BOOKMARK Book Festival

Perthshire's Book Festival

Message from Gail Wylie

Billy Kay’s visit to BOOKMARK on Saturday 15th April at St Catharine’s was a terrific start to our 11th year of events. Scots: The Mither Tongue was an enthralling way to spend an afternoon as Billy, a popular and award-winning broadcaster and writer, and fan of BOOKMARK, not only reminded us of the richness of the Scots language but treated us to the first reading from his forthcoming memoir Born in Kyle. ‘The best lecture I’ve ever heard’ said aloud by one of our packed-out audience members which we certainly agreed with!


Billy’s talk underlined what BOOKMARK is all about – writers are for listening to, not just reading! 

The next event is the Ticket Launch at 2pm on July 29th in St Catharine’s. (We’re hoping that the popular writer Jenny Colgan will be our guest on that date.)  The full programme of 10 events for our Festival in October, this year on Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 October, will be revealed and Weekend and Day Pass tickets will be on sale at greatly reduced prices. This is always a popular event, so please buy your tickets in advance!

The 10 events offer a wide variety of authors, themes and presentations and they all have one thing in common – high-quality, entertaining, thought-provoking, engaging conversations. From panels to one-to-one discussions; readings and song; household names and new talent make BOOKMARK a book festival that more and more writers want to come to. Don Paterson, Liam McIlvanney, Rachel Joyce, Sally Magnusson, Magnus Linklater are just a few of our guests. Discussions about nature writing, memoir, crime novels, history and the diaries of a famous actor promise a wealth of interest! On-site catering, professional sound and lighting, comfortable seating make our audiences always want to come back and bring new friends with them.

If you want to buy books or talk about your own writing, Blairgowrie’s independent bookshop Adventure into Books will be there as will Dundee’s Nethergate Writers and Perthshire Writers – as well as independently published authors.

The winners of the Christine Findlay Prize, run for senior pupils at Blairgowrie High School, and the Book of the Year 2023 will be announced. (All six titles for the Book of the Year are available at Blairgowrie Library.)

Our hugely popular Authors in Schools programme will be happening in the Autumn too!

Tickets for the Launch can be bought from our 
Treasurer 01250 875613 or
Adventure into Books or
Perthshire Box Office. 

Book of the Year Award 2023 shortlist:

Paper Cup by Karen Campbell
Birnam Wood by Eleanor Catton
My Name is Yip by Paddy Crewe
Stone Blind by Natalie Haynes
The Second Sight of Zachary Cloudesley by Sean Lusk
Sell Us the Rope by Stephen May

For Kate's Books of the Month for May
please click 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 2023 Launch
Saturday 29 July

BOOKMARK 2023 Launch

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

With Jenny Colgan tbc

More info >>
All Upcoming Events >>

Find Out More:

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Events Calendar

Find out what we have planned for you in 2023 ...

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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 find out how to get involved.

more about us

Latest News

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Kate Davies' Book Selection for May 2023

I was asked recently to give some suggestions for books that might be suitable for an off-grid retreat. It’s a bit like the Desert Island...

blog photo
Kate Davies' Book Selection for April 2023

This month’s list of recommendations has its roots in March, when the Women’s Prize for Fiction Longlist 2023 was announced, and when storytelling work took...

Books of the Month

May 2023

A Poem for Everyday of the Year

A Poem for Everyday of the Year by Allie Esