BOOKMARK Book Festival
Perthshire's Book Festival
BOOKMARK 2024
Another successful BOOKMARK festival.
Hundreds of people enjoyed the 12th edition of the popular BOOKMARK festival at Blairgowrie Community Campus on 5 and 6 October.
11 events took place over the two days of the main Blairgowrie and Rattray book festival in a line-up that featured award-winning writers, household names and exciting new talent. Among those appearing at the festival this year were Sally Magnusson, Douglas Skelton, Karen Campbell, Mollie Hughes, Laura Shepherd-Robinson, James Jauncey, Billy Kay, SG MacLean, Chris Whitaker, D V Bishop, Karen Campbell, Chris Brookmyre and Marisa Haetzmann (Ambrose Parry), Natalie Russell, Mollie Hughes, Merryn Glover, Allan Radcliffe, Zoë Strachan, Louise Welsh, Jamie Jauncey and James Robertson.
The winner of the 2024 BOOKMARK Book of the Year award was announced as Clear by Carys Davies, while the winners of the Christine Findlay Prize for pupils at Blairgowrie High School were announced by Charlotte Stormont of Scone Palace as Erin McWilliam for her short story and Rowan Wightman for her illustration.
“What a weekend it’s been! “From the importance of illustration, adventures at the southern-most tip of the world, families through the generations, painstaking research, writing techniques and practices, and trauma, to art as escapism and a healing force, writing as therapy, telling the stories you’ve always wanted to tell and choosing your own endings in life, it’s been another thought-provoking, interesting and insightful BOOKMARK festival. Our audiences were very attentive and asked some very pertinent and probing questions of our writers, who all - without exception – were engaging, entertaining and so generous with their time. It was great to introduce new authors to BOOKMARK this year and to welcome back returning favourites."
The guest writers praised the event as well. Laura Shepherd-Robinson commented: “The only thing that can make Blairgowrie in October even more splendid is a load of great books and a great festival to showcase them and BOOKMARK delivers this.” Allan Radcliffe said: “I absolutely loved BOOKMARK, it’s brilliantly well organised. I love festivals that are run by volunteers as they have a real sense of ownership of the event that’s really infectious. Everyone at BOOKMARK was very professional and bent over backwards to facilitate the event and make everyone feel comfortable. The venue is stunning and I was pleased and relieved by how many people came along, how interested they were and the questions they had.” And Chris Whitaker said: “I have been all round America, the UK and Europe and BOOKMARK is my favourite book festival - and I’m not just saying that! I have been looking forward to this event for the whole year and it has been a highlight of the book tour. Everyone was so kind and generous and happy to see me which I really appreciated and I really hope to be able to come back again.”
"Thank you so much to all the wonderful writers and chairs for making it another year to remember, our amazing team of volunteers who work so hard to make it all happen, Adventure into Books, our sponsors including the Gannochy Trust and The Findlay Family; local businesses A Proctor Group Ltd, Castle Water and Hodge Solicitors LiP, the technical team from Perth Theatre and Concert Hall, Something Special Flowers, and of course to all our audiences for being so supportive, attentive and enthusiastic.
This chapter may have closed for BOOKMARK 2024, but we will be back on Saturday, November 16, at the St Catharine’s Centre for our last event of the year, a meet the author session with Philip Paris.
And of course, we’ll see you all again in 2025!”
Gail Wylie
BOOKMARK Chair
Philip Paris
will be discussing his compelling novel
The Last Witch of Scotland
with novelist
Zoë Venditozzie
from the
Witches of Scotland podcast
Tickets available from:
Treasurer Rhona Christie 01250 875613
rhona.maclean@yahoo.co.uk
Background:
BOOKMARK established in 2012, has developed a reputation for being a friendly, well organised Book Festival which offers a wide range of events to suit all interests.
Our Next Event:
Saturday 16 November
Meet the Author - Philip Paris
Location: St Catharine's Community Centre, Blairgowrie PH10 6EY
More info >>
.JPG?width=370&height=245&mode=crop)
.jpeg?width=100&height=100&mode=crop)
