'Brilliant BOOKMARK'

That was the headline we got in our local press after last month's book festival here in Blairgowrie - our very first, in fact. So, that's my excuse for not having posted here for months. The whole festival thing just took over my life. But it has been so worthwhile. When you get lovely people like Liz Lochhead, Andrew Greig, James Robertson, Mairi Hedderwick and others all saying how much they've enjoyed participating in the event, you feel an enormous pride at being part of the organisational team. And what a team! All volunteers who've given up huge amounts of time and kilowatts of energy to the project. And they're already planning for next year's event!

Books supplied by our own independent book store!

Andrew Greig signs a copy of his latest novel, 'Fair Helen'.

Fiona Armstrong chats to Karen Campbell about 'This is Where I Am'. 

On the Saturday of the festival the heavens parted and we were treated to a spectacular but continuous downpour which threatened to seep inside the Royal Hotel venue. But, ironically, the weather proved to be a bonus as it swept people into the venue to buy up the few remaining tickets. It also meant that the closing whisky tasting event which followed on from an engaging session with internationally renowned whisky writer, Charles MacLean, put people in the perfect mood for later carrying on the 'tasting' in the bar to the accompaniment of a good going ceilidh!

It was wonderful to see so many children and young people at the event. Mini BOOKMARK offered a full menu: a taste of the Scots language for under 5s with James Robertson; a suitcase full of ferrets with the very entertaining Joan Lennon; an inside look at how Katie Morag finally arrives on the page; an animation workshop with the multi-talented, Kyla Tomlinson and finishing off with a Gruffalo Trail which brought together both book and wildlife experience, courtesy of the Perth and Kinross Council's Countryside Ranger Service.

Those who are cynical about today's youth should have been present at BOOKMARK to see for themselves just how wonderfully mature, responsible and capable young people can be. For example, we had a group of senior pupils from Blairgowrie High School taking charge of the technical production. Sixteen year old, Daniel Duncan, set up his company, 'Jam Productions' when he was just fourteen and now supplies technical expertise to a range of events. He and his team took charge of things with a maturity well beyond their years and with a level of courtesy that would show up many an adult! And then there were young, BOOKMARK T-shirt clad marshals who dealt with the public politely and efficiently. Our young blogger, Briana Freedsmith, whose blogs you can read at www.bookmarkblair.com, entered into the spirit of this her first ever book festival with an infectious enthusiasm and a mature professionalism. Well done to all!

The children were, of course, the stars of the show. Their faces say it all. And we loved it just as much as they did! We'll be back with a great BOOKMARK programme in October, 2014.

Raring to Write: Bookmarked, Baltic and Bliss!

Raring to Write: Bookmarked, Baltic and Bliss!: I'm acutely aware that I've been very remiss in posting any new blogs in recent months. My excuse? I've been up to the eyebrows ...

Bookmarked, Baltic and Bliss!

I'm acutely aware that I've been very remiss in posting any new blogs in recent months. My excuse? I've been up to the eyebrows in book fest. organisation. Last post I mentioned my moment- of- madness decision to seek funding for BOOKMARK, a new book festival to be hosted in Blairgowrie (East Perthshire) with fringe events in Rattray & The Glens. After months of delicate gymnastics (jumping through hoops of fire while tied to restraining hand and foot straps), the executive committee (three mad women) have finally submitted applications and await results with a mixture of dread and anticipation. Meanwhile, we have a draft programme (just mistyped as 'pogromme'!) in place but can't finalise anything until we get the green light from those who hold the purse strings ( in some cases to the point where fingers turn blue!).

But, at risk of completely contradicting myself, it's not been ALL work: there was a short interval of play when I took off from this wintry scene

h

 to some South African sunshine . . .

 

and a little wine from Laurensford Estate . . . 

Been back now for a couple of weeks and, although still recovering from the temperature shift (31 to 4), I've also been enjoying long walks in frosty, blue-skied days. Today's another story! I should have been out there climbing a hill to mark International Women's Day but high winds and driving rain - falling as snow up the glen - sent me scurrying back under the duvet. One's empathy has limits.

