Festival Blog

Well I can't believe that’s it all over for another year!  All that planning and anticipation and then it is over so quickly. Can’t say I am not glad of the rest though – what a hectic week it was with our busiest Aye Write festival to date! We had more sell-out events than ever and thankfully every event went ahead as planned with no last minute cancellations!

The final few nights were thrilling with appearances from a diverse range of writers including musician Edwyn Collins, comedian and writer Sandi Toksvig and one of Scotland’s favourite writers A L Kennedy.

Our final day on Saturday was also jam-packed with events including some fiesty women in the afternoon. Denise Mina chatted about her latest Glasgow crime novel ‘Still Midnight’, psychoanalyst Susie Orbach took to the stage to discuss her new book 'Bodies' and Glasgow favourite, Elaine C Smith discussed her new autobiography ‘Nothing Like a Dame’ in a light- hearted, down to earth talk that entertained a packed audience.

The final day was topped off by a sellout event with Germaine Greer as she discussed all the popular feminist subjects relevant in today’s society and then opened up the floor to a lively discussion with the audience!

Phew, after all that – I was ready for an early night and a good book myself!

But what were your highlights from this year's programme? Do you have anyone you'd like to see appearing at the next festival? Let us know by messaging us on our Facebook or Twitter pages or send an email to lil@csglasgow.org. 

We hope you enjoyed the 2010 festival and I would personally like to thank all the authors who took part and equally you, our audience, without whom the festival would not have been the huge success it was!

We look forward to welcoming you back to The Mitchell for our next Aye Write! festival.

Karen

Well, another festival underway and what a tremendous opening night Alain de Botton; Joanna Trollope; Albie Sachs and William Boyd, all sold-out and all fantastic writers and performers. I introduced William Boyd, who took us through the process of how he writes a novel, from the initial idea, through a meticulously detailed research process, logging and filing, before the final stage which is the final creative drafting. He spoke mainly about his new novel, Ordinary Thunderstorms, nothing ordinary about William! Thought I might be lynched by an adoring audience as I went on to wind up and thank him. Well done to a really engaged and intelligent Glasgow audience who made it such a pleasure for him also.

I felt immensely privileged to have breakfast this morning with Justice Albie Sachs I turned up at his hotel to take him on a quick driving tour of Glasgow before he headed home (sometimes I think I may have the best job in the world, read his story). We went to Kelvingrove, Glasgow School of Art and into Gorbals. He was thrilled to see the regeneration of that part of the City and told the story of an old friend of his, an African, who had trained as a Social Worker and his first placement was with a white family in Gorbals, he had been terrified but found it an incredible experience. Albie was delighted by the story of Nelson Mandela Place, hope we see him in Glasgow again soon.

The Scottish Poetry Slam final was well underway, when I finally headed off last night, it was jumping and sounded great fun, but I have 10 nights of this to go.....

Karen

I can hardly believe it, only 3 days to go until the start of Aye Write 2010 on Friday, 5th March.

I am really excited about this year’s festival because it is continuing to prove to be our most popular yet with nearly half of the events sold out already!  But no need to worry, there are still tickets available for some of the events!

Our opening event with Alain de Botton on 5th March is fast selling out but there are still a few tickets left so hurry if you don’t want to miss out on an event that is sure to be interesting and entertaining.  But if philosophy isn’t your thing then there are also limited tickets still available for the Joanna Trollope event also taking place on opening night!

A fan of Scottish fiction?  Then don’t miss local author Robert Douglas on the first Saturday afternoon as he discusses his novel Whose Turn for the Stairs?  Or why not join Aye Write favourite, Christopher Brookmyre, on Sunday 7th for a lively event about his latest novel, Pandaemonium.

Our series of Debate events are also proving very popular. Buy your tickets now if you want to take part in some in-depth discussion on some of today’s most topical, and sure to be, controversial topics –  we have tickets still available for The Future of Money; The Future of Globalisation; The Future of Scotland; The Future of Scottish Literature; The Future of Media and The Future of the Left.

And if it’s something for the kids you are looking for – don’t delay! We only have tickets left for two of our weekend family events – the David Lees Magic show on Saturday 6th or the Sticky Kids Sing-along on Sunday 13th March.

So make sure you don’t miss out on what’s sure to be a great festival!

