Tickets are now on sale for the St Duthac Book and Arts Festival which, for its second year, brings together local writers and guests such as BBC correspondent and broadcaster James Naughtie, award-winning writer from the Highlands Cal Flyn, writer and storyteller Jess Smith, Hamish MacDonald as the festival’s traveling poet and Paul Murton – writer, television producer and director – known for his television series Grand Tours.
From September 21-28, the festival brings together events for lovers of books, arts and heritage, including music, art and writers of fiction, poetry and non-fiction.
The festival will launch on September 21 at the pop-up bookshop returning this year to the Clan Ross room of the Royal Hotel, Tain.
The bookstore will remain open for the duration of the festival.
There are some unusual events happening this year, perhaps one of the most intriguing being Trial By Jury at Tain Sheriff Court on Saturday 24th September.
Writer Mark Bridgeman will present a real-life murder case in which the audience becomes the jury. After hearing the arguments of the prosecution and the defence, they will be asked to reflect on their verdict – will they send a man to the gallows? There’s a prize for the winner, the actual verdict will be revealed, and there’ll be a chance to ask the writer questions in a Q&A that will follow.
The worlds of crime from Scottish writers from the Caledonia Crime Collective will be revealed – i.e. GR Halliday, Andrew Greig, Allan Martin, JD Whitelaw, Emma Christie, Marion Todd and Deborah Masson.
There will also be an inside track for would-be writers from best-selling detective writer Margaret Kirk on how to succeed in the publishing world. Neil Lancaster, another crime writer from the Highlands, will talk about his Max Criagie series. Thurso’s vet, Guy Gordon, will talk about his book, following the Channel 5 series The Highland Vet, in which he features.
There are three events focusing on the poetry of Highland poets Aoife Lyall, Mandy Haggith and James Ross.
Some other activities and events include photo walks, learning horror stories, jumping and drumming at the amazing Drumfun for the kids, and chilling out with the City Jazz Quartet for an evening of fun.
On Monday there will also be a half-day event at the spectacular Balnagown Estate, featuring storyteller Bob Pegg.
The book and arts festival takes its name from the patron saint of Tain, St Duthac,
And it returns after last year’s first event to focus on Scotland’s oldest royal burgh, Tain and the surrounding communities, to celebrate their unique heritage and the contemporary artists and authors who live there.
The planned entertainment program will take the public on a journey across the peninsula, allowing people to immerse themselves in writing and speaking through author events, workshops, arts and heritage trails and the temporary bookstore.
For the full line-up and tickets on sale go to the website: stduthacbookfest.com You can also purchase tickets from the TDDT (Tain & District Development Trust) office in Tain.