BOOKMARK Book Festival

Perthshire's Book Festival

BOOKMARK 2025

BOOKMARK BOOK FESTIVAL 2025

 OCTOBER 4-5   Blairgowrie Community Campus

BOOKMARK’s  exciting 2025 Festival programme will be announced at our Ticket Launch on July 19 at 2 pm in St Catherine’s Hall, Blairgowrie. 

We’ll be joined by Carys Davies, author of Clear, our winning Book of the Year 2024, who will be talking to Suzanne Graham. 

As we enjoy our afternoon tea, our programme for October will be revealed. This year the focus is on authors and journalists who are either Scottish, or who have made Scotland their home. Our ten events, involving 12 authors with well-known interviewers, begin with a novel set close to home in Glen Clova and end with an acclaimed sports commentator taking us to world-wide arenas. In between, in a richly varied programme, we welcome favourite novelists, acclaimed journalists, intrepid war-zone reporters. We’ll hear fascinating stories about directing the Edinburgh Tattoo, becoming a new crime writer, how Scottish travellers shaped the world, past and present wars. 

The stage is enhanced by sound and lighting from Perth Theatre and Concert Hall and transformed by Something Special Flowers; Adventure into Books provides an exceptional bookshop; the winner of Sarah Cave’s Silver Bookmark, for Book of the Year 2025, will be announced. Catering is provided all day.

Join us for the big reveal on July 19 – AND take advantage of heavily discounted tickets (which are only available for a short time).

Tickets:
Phone: Treasurer 01250 875613
In person: Blairgowrie Library:  Adventure into Books
Online: Perthshire Box Office – www.perthshireboxoffice.com


BOOKMARK's BOOK OF THE YEAR 2025
all titles are available here

Kate Davies' book recommendations for June are here

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:

BOOKMARK 2025 Launch with Carys Davies
Saturday 19 July

BOOKMARK 2025 Launch with Carys Davies

Location: St Catharine's Community Centre, PH10 6EY

More info >>
All Upcoming Events >>
And, for your next new read >>

Find Out More:

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Events Calendar

Find out what we have planned for you in 2025 ...

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Authors

BOOKMARK has, right from the start, attracted important writers. Look who has been with us!

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Committee

Our Committee and Volunteers

more about us

Latest News

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North Sea Poets

Interested in reading or writing poetry? North Sea Poets is an exciting new online resource which offers classes by our leading poets who live in...

blog photo
2025 - February - Poetry Chapter

Each month, BOOKMARK visits two Blairgowrie Care Homes to read some poems aloud (and sometimes a resident will join in by reciting the poem by...

Books of the Month

July 2025

The Safekeep

The Safekeep by Yael Van Der Wouden

Heart Lamp by Banu Mushtaq

My Friends by Fredrik Backman

Carnival of Lies by D V Bishop

The Death of Shame by Ambrose Parry

Skirly Crag by Helen Percy

The Sound of Many Waters: A Journey along the River Tay by Robin A Crawford

See Details >>

Testimonials

author photo Sir Alexander McCall Smith Author

Quote

Having just done an event for BOOKMARK in anticipation of the festival, I can thoroughly recommend this celebration of books and all that they mean. Do try to get along to some of the BOOKMARK events – you will have a most enjoyable time.

author photo Caroline Milligan

BOOKMARK 2022 - It was lovely to be back in Blairgowrie and at the festival again, and great to have another opportunity to see Jock's Jocks.  Well done on another hugely successful festival to you and your brilliant team... all the best Caroline. P.s - I bought the new Andrew Greig from the festival bookshop and was pleased to see it came out top in your festival books.