Ticket sales on the first weekend have been amazing - more than three times as many as we achieved in the launch weekend last year. Germaine Greer, Sandy Toksvig and Carol Ann Duffy are leading the field, good for the women although Aardman (Wallace and Gromit) are catching up fast.

Really disappointed John Simpson has had to cancel, but he has been told he has to be in Baghdad to cover the election that day - not a bad excuse!

I can now reveal another stellar line-up of authors for this year’s festival!

 

Among the highlights will be a special preview event on Monday 1March when the poet laureate Carol Ann Duffy will read from some of her more recent work. Authors taking part range from Albie Sachs, the great South African jurist and humanitarian, to Germaine Greer, who looks back on 40 years of feminism.

 

Along the way, you’ll encounter among many others, Tariq Ali, Joanna Trollope, Michael Mansfield, William Boyd, John Simpson, Susie Orbach, Jasper Fforde, David Dimbleby and Sir Ian Blair to name just a few. In total, there will be more than 100 events included in Aye Write!

 

Louise Welsh’s new novel and a book examining Glasgow’s status as a great sporting city will be launched during Aye Write! There will also be two hours on the great work of Aardman Animations, the launch of our Summer Read programme and Aye Write! 2010 will include a number of themes including The Future of the Media, The Future of the Left, Globalisation and a major debate about the place of Scottish Literature in the school curriculum.

 

Pick up a free copy of the programme in this weekend’s Herald and Sunday Herald. Copies of the programme will also be available in libraries and other outlets from Monday 18 January. Tickets go on sale tomorrow morning – Saturday 16 January.

Things are moving quickly with all our planning for Aye Write! 2010 and while I still can’t reveal the full line up yet I can – as promised - give you a sneak preview of some of the big names that will be attending next year’s festival, which will take place between Friday 5th March & Saturday 13th March 2010.

I am delighted that Carol Ann Duffy, the current poet laureate will attend the 2010 Aye Write! for the first time. Other confirmed names include Joanna Trollope who will be discussing her new novel, The Other Family and John Simpson, the BBC World Affairs Editor who will be examining how the British press have impacted on the delivery of news over the past 100 years and how reporting has changed over this period.

Scottish musician Edwyn Collins, lead singer of Orange Juice and solo artist will also attend Aye Write! to talk about how he has come back from the devastating brain haemorrhages which he suffered in 2005. Having to re-learn how to speak, read, write and walk he will be discussing this traumatic life-changing journey with his partner Grace Maxwell and will also play some of his music.

I am delighted and honoured to welcome this diverse range of poets, writers, journalists and musicians to Aye Write! 2010. None of the above have ever previously attended the festival so I am particularly delighted to welcome them to Glasgow’s book festival for the first time.

Tickets for all events will go on sale on Saturday 16th January 2010 when I’ll be able to tell you more about the full programme at this year’s Aye Write!. Festival themes will focus on The Future of the Media; The Future of the Left; The Future of Globalisation and will also include a major debate about the place of Scottish literature in the school curriculum.

Keep watching this space for more updates on Aye Write! 2010 or follow us on Twitter and Facebook. I look forward to welcoming you back to the Mitchell for next year’s festival!

Karen Cunningham
Director of Aye Write! Glasgow’s Book Festival

 

PS Don’t forget tickets for all events will be on sale from 16th January 2010.

 

2010 Festival Blog

We are now well underway with our planning for Aye Write 2010. Next year’s festival will take place between Friday 5th March & Saturday 13th March 2010 and promises once again, to have the fantastic line-up of top authors and poets that you have come to expect!

I can’t reveal any details of our forthcoming author stars just yet but will give you a sneaky preview of some of our big names before the year is out!

As always the programme will celebrate the rich variety of writing we enjoy right here in Glasgow along with the best of Scottish and international writers. The festival will include a fascinating mix of fiction and non-fiction, poetry and prose, crime, comedy, politics and debate. Themes for 2010 will focus on the global financial crisis, Scottish and international law, science, Ireland and politics – in particular the “future of the left”.

Along with the usual mix of top author events, the festival will also include our award-winning free schools programme, weekend family events and a wide range of reading and creative writing workshops to ensure that there is something for everyone!

So watch this space for regular updates on Aye Write 2010 – I will be back soon to fill you in on all our plans!

I look forward to welcoming you back to the Mitchell for next year’s festival!

Karen Cunningham
Director of Aye Write! Glasgow’s Book Festival