy and exhilaration of finding it again. The question is, do you value it more now that you found it? Ellen does. She had not realised the importance of knowing her true Self and the capabilities she had to heal people and situations. She put it all aside in order to be 'normal'. It didn't leave her, however. It remained dormant until she was ready to find it again and accept it as her own. Of course, she had a little help from her Friends in High Places... We would like to invite you along to our Red Carpet event, to celebrate Eileen’s achievements and book launch.  7.30pm, Saturday 8th February 2014 Panmure Hotel, Monifieth Eileen has also been recognised as a 'Women Of Inspiration' with the Association Of Scottish Businesswomen.

[literarydundee]

Words for Wellbeing!

Lapidus Scotland presents

Words for Wellbeing

in association with the University of St Andrews School of English

and the Royal Society of Edinburgh Young Academy of Scotland

  Friday 21 March 2014, 12.30pm to 4.30pm

School of English, University of St Andrews, The Scores, St Andrews KY16 9AL

  Are you interested in using words creatively in your work to promote health and wellbeing? Are you based in Fife or Dundee?

  Join Lapidus Scotland in St Andrews and make connections with like-minded professionals working in a range of different settings. Find out about our work using creative words for wellbeing. Take part in a workshop around the theme of place with writers Margot Henderson and Maureen Sangster as we launch our exciting new project ‘Writing Place’ and explore how you might be involved.

  The day is aimed at professionals working in Fife and Dundee including those with a background in health, libraries, creative writing, storytelling, education, community arts, countryside parks, nature-based education etc.

  If you’re interested but can’t attend, please do get in touch and register interest so we can keep you informed of future developments.

  Cost: Free (includes lunch and refreshments) Please contact us if the cost of getting to St Andrews might prevent you from attending.

  For further details and to reserve a place, please email Philippa Johnston, ‘Writing Place’ Project Manager, at [email protected]. If you have any queries, do ring her on 01337 842513.

  Booking deadline: Friday 14 March 2014

  Words for Wellbeing is supported by Awards for All Scotland, the University of St Andrews School of English, the Royal Society of Edinburgh Young Academy of Scotland and Scottish Book Trust’s Live Literature Fund.

[literarydundee]

Dundee flavoured books for the festive season!

Got a book lover in your life? Want to bring them the joy of words this Christmas time? Here are a few Dundee-flavoured suggestions for you!

Whaleback City: The Poetry of Dundee and its Hinterland, edited by W N Herbert and Andy Jackson - Whether you love poetry or you love Dundee, this is a very special collection saluting Scotland's most industrious and enterprising city, co-edited by none other than the city's very own Makar. The Completely Wholesome Adventures of Skeleton Bob, by superstar crime author Stuart MacBride - hilarious (and terrifying) new book created specially to raise funds for the Million for A Morgue Campaign.

In the Rosary Garden, by Nicola White - winner of the 2013 Dundee International Book Prize, this debut novel is a powerful thrilled from a startling new voice in fiction.

Dundee 1 2 3 - a lovely wee counting book for baby Dundonians! *stocking filler alert*

2013 Dundee International Book Prize sampler - *free book alert!* excerpts from the Dundee International Book Prize shortlisted writers. Read them here first!

The Broons Annual 2014 - your annual festive must-have!

The Tartan Special One, by Barry Phillips - a love letter to Scottish football delivered in an inimitably anarchic style, brought to you by new Dundee publisher Teckle Books.

May your book pile floweth over and your mulled wine never run dry!

[literarydundee]

Psst! Flashmob!

Got plans for 1pm on Monday 25th November? YOU HAVE NOW.

To celebrate the start of Book Week Scotland, Scotland's national celebration of books and reading, we're kicking off Dundee's packed programme of events with a Big Book Bash flashmob! 

When: Monday 25th November, 1pm

Where: City Square

What: bring a book to swap with a fellow book lover.

We'll also be giving out free copies of Treasures, a free book for all of Scotland to share celebrating the nation's most loved possessions.

Simples!

Join us!

[literarydundee]

Book Week Scotland in Dundee!

Book Week Scotland is about celebrating books and reading in every part of life in Scotland.

Between 25 November and 1 December 2013, people of all ages and of all walks of life will be able to come together in libraries, schools, community venues and workplaces to share and enjoy books and reading. They will be joined in this celebration by Scotland’s authors, poets, playwrights, storytellers and illustrators to bring a packed programme of free projects and events to life.

