Inspiring A Community of Book Lovers

Author Flora Fraser, daughter of noted historical biographer Lady Antonia Fraser, and named after Flora Macdonald, grew up between Inverness-shire and London, Flora’s earlier books include Beloved Emma: The Life of Emma Hamilton and George and Martha Washington; A Revolutionary Marriage, which won the 2016 George Washington Prize.

In her book, Pretty Young Rebel, Flora tells the remarkable story of Flora Macdonald, from her rescue of Charles Edward Stuart, “Bonnie Prince Charlie”, through to the fiery days of the American Revolutionary War.

Flora will be in conversation with local Easter Ross author, Philip Paris

Rachelle Atalla is a Scottish-Egyptian novelist, short story writer and screenwriter based in Glasgow. Her short stories have been published widely in literary anthologies and she is the recipient of a Scottish Book Trust New Writers’ Award. Her first short film screenplay Trifle was commissioned by the Scottish Film & Talent Network and she is developing her first feature length screenplay with BBC Film. Her first novel, The Pharmacist, an imagining of a community trying to adjust to life in a nuclear bunker, was shortlisted for the Scottish Fiction Book of the Year. Rachelle will discuss her August 2024 publication, The Salt Flats, where a young couple whose marriage is in trouble join a group seeking enlightenment in the mysterious and remote Bolivian salt flats. What they discover instead is a nightmare.

Alex Gray is one of Scotland’s leading crime writers. She has published 21 novels featuring DSI William Lorimer, set around her native Glasgow. She has worked as a visiting officer of the DHSS and as an English teacher, beginning to write professionally in 1993. A regular on bestseller lists, Alex is a co-founder of Bloody Scotland, the Stirling-based crime-writing festival. Her latest novel Out of Darkness sees Lorimer and his wife go on safari in Zimbabwe, but even far from home and on holiday, he can never escape peril and the criminal world

Join author and environmentalist Brian Wilson for a session of travels, tales and a jumble of salty small-boat adventures. Follow the events, characters and wildlife of Scotland, Ireland and many other coastlines, as seen from the perspective of a solitary wandering kayaker. From churning whirlpools to dreamy sunsets, triumphs, disasters and lucky escapes... Stranger things do happen at sea! Brian Wilson is a stonemason, environmental contractor, and a dyker and thatcher by Royal Appointment. His talk on Balnagown Estate takes place in *the impressive great crowstepped barn c. 1700, which is probably the earliest and the largest in the Highlands. This is the perfect setting for a stonemason. 

Join Helen Campbell at Nigg Old Church for a talk about the history of the church, the churchyard and the beautiful Nigg Pictish Stone housed within the church building. 
Then, as a group, walk through the beautiful woodland of the Bishop’s Walk, down towards the sea taking in spectacular views across Nigg Bay. Return to the church, where the event ends, but a visit to nearby Nigg Book Fair could begin!

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Please wear walking shoes, the ground may be muddy and slippery. The ground is quite steep and not suitable for wheelchairs etc. There are no toilets available at the church, but can be found in Nigg Hall 600 yards away where teas are also available.

Nigg Friendship Group invites everyone to join them in Nigg Village Hall, for teas, home baking and music from The Royal National Mod Award Winner, Harpist Jennifer Port at 11.30am. There will be a craft stall and a number of local authors will be in the Hall selling their books.  Including local author Helen Sedgwick, author of several books including The Comet Seekers and the Burrowhead Mysteries. Helen lives in Easter Ross with her family. Highland author Neil Cockburn is the author of the M J Bikie series of children’s books, the latest being “M J Bikie meets The Loch Ness Monster”. Sutherland authors Liz Treacher and Lily Byron are welcome additions to the Fair. Liz has written several well received books, the latest being Vegan Recipes for New Age Men. Lily on the other hand is a first time author and her tales of growing up in and around Ardgay in her memoir “Ardgay Lass” will bring back many memories for other folk in the area. Children’s author and illustrator Victoria Macdonald has written a collection of colourful books over the past few years. Previously living in Inver, Victoria is now based in Tain. Scott McGowan is the author of many books, perhaps the best known being The Bjorn Trilogy. Emma Helyer of Two Blue Dogs Design and Cynthia Rogerson complete the line-up. American born Cynthia has lived in Easter Ross for many years and is author of “ Wait for me Jack”, “I love you Goodbye” and her most recent novel “WAH!”.

