The 2009 Inverness Book Festival starts next Monday with a brand new look and the biggest and best line-up in its history.

Book lovers across the Highlands can look forward to big name authors and celebrity book types from across the UK - including Ian Rankin, Barbara Dickson, Elaine C Smith, Sue Lawrence, Clare Grogan, Carol Drinkwater, Cairngorm John and Katie Fforde ...

We've also loads of stuff for younger readers, including Debi Gliori, Lari Don, Katie Pamment and a whole day of storytelling just for families. 

Read on below to find out more!

Everyone loves a good crime thriller, that's why we've put together a criminally jam-packed collection of the very best of the UK's crime authors. Our crime series kicks off with multi-award winning author of the Shetland Quartet, Ann Cleeves on Monday night. We'll be joined by Rebus' creator, Ian Rankin on Tuesday night, and Ian will team up with Alex Gray and Stuart MacBride later on that night as part of the '3 City Crime Panel' with the trio discussing the differing approaches to writing about crime in their own fair cities!

Find out more below:

ANN CLEEVES

IAN RANKIN

3 CITY CRIME PANEL

Hot on the heels of crime as the UK's favourite read comes food and drink writing, and with Sue Lawrence, Nell Nelson and Carol Drinkwater on the menu, nobody should go home hungry!!

You'll know Nell Nelson as the 'Woman Who Ate Scotland' - the intrepid bicycle rider whose television adventures saw her sample the best of fayre from across the country. Her latest novel 'Eat Well With Nell' provides plenty of recipes and ideas to help you get the best out of your dinner.

NELL NELSON

Carol Drinkwater is probably best known to you as the long suffering wife of country vet James Herriot in All Creatures Great and Small.... however, her best selling trilogy of novels tells of the trials and tribulations of her life in the South of France as she and her husband set about renovating a derelict house and olive grove...

CAROL DRINKWATER

Sue Lawrence was the second ever winner of the long-running and hugely popular TV series 'Masterchef'. She's now a household name, and one of the best known cookery writers in the country. Sue will be whipping up some tasty titbits from her  'Taste Ye Back' book, and will be chatting to MFR breakfast's very own Nicky Marr.

SUE LAWRENCE

There's nothing like a good true life tale - and we've got the people behind some of this year's best biographies lined up for you!! We've something for everyone - from Fife born singer songwriter Barbara Dickson,  to Mrs Rab C Nesbit herself Elaine C Smith, and Raasay based journalist Roger Hutchinson.

BARBARA DICKSON
ELAINE C SMITH
ROGER HUTCHINSON




 

That to tell you all about it in one email would make it possibly the world's longest email!

We've got poetry with TOM POW, storytelling with JESS SMITH and STUART MCHARDY, kids stuff from KATIE PAMMENT, JULIE HEGARTY, and a selection of workshops and learning events, just for you. 

Don't miss anything in this year's festival - pick up or download a brochure

Day by Day Diary

MONDAY 5 OCT
RHYMETIME WITH BOOKSTART SCOTLAND
ITCHY COO WORKSHOP
ANN CLEEVES
BARBARA DICKSON

TUESDAY 6 OCT
WIGGLY WORM
DEBI GLIORI
POETRY WORKSHOP WITH TOM POW
IAN RANKIN EMPIRE THEATRE
TOM POW
THE 3 CITY CRIME PANEL

WEDNESDAY 7 OCT
KATIE PAMMENT
JULIE HEGARTY
TALES ‘N’ TAILS
JESS SMITH & STUART MCHARDY
IAN RANKIN - WRITING CRIME WORKSHOP
ANNE MACLEOD – WRITING POETRY WORKSHOP
ALASTAIR MCINTOSH AND EMMA WOOD
NEIL GUNN TRUST LECTURE 2009
ANGUS KONSTAM
KATIE FFORDE

THURSDAY 8 OCT
LARI DON
CLARE GROGAN
ROGER HUTCHINSON
ERICA MUNRO WORKSHOP
BRIAN WILSON
JOHN ALLEN AND CRAIG WELDON
 

FRIDAY 9 OCT
ROBIN GILLANDERS
TIM NEWARK
NELL NELSON
READING GROUP EVENT
CAROL DRINKWATER

SATURDAY 10 OCT
FAMILY STORYTELLING DAY
STORIES FROM THE STARS
BIG MOUTHS
TALES ABOUT TAILS
FOOD AND FABLES
SUE LAWRENCE
IAN HAMILTON
ELAINE C. SMITH
THE BOOK FESTIVAL PUB QUIZ