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26 October 2011

Dundee Literary Festival - Friday, 28th October

Appearances by best-selling authors Alexander McCall Smith and Victoria Hislop are among the highlights of Friday's Dundee Literary Festival events.

The day’s opening chapter comes when Cynthia Rogerson and Jennie Erdal lead a session entitled, ‘Writing and Living’, which examines how to fit a writing career into a busy life, and how the day-to-day can provide inspiration to transfer to the literary world.

Science and poetry may appear to be unlikely bedfellows but Dawn Wood, a lecturer in Food and Consumer Studies at Abertay University and an award-winning poet, will explain why the two have a lot in common in ‘Coliding Forces’.

Meaghan Delahunt and Linda Cracknell will be discussing the genesis of their novels, poems and short stories, and how they create new worlds for their writing in ‘Where Does a Story Start?’.

Verse enthusiasts will have the chance to fill their stomachs and soul when the inaugural Makar of Edinburgh Stewart Conn shares a lunchtime ‘Poem and a Piece’ with his audience.

Kirsty Gunn, Professor of Creative Writing at the University of Dundee, will read from her newly published story The Wolf In The Road and discuss her writing and role at the University in ‘Story Hour’.

Sarah Gabriel will read from Eating Pomegranates, the harrowing, honest and award-winning memoir of her battle with cancer in ‘Surviving’, while ‘Grieving and Growing’ will see Simon Stephenson recount the heartbreaking loss of his brother Dominic in the 2004 Asian tsunami, an event which led to him writing his book Let Not the Waves of the Sea.

Victoria Hislop will read extracts from her new book, The Thread, as well as discussing her stories, life and elevation to literary superstardom following the publication of her debut novel, The Island, which has gone on to sell more than one million copies.

Alexander McCall Smith is of the world’s most prolific and best-selling novelists. He will discuss his latest works and the favourite characters he has created from Botswana, Edinburgh and Pimlico when he appears in conversation with local author Jamie Jauncey.

'With science, harrowing tales of the human experience, poetry, an insight into the mind of a writer seeking inspiration for a story, and two of the biggest names in contemporary literature, Friday is a hugely exciting day for the Festival,' said Anna Day, Director of Dundee Literary Festival.

'Book lovers can completely immerse themselves in a full day’s programme of literary events or dip in and out as they wish - with such a varied line-up there is always something on throughout the day.'

Now in its fifth year, the Dundee Literary Festival takes place between Monday, 24th and Sunday, 30th October. This year’s Festival sees some of the biggest names from the world of fiction, poetry, journalism and the publishing industry take part in a series of workshops, talks, book signings, and readings.

The full programme can be found at www.literarydundee.co.uk, and tickets are available from Literary Dundee, 5th floor, Tower Building, University of Dundee, tel 01382 384413. Tickets will also be available at Dundee Contemporary Arts and Overgate Shopping Centre.

Notes to editors:

The full programme of Dundee Literary events for Friday, 28th November are:

  • 9am (venue - Bonar Hall) - ‘Writing and Living’ with Cynthia Rogerson and Jennie Erdal. Tickets cost £3 and £2 for concessions.
  • 10am (Bonar Hall) - ‘Colliding Forces’ with Dawn Wood - The Scientific Poet. £3/£2.
  • 11am (Bonar Hall) - ‘Where Does A Story Start?’ with Meaghan Delahunt and Linda Cracknell. £3/£2.
  • 12noon (Bonar Hall) - ‘Poem and A Piece’ Stewart Conn. £5 including sandwich and hot drink.
  • 1pm (Bonar Hall) - ‘Story Hour’ with Kirsty Gunn. £3/£2.
  • 2pm (Bonar Hall) - ‘Surviving’ with Sarah Gabriel. £3/£2.
  • 4pm (Bonar Hall) - ‘Grieving and Growing’ with Simon Stephenson. £3/£2.
  • 5.30pm (Dalhousie Building) - ‘The Thread’ with Victoria Hislop. £5/£3.
  • 7pm (Dalhousie Building) - A Conversation with Alexander McCall Smith. Free admission.

For media enquiries contact:
Grant Hill
Press Officer
University of Dundee
Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384768
E-MAIL: g.hill@dundee.ac.uk
MOBILE: 07854 953277