BOOK Week Scotland kicks off today, marking the 10th anniversary of the country-wide celebration of reading and writing.
Scottish Book Trust, the national charity that runs Book Week, says it has worked closely with partners to provide both online and in-person events centred around this year’s theme of “celebration”, including an interactive reading map to reveal the nation’s reading habits.
Philippa Cochrane, head of reading communities at Scottish Book Trust, said: “It is exciting to be celebrating the 10th Book Week Scotland. Over the last decade it has grown to become a joyful, inclusive week in Scotland’s book calendar.
“Once again Book Week Scotland is delivered with fantastic partners – libraries, community organisations, charities, schools and many more – across the country and offers a riotous collection of events and activities.
“We hope everyone in Scotland feels welcomed to the party and celebrates Book Week Scotland’s 10th anniversary by reading, gifting, discussing and celebrating the books they love.”
The new Reading Map of Scotland, designed to capture and share what the nation is reading now, went live today. Members of the public are encouraged to plot their location and current book of choice on the interactive map via Scottish Book Trust’s website.
Book Week Scotland will also launch #ILoveMyLibrary, a week-long social media campaign in support of libraries, encouraging the public to join in and share their memories of their favourite or local library.
Top authors in Scotland will also take part, celebrating the library they treasure most. The memories and anecdotes will be displayed on a dedicated social wall on Scottish Book Trust’s website.
For music lovers, there’s the opportunity to create a playlist poem using song titles. Poet Nadine Aisha Jassat and author Harry Josephine Giles have contributed their own #BookWeekScotlandPlaylistPoem.
Some 50,000 free copies of a new book, Celebration, which includes real-life stories from people around the country, will be available from libraries and other community venues during the week. It includes 22 stories selected by a panel, plus commissioned pieces from Courtney Stoddart, Elle McNicoll, Eoghan Stewart, Mòrag Law and Ross Sayers.
Denise Mina kicks off the celebrations today at Glasgow Women’s Library, where she filmed a new documentary: The Women Writers of Garnethill with tour guide Melody House. The film explores the contribution women writers have made to the area, and the city of Glasgow. It will premiere on YouTube at 12.30pm.
Tonight, a star-studded line-up will take part in a downloadable role-playing game written by visual artist Adrian Barber. It will include Marvel comic writer Kieron Gillen, bestselling author Val McDermid, DC Comics writer Ram V, Marvel comic writer and bestselling novelist Marjorie Liu, and award-winning comic artist and author Hari Conner.
On Wednesday, Book Week Scotland will premiere a new documentary with former Makar Jackie Kay on her first novel, Trumpet. The film will offer exclusive insight to the inspiration and writing of the bestselling book.
On Thursday evening, the Damian Barr Literary Salon will team up with Book Week Scotland for an event starring Baggage author Alan Cumming in conversation with Damian Barr, and poetry performances from the ascendant talents of Lennie Pennie and Courtney Stoddart.
The full programme can be found at www.scottishbooktrust.com/book-week-scotland/events
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