Local Tain-based photographer Mark Janes will give an illustrated talk on his approach to capturing the beauty of Easter Ross landscapes. Covering night-sky, seascape and landscape photography as well as camera-settings, composition and use of camera-movement, Mark will reveal his secrets to capturing the essence of the landscape. Mark is a photographer and educator working under the brand “Scot Land, Sea and Sky”. Known for his night-sky and aurora photography, Mark gained his Licentiate of the Royal Photographic Society in 2015 and regularly competes in local, national and international photography competitions. He is president of Dingwall Camera Club

Jen Stout is a freelance journalist, writer and radio producer, who has covered the war in Ukraine for outlets such as BBC Radio, London Review of Books, Prospect, and the Sunday Post. Previously she had jobs in TV and radio with the BBC, and was a local newspaper reporter. Her work in Ukraine was shortlisted for prizes by Amnesty International, the Foreign Press Association and the Scottish Press Awards. In 2023 she won a Travelling Scholarship from the Society of Authors. Originally from Shetland, Jen has lived in Germany and Russia. Her debut book, Night Train to Odesa, was published in May 2024 with Polygon and was BBC Radio 4’s Book of the Week in June. In March, Press and Journal Senior Features Writer, Neil Drysdale, wrote that Jen has become “one of the most potent war correspondents of her generation”.

Join crime fiction author Claire Askew for a 90-minute workshop on character creation. Learn how to flesh out characters in unexpected but effective ways, and discover how to use strong character development to drive the plot of your story. This hands-on workshop is open to anyone with an interest in writing: you don’t need to be a crime writer or a novelist, short story writers and aspiring authors in any genre are welcome too! 

Lynsey Gilmour is a poet, storyteller and performer from Easter Ross. Lynsey has long been fascinated by the relationship between people and places, and how these relationships emerge through folk songs and stories. Her poems have appeared in various publications and anthologies, and she has produced a zine of poems in Scots and Gaelic, commissioned by Glasgow Zine Library. A regular performer on the Scottish Poetry Slam scene, Lynsey has competed in the Loud Poets Slam Final at Edinburgh International Book Festival and the Scottish Grand Slam Final at the Glasgow Comedy Festival. Lynsey will share work from her recent commission, A Bittie Keolar, blending poetry, song and story in Scots, Gaelic and English with field recordings from around Easter Ross. Then the floor opens to you for an Open Mic opportunity, welcoming writers, poets and story tellers of all ages to share a story or poem, in a friendly and encouraging session celebrating your creative work. Or just come along and listen and enjoy a range of voices from across our community.

Leila Aboulela grew up in Khartoum and has been living in Aberdeen since 1990. Her novels include Bird Summons, The Translator, Minaret and Lyrics Alley, which was Fiction Winner of the Scottish Book Awards. Leila was the first winner of the Caine Prize for African Writing and her story collection Elsewhere, Home won the Saltire Fiction Book of the Year Award. Leila will be reading from her most recent novel, River Spirit, a New York Times Best Historical Novel of the Year, described as ‘Dazzling…a novel of war, love, faith, womanhood and – crucially – the tussle over truth and public narratives.’ Leila will be in conversation with local author Helen Sedgwick. 

Refreshments may be bought from the bar

Come along, if you dare, on Jason’s Friday the 13th Spooktacular Tour of Tain. Learn about the town’s extremely gruesome past; hangmen, murders, witches, ghosts, and even a very tragic love story!
Not suitable for young children, as we will not be held responsible for their (or your) nightmares. 