There are many events happening in Dundee, and you're invited!

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Bookbinding, comics, crime and much more at Dundee Libraries, as their Festival of Libraries ties in with Book Week Scotland activities. Browse the full programme of fantastic events here.

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Vocalised books, a book swap, a workshop which invites you to create a book on a page, and other activities for book lovers at Dundee Contemporary Arts.

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Jean Rafferty and Linda Cracknell will be in conversation with Kirsty Gunn on Tuesday 26th November at 5pm at the Dalhousie Building, part of the Creative Writing department's Readers and Writers series.

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Our monthly salon will tie in with Book Week Scotland, and take place at Dundee Central Library on Thursday 28th November, from 6pm. Join us for readings from the Creative Writing MLitt students!

We're excited and delighted to welcome Edinburgh-based cabaret duo Rally & Broad to Dundee on Friday 29th November, from 7.30pm in Caffe Borsa! Poets Mark Thomson (Dundee) and Milton Balgoni (Fife) and sweet music from singer songwriter Lake Montgomery (Edinburgh via Paris, Texas). Free!

And as if that wasn't enough - we'll also be perambulating Dundee throughout Book Week Scotland with a Trundelling Travelling Book Trolley, stuffed with free books and book recommendation. Keep an eye out for us, or follow us on Twitter to find out where we'll be!

[literarydundee]

Events especially for students / writers!

We’ve hand picked a few events which may appeal to students, writers and lovers of the written word.

Thursday 24th October, 12noon

Poet and novelist Robert Alan Jamieson talks to Kirsty Gunn about his work with words.

£3 full price / £2 for students

Thursday 24th October, 4pm

Michael Hulse is a translator, teacher, editor, magazine publisher and critic, as well as a poet. He will share his love of language and thoughts on the landscape of literature with Kirsty Gunn.

£3 full price / £2 for students

Friday 25th October, 9am

Annual MLitt Creative Writing students showcase returns with more exciting talents from the University of Dundee.

Free but ticketed

Friday 25th October, 10am

Debut authors Juliet Conlin, Neil MacKay and the winner of the Dundee International Book Prize 2013 – to be unveiled on Thursday 24th October – will share their journeys to publication.

Free but ticketed

Friday 25th October, 11am

Granta Best of Young British Novelists Sarah Hall and Jenni Fagan will be reading from their acclaimed novels and letting us in on what’s it’s like to be the rising stars of 2013.

£3 full price / £2 for students

Friday 25th October, 3pm

A L Kennedy’s latest book On Writing adds up to the most intimate masterclass imaginable, giving readers and aspiring writers precious insight into the complexities of the writing world. £3 full price / £2 for students

Sunday 27th October, 11am

Patrick Ness will discuss his thrilling and utterly absorbing new novel for Young Adults (and older ones too!), More Than This which chronicles the life - or perhaps afterlife of a teen trapped in a crumbling, abandoned world.

£3 full price / £2 for students

CRIME!

Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award winner Denise Mina,  Quintin Jardine and Godfather of Tartan Noir William McIlvanney, and are just two icons of the crime world appearing with tales of dark edges, twists and turns…

Prices vary

Every day!

A Poem and a Piece, every day of the festival, combines fantastic poetry and a lovely lunch. Participating poets include Dundee’s new Makar (Poet Laureate) W N Herbert starring alongside Andy Jackson, co-editors of the wonderful Whaleback City, a unique anthology of poems inspired by the city of Dundee and its surroundings. Also starring are Michael Hulse, Paula Jennings and Em Strang.

£5 (includes lunch)

Festival hub!

We hope you’ll make time to soak up the atmosphere in our festival hub. With stalls from local creators, including jewellery, wine, clothes, zines, and Ms Battenberg’s Travelling Tea Room providing seasonal victuals, it’s the perfect spot to lounge between events and get stuck into a good conversation or a good book.

How to book:

Browse the programme on issuu http://issuu.com/literarydundee/docs/final or on our website www.literarydundee.co.uk

Tickets are available:

• online at www.literarydundee.co.uk • by calling 01382 384413 • or emailing [email protected] • in person on the 6th Floor, Tower Building at the University • from Waterstones, Commercial Street • from The Overgate Shopping Centre ticket booth, ground floor • from Dundee Contemporary Arts, Nethergate

  We look forward to seeing you in October!