On these walks, I've had time to reflect: on the shameful contrast between the comfortable lifestyle of many (but not all) white South Africans and the endemic poverty of so many of their fellow black South Africans, despite heroic efforts (mixed with a liberal helping of corruption) by the ANC government to build new houses and provide clean water and electricity; on the privilege enjoyed by many UK residents and rural Scots, in particular, to roam freely without feeling threatened or compelled to live behind security gates and electric fences; on the sheer joy at being alive and fit (relatively!); on the central importance of writing in my life now that it has been so neglected over the last 6 months.

Five years after publication, I've finally got round to reading Steven Galloway's 'The Cellist of Sarajevo'. 

Coinciding as it did with my trip to South Africa, its reading had a particular resonance. The idea that in the midst of the devastation of war and all its attendant cruelties, beauty can emerge as a powerful instrument of truth and common humanity struck me with powerful relevancy.

So . . . it's time to get right back into that short story which I've been meaning to finish for weeks. Maybe it'll never have an ending but then maybe that will prompt the beginning of a new story. The circles of life are still being drawn.

Raring to Write: A book festival in Blairgowrie? You must be mad!

Raring to Write: A book festival in Blairgowrie? You must be mad!: A few months ago, being of unsound mind at the time, I threw out a question, intending it to be rhetorical, 'Why don't...

A book festival in Blairgowrie? You must be mad!

A few months ago, being of unsound mind at the time, I threw out a question, intending it to be rhetorical, 'Why don't we have a book festival in the town?' Unfortunately, there are others out there of equally unsound mind who came back with the repeated answer, 'Why not?'. So here I am, taking precious time out from writing, to talk to book festival organisers around the country, downloading fiendishly complicated funding application forms and generally rushing round in a fever of passionate enthusiasm, nightly cooled by a cold poultice of doubt.

 I regularly attend book festivals, small and large (prefer the small) around the country so I know something about being a festival attendee. On the other hand, I knew precious little about the nature of the beast from an organiser's perspective until I started to make enquiries. Since then, it's been a steep learning curve but less painful than anticipated, thanks to the generous input from the organisers of other festivals such as Ullapool and Borders. Paula Ogilvie from the latter organisation, courtesy of Scottish Book Trust funding, has produced a comprehensive survey of book festivals throughout Scotland (currently numbering a staggering 34!) and this provides a wide range of vital information  from audience profiling to ticket pricing.

Already I have had offers of help from a wide range of people in the area. Now they just need pinning down. I'm hoping my unsound mind phase lasts sufficiently long to see this project through. All it takes is vision, energy, enthusiasm, meticulous organisation, professionalism . . . and a very brassy neck! Let's translate this vision into reality.

The Trick is in the Detail

This month I've set myself the task of keeping a writing diary of details: the telling significance of an object's shape, colour, structure, texture, scent, imperfections . . .

I've always admired writers who can use telling details to add symbolic layers to their writing. Recently, I re-read Robin Jenkins's novel, 'The Changeling' and was full of praise for the way in which he set down details which, initially, seemed insignificant but which gathered layers of meaning as they were picked up at later points in the narrative. It prompted me to think about the importance of detail in our lives: the small gesture that conveys so much, the exact tone of a well-chosen word, the telling sound and so on. As well, of course, as the absence of the above.

So, I've started in the garden - a bit of a disheartening task in this rain-sodden landscape - but it's made me look afresh at so many things: plants, 'beasties', walls, stones, hedges, horizons and much more. It's been a challenging exercise; selecting the relevant details, finding the right words to record them and jotting down any figurative or connotative significances.

I've carefully omitted to say, of course, that all this has been going on while I should have been writing my next short story! But I'm hoping that it will bear fruit in the long run. Well, that's my justification for the moment. How important is detail for you - as a writer/reader?

What a find! And I don't know how I've missed it. Just back from having spent a few glorious days in Stoer in the NW Scottish Highlands. Scenery to feed the spirit and people to gladden your heart. En route, we stopped in Ullapool and, quite by chance, discovered The Ceilidh Place (www.theceilidhplace.com), a hotel, bunkhouse, restaurant, arts centre AND wonderful book shop. The latter is run by a woman called Avril who clearly knows her books from her biscuits. The best display of Scottish literature I've seen in any independent as well as a refreshing range of children's books in English and Gaelic. I've no doubt May's successful Ullapool Book Festival helps to keep the stock fresh and up to date. But what a pleasure to chat to staff who really know their books. I could have spent a fortune (and nearly did!). I'll definitely be back and, hopefully, take in the festival as well.