26 May 2008

Literary festival launches

The Dundee Literary Festival 2008 has launched with an impressive programme, featuring more than twenty different authors.

Internationally renowned writers William Boyd, Ian Rankin and James Kelman are headlining the event, which runs from 19th to 22nd June. Tickets are all priced at £5 or less.

The festival, in its second year and sponsored by Apex Hotels, Miller Hendry and Borders, has doubled in size to four days and all events will be held at the University of Dundee’s New Teaching Block. Vivienne Westwood will be reading from her Manifesto, a social commentary on modern life.

Kate Muir from The Times will be talking about her new book, West Coast, while guerrilla gardener Richard Reynolds will be discussing how to garden in secret. On Saturday, hear mother and son writing dynasty, Robin and Rosamunde Pilcher in conversation.

Authors for children include Joan Lingard and Colin Bateman. New authors like Nicholas Hogg and Barrie Sherwood, Rodge Glass and Doug Johnstone will be discussing how they got their first novels out of the slush pile and into print.

Lovers of crime writing will be delighted by appearances by Sophie Hannah, who is the author of three incredibly successful books, and a panel discussion, Scottish Women and Crime, which will include Lin Anderson, Karen Campbell and Aline Templeton.

Each day of the festival, visitors can enjoy a sandwich while listening to poetry from writers such as Douglas Dunn, James Stewart, Peter Manson and Andrew Murray-Scott in Poem and a Piece

There are also workshops in writing screenplays for TV, creative writing and how to get published.

An international Comic Conference will take place on Sunday 22nd June, with a full afternoon of debate and discussion with leading artists and experts on the social and artistic importance of comics.

We take literature for children very seriously at the festival - this year the Dundee Literary Festival, together with Dundee Science Centre and the Leisure and Communities and Education Department of Dundee City Council, developed a programme for schools to encourage literacy in Dundee as well as an understanding of science. We're working with teachers to provide a fun way of getting children into books - and helping them stay that way.

Anna Day, Festival Director, said, "We are thrilled to have such a fantastic line-up for the second Dundee Literary Festival, we really do feel that there is an event here to suit every taste and every age group. We've worked very hard to make sure this is a festival that caters for Dundonians, as well as bringing tourists to the city. With tickets priced at £5 and under, we're hoping for some great audiences."

For more details, or to buy tickets, go to www.dundeeliteraryfest.org or call 01382 384768.

For media enquiries contact:
Anna Day
Press Office
University of Dundee
Nethergate Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384768
E-MAIL: a.c.day@dundee.ac.uk