Jason Ubych from Tain and District Museum will lead this spellbinding and spine-tingling tour covering some of the darker stories of the town and surrounding areas. Jason’s informative and lively tours have always sold out, so please book your ticket early.
Tain is on a hill, and the weather may be spooktacular too, so be prepared with walking shoes recommended!

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Learn more about the history of Tain and surrounding area by visiting Tain Museum, The Clan Ross Rooms and The Tarbat Discovery Centre

Like many Highland families, sisters Fiona Cameron and Carole Grant knew little about their father’s WW2 experiences. The surprise discovery of his wartime diaries revealed that Allan Cameron from Inverness served with the 51st Highland Division, was captured in France and imprisoned in Poland. Intrigued to learn more, their research led to them writing an account which details Allan’s POW experiences. At the end of the talk, and to tie in with the theme of Lemonade Tonight, Tain Scottish Country Dance Class member, Philip Ward, will give a brief outline of the story behind the dance called “The Reel of the 51st Division” - an intriguing local story! About the authors - Avid reader and curious traveller Carole worked as an English tutor in Athens and enjoyed developing creative writing skills for use in schools. Fiona is an enthusiastic traveller and keen reader. She has regularly illustrated short stories for Scottish publications and recently reignited her creative interests, including the design and layout of Lemonade Tonight.

Alistair Moffat was born and bred in the Scottish Borders. A former Director of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Director of Programmes at Scottish Television and founder of the Borders Book Festival, he is also the author of a number of highly acclaimed books. Join Alistair to discuss his latest book, The Highlands and Islands of Scotland: A New History, the first fully comprehensive history of the Highlands for more than a decade. This is a magnificent accomplishment that encompasses the landscape, the people, the beliefs, the languages, the stories and the symbols that have made Scotland. Alistair’s other books include The Reivers: The Story of the Border Reivers and War Paths: Walking in the Shadows of the Clans. 

Refreshments available to purchase at the bar. 

Sarah Rankin, MasterChef finalist and author, will be hosting a lively and entertaining cookery demonstration, showcasing dishes from her new cookbook, ‘Kith’. Celebrating seasonal, Scottish ingredients, Sarah’s demos are fun and accessible, where she shares simple recipes, kitchen hints and tips and the odd secret from behind the scenes at MasterChef. “Our larder is the best in the world and we need to make sure that future generations of cooks continue to celebrate Scotland’s incredible produce.  The St Duthac Festival committed to community and preserving culture seems to me to be the perfect place to share that ethos."  Sarah celebrates Scotland’s Larder in her food writing, broadcasting, chef demonstrations and food festival appearances. A native Highlander, Sarah hosts the Golden Spurtle World Porridge Championships, and her Supper Clubs and Cookery Classes are sell-out events focusing on wonderful ingredients, simply cooked and enjoyed in good company.

Dougie Donnelly will give an entertaining and lively talk, starting with his early career which began with a law degree he never used! He spent 16 years as a radio DJ where he had the chance to interview three of the Beatles as well as many of the other pop and rock stars of the day. The height of his career was 33 years with BBC Sport, which has given him plenty of stories to tell, as you will imagine! Dougie covered seven Olympic Games, two World Cups, nineteen Open Championships, eight US Masters as well as a TV Chat Show series including one called (Billy) Connolly with Donnelly! Join Dougie to hear a few of his adventures or should we say “Recorded Highlights”.

Guilty or innocent? You decide! Best-selling author Mark Bridgeman returns to Tain and will once more be taking the part of prosecution, judge and defence, presenting a real-life murder trial in Tain Sheriff Court in which YOU, the audience, will become the jury! With a PRIZE for the winner, evidence and exhibits from the case, and a Q&A with the author, this promises to be another event to remember. Silence in Court! Mark became a published author in 2019. He has appeared on TV & Radio, and his stories have been dramatised on Canadian radio and featured in newspaper serial form. Mark’s collection of Yorkshire mysteries, The Dark Side of the Dales, featured on Channel 5’s documentary series Manhunt. In 2023 Mark’s title Erased became the first hybrid paperback with the trademark ‘eback’ logo. Nominated for the James Tait Black Award in 2022 for his adventure biography, The Nearly Man, the book is in development in Hollywood, in collaboration with scriptwriter and producer Alan Roth.