author photo Christopher Brookmyre

BOOKMARK 2022 - Many thanks for inviting me back. Marisa and I had a lovely time, and the audience were gratifyingly warm and appreciative. Chris

author photo Clare Hunter

BOOKMARK 2022 - Can I thank you and the Bookmark team for such an enjoyable afternoon with lovely hospitality and the delightful surprise of a goodie bag stuffed with such thoughtful thank yous. So, thank you all. Kind Regards Clare

author photo Lin Anderson

BOOKMARK 2022 - Hi Ladies, I wanted to say a big thank you for a wonderful weekend. It's such a pleasure to take part. So wonderfully organised and friendly...a joy. As you heard from Chris...not all festivals are like this!!! Many thanks again. Lin

author photo Maurice Millar

Dear Gail,  This is just a short note to thank you for offering me the opportunity to display my book at the Bookmark Festival this weekend... Thanks again.  Maurice

author photo Olga Wojtas

BOOKMARK 2022 - Thank you for a terrific Book Festival! All the sessions were brilliant, and it was incredible to have such variety. I didn't look in the goodie bag until I got home, and am stunned and delighted with all the wonderful contents, in particular the raspberry jam and the personalised bookmark!Hope Team BookmarkBlair manages to get some relaxation now, and we're looking forward to seeing you next year, Olga and Alistair

author photo Chris Whitaker

Message from Chris Whittaker - August 2022

It was only his second visit to Scotland and he loved his short time with us! 150 talks/chats about We Begin… and Gail, BOOKMARK Chair, managed to ask him a question he’d never been asked before!
'Thank you so much for having me, I’m already missing Blairgowrie!'

author photo Joshua Rozenberg QC and Mungo Bovey

Thank you so much. I'm now back in London, which seems very grey in comparison — though it is evening, I suppose. I had a lovely day out and enjoyed it all. Thank you for persevering with me and for looking after me so well. - JR


Thank you ...  It was a pleasure to meet you today and take part in your event which I thought was excellent. - MB

author photo Literary Lunch Attendees

Thanks to all who organised this excellent event! What a success! Insightful and engaging guest speaker and thoughtful introduction, interviewer and vote of thanks.  Quality food, stunning scenery, great company. 
Please can we have some more events like this - wonderful venue, meal, speakers and company.  Thank you.

author photo BOOKMARK attendee from Aberdeenshire

I love the Blairgowrie Book Festival. So glad it's taking place this year.

author photo Merryn Glover Author

Of Stone and Sky

An inspired move by this small but perfectly formed literary festival. 

https://twitter.com/merrynglover/status/1395467883661123586?s=11


author photo On-line Event with Richard Frazer & Olga Wojtas

Here are some of the wonderful remarks that attendees said at the end of the session:

Thank you to all those who have made this a lovely hour.

Thank you Richard for a great interpretation of your book and the modern meaning of pilgrimage.

author photo C J Schüler C J Schüler

Message from C J Schüler - October 2020

I have just received the beautiful bookmark, your lovely card and your kind words about the book. Many, many thanks. That feels like a win in itself.   Hope to see you in Blairgowrie next year...

author photo Rachel Joyce Rachel Joyce

Message received from Rachel - October 2020

'What a wonderful boost this award has been for me.'  
Read more: https://www.facebook.com/230422897014589/posts/3454929907897189/?extid=0&d=n


author photo Ali Smith Author

Message received, by postcard, from Ali 2020

BOOKMARK was my favourite Festival.

author photo Olga Wojtas Author

Interviewed in 2020

I always love coming to BOOKMARK as the atmosphere is so friendly and encouraging. I think Gail Wylie is an inspiration and what she and the committee have done here with BOOKMARK is fantastic. This is one of the best book festivals in the country and has really put Blairgowrie on the map.

author photo Gerda Stevenson actor/ writer/ director/singer-songwriter

Interviewed in 2019

I love the welcome that the excellent, professional BOOKMARK team of wonderful women gives to its authors and its ability to always bring together a terrific audience – really very special.

author photo Ken Cox Patron

Interviewed in 2019

Very well done on the programming and organisation of the Festival. Most impressive again and getting Nicola Sturgeon to interview Ali Smith was a triumph. Proud to be associated with BOOKMARK.

author photo Dean Nelson Journalist

Interviewed in 2019

I would like to thank you for inviting me and for making Pamela and I so welcome…We had a wonderful time…BOOKMARK is a wonderful festival and if you ever need someone to chair a session or help in any way, I’d be delighted.