Rebel yell: Book Week Scotland events announced in East Renfrewshire

Working with a wide range of partners, Scottish Book Trust will deliver events and activities during Book Week Scotland 2018, which runs from November 19 to 25, linked to this year’s theme of Rebel.

The programme for Scotland’s seventh national celebration of books and reading launched with a photocall of rebellious librarians held at Central Library, Edinburgh. Drag queen and Book Week Scotland ambassador, Nancy Clench, and bestselling author Claire Askew posed with copies of the Rebel book, which features a story from Nancy, as well as others submitted from the public.

During Book Week Scotland there are hundreds of free events taking place across many different local authorities, funded by Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC). In East Renfrewshire, there is a selection of interesting events for Book Week Scotland, including:

Braw Wee Book Café, November 20, 6:30pm - 8:00pm; Barrhead Foundry Library

Join book-loving staff as they share some amazing books, and in the spirit of the ‘Rebel’ theme, there will be some, well, rebellious choices! If you’re looking for something new and need some inspiration, then this mini-book cafe is perfect. A free event, please telephone 0141 580 1174 to book your slot and for further information.

More details here: Braw Wee Book Cafe

Cameron McNeish - There’s Always The Hills, November 21, 7:30pm - 8:30pm; Giffnock Library

Join author of There’s Always the Hills, Cameron McNeish, as he pays tribute to the wonders of Scotland’s Great Outdoors.

Cameron McNeish is an award-winning writer and television presenter whose fields of interest include mountaineering, hillwalking, backpacking, cycle touring, mountain biking and Scots and Irish traditional music. He is also an enthusiastic campervan man. For twenty years Cameron was editor of The Great Outdoors magazine and, before that, editor of Climber Magazine.

As a passionate mountaineer and hillwalker, Cameron has climbed and hiked extensively in Scotland, climbing Scotland’s 282 Munros three times! He also has considerable experience of climbing and backpacking overseas and has led treks in Nepal, India, Pakistan, Jordan, Morocco, Guatemala, Turkey and North America. Cameron is an experienced television and radio presenter whose successes include The Edge: 100 Years of Scottish Mountaineering; two series of Wilderness Walks; and The Adventure Show. He is a Vice President of Ramblers Scotland and Patron of Scottish Orienteering and Mountain Aid.

He has written many books on outdoor subjects and is recognised as one of the UK’s leading commentators on outdoor affairs. Tickets are £6. Please book online in advance or telephone 0141 577 4976.

More details here: Cameron McNeish

Marc Lambert, CEO of Scottish Book Trust, said: “We’re delighted to present another packed programme for Book Week Scotland, our national celebration of reading and writing. After listening to feedback, Scottish Book Trust is pleased to make 100,000 copies of the Rebel book available to the public. Many thanks to our partners and funders for making this programme possible, and we hope everyone joins us for Book Week Scotland, whether at a physical event, or by taking part in our Digital Festival.”

Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop said: “As a life-long and avid reader, I know that there’s no greater pleasure than losing yourself in the magic of a book. That’s why I welcome this fantastic launch of 2018 Book Week Scotland programme, a flagship event of Scotland’s culture sector celebrating books, reading and Scotland’s rich literary history and dedicated this year to exploring the theme of ‘Rebel’.

“For the seventh consecutive year, the Scottish Government is proud to support this incredible event, which stems from the Scottish Government’s commitment to literature and as part of our commitment to literature and ensuring more people can access and enjoy cultural activity more often.

“I congratulate Scottish Book Trust and the Scottish Library and Information Council for organising such a fantastic programme of events and activities throughout Scotland, which you can be a part of in your home, at school or college, in your local library or at work, as well as online. I encourage everyone in Scotland, especially during 2018 Book Week Scotland, to commit to finding some time to immerse themselves in the world of books.”

Erin McElhinney, Literature Officer, Creative Scotland, commented: “Scottish Book Trust have produced a programme that offers a whole host of routes into reading and writing, offering a cause to the rebel in all of us. It’s a week to celebrate new partnerships and connections, between organisations and the public, between digital and the book – and an invitation to challenge our own boundaries around reading.”

For more information about Book Week Scotland 2018 and how you can get involved, visit Book Week Scotland.