Join Jenny Colgan for a fun filled evening with one of the most successful and prolific authors of feel-good fiction in the UK. Selling more than four million copies in the UK, and ten million copies worldwide, Jenny’s books have spent over thirty weeks on the Sunday Times bestseller list.  As a long-time champion of romantic fiction, Jenny proudly speaks up in the media against the side-lining of genre fiction. Set on the fictional Island of Carso, Close Knit follows the story of two women; Morag, newly returned home after a successful career as a pilot, and Gertie, who has never had the courage to leave the island. Gertie lives with her mother and grandmother, who are at the heart of the local Knitting Circle - a group of strong, capable women who work hard, gossip, knit and support each other through thick and thin. When the chance comes for Gertie to make changes, a world of possibilities could open up.

Booking essential. £5 from every ticket will be donated to Young Lives vs Cancer  which is a charity that helps children and young people with cancer get the right support at the right time and their families find the strength to face whatever cancer throws at them. 

Local Highland author Shona MacLean will talk about her Jacobite thriller, The Bookseller of Inverness, which was Waterstones’ Scottish Book of the Year 2023 and will also give a tempting insight into her forthcoming nineteenth century novel set on the Black Isle and which mentions Tain. Born in Inverness, Shona grew up in the local area, attending Hilton of Cadboll Primary School and Dingwall Academy. She studied History at the University of Aberdeen, gaining a PhD in Seventeenth Century Scottish History. She is the author of both the Alexander Seaton and the Damian Seeker historical mystery series for which she has twice won the CWA Historical Dagger. Shona took part in the 2021 Festival, and we are delighted to welcome her back.

Stories, Tunes and Folklore from around the North Coast with Storyteller Lizzie McDougall, Musician Siannie Moodie and the Highland Story Quilts. In this mother and daughter collaboration of storytelling, music and textile art, you will be taken on a journey around the north coast, and through time and place. From generation to generation, songs, tunes and stories have been filling the imagination with a mix of history and mystery, connecting us more deeply with the area and each other. The music tradition is thriving, however the stories are fragile, so Lizzie has been gathering and telling them and creating the Story Quilts to make them more visible. Lizzie is a storyteller and artist living on The Black Isle, who loves Highland stories and over many years has gathered and told traditional tales. “Stories, Art and Music are a magical way of connecting people, of all ages. I want to do my bit to keep our stories alive and part of our wonderful shared culture”. From remnants of fabric Lizzie created the Story Quilt that illustrates and celebrates the stories she tells around the country. 

Siannie learned to play clàrsach (harp) at Fèis Rois, and has played at The Hebridean Celtic Festival and Cambridge Folk Festival. With Live Music Now Scotland she plays at Edinburgh venues such as The National Museum of Scotland, St. Giles Cathedral and Holyrood Palace. As Musical Director of the Highland Shakespeare Company, Siannie’s compositions are described as “truly exquisite” by Joyce MacMillan. Look out for Siannie’s “pin-drop” moment at this year’s Edinburgh Tattoo!

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Philip Paris spent many years researching the Scottish witchcraft trials for his latest historical novel, The Last Witch of Scotland, inspired by the true story of Janet Horne, the last person in Britain to be executed for witchcraft (Dornoch, 1727). During his talk Philip will examine the Scottish witchcraft trials of the 16th–18th centuries, the case of Janet Horne and what influenced the local community to reach their tragic decision. Philip Paris was, until recently, best known for his books about Orkney’s WW2 Italian chapel and the secrets about the building and the POWs. However, the success of his highly acclaimed historical fiction The Last Witch of Scotland has probably changed that. His writing is varied, from Men Cry Alone, an award-winning novel about domestic abuse against men, to Casting Off, a hilarious novel where Highland care home residents get up to all sorts in order to cover a rise in fees.