Previous Festivals
2008 2007 2006

Adult's Programme 2007

	Alanna Knight - A Case of Series Novelitis Alanna's talk will be based on the three historical crime characters featured in the Inspector Faro series, the Rose McQuinn series and the Tam Eildor series about a time-travelling detective. www.alannaknight.com
	Aline Templeton - Crime and Place Aline will describe how a chance visit to Galloway produced a series of crime novels featuring DI Marjory Fleming and DS Tam MacNee. She will talk about the books, which are characterised by an intimate relationship with a rural community in a beautiful, unspoiled part of Scotland.
	Alan Bissett Alan will talk about his novels Boyracers and The Incredible Adam Spark. Adam is described as "a wonderfully unique character who manages to evoke both great sympathy and, at times, revulsion". Alan will also provide a preview of his next novel Death of a Ladies' Man. www.alanbissett.com
	Paraig MacNeil - Tartan Truths Through traditional stories, songs and poems Paraig will illustrate the importance of the Breacan or tartan as the dress of the warrior Gael, and latterly symbolic of the Jacobites. He will dispel the fabricated history, born of commercial and military expediency, and will demonstrate how the old plaid or feile-mor is worn. www.paraigmacneil.co.uk
	Laura Marney Laura will read from her third novel, Only Strange People go to Church. This witty, yet touching story revolves round a community worker's efforts to involve her disabled charges in a community show in a deconsecrated church. Two earlier novels and one in progress will also be featured.
	Meg Henderson Meg will discuss the reasons behind her many books - and the often odd reactions to them! She will read from her latest book, A Scent of Bluebells and from some of her previous titles.
	Alanna Knight - My Life With Robert Louis Stephenson Alanna describes her connection with RLS as "like meeting an old friend". Her talk will feature her extensive research into Stevenson's life and works; and how this has influenced her own writing. www.alannaknight.com
	Stewart Conn Stewart's talk will be based on the 2006 anthology 100 Favourite Scottish Poems which he edited. Besides reading a selection of poems, he will tell us the story behind the book. He will end the session by reading some of his own recently published poems.

Children's Programme 2007

	Tony Bonning - Songs, Rhymes and Nonsense Children love Tony's high energy mix of stories and songs with a Scottish flavour. He is rated as one of Scotland's top performers for young children. His experience comes from interactions with his seven children and with the five music groups which he runs for pre-school children.
	Jill Dow - The Story Behind A Book Jill will read one of her stories and show how it developed from an idea on a scrap of paper to a published book. ... also Storytime Author/illustrator Jill Dow reads stories from her Windy Edge Farm series. As a child, Jill loved to write stories and poems, but her favourite pastimes were drawing and painting. Jill developed a special interest in natural history illustration and after illustrating a number of books she decided to try writing as well, and Windy Edge Farm was born. www.scottishbooktrust.com/contacts/jill-dow
	Richard Dargie - Ghosts and Castles Richard will bring history to life with ghastly tales about ghosts in many of Scotland's castles. ... also Digging Up History Richard tells fascinating stories behind some mysterious artefacts unearthed from beneath Scotland's soil. His interest in history began with a childhood holiday in Rome. Standing in the middle of the Coliseum aged nine probably helps to explain his long-standing interest in ancient history and archaeology. www.scottishbooktrust.com/contacts/richard-dargie
	Paraig MacNeil - Traditional Scottish Songs and Stories Paraig will wear the ancient belted-plaid and will sing traditional songs and tell stories in a mixture of English and Gaelic. Paraig's interest in traditional songs and stories began in childhood when he used to listen to tales told by his great uncle who was a seanchaidh (a reciter of tales). He tells stories in English, Scots and Gaelic – or a mixture of all three. He is a natural entertainer and a regular performer at festivals. He has featured on radio and appeared on television. www.paraigmacneil.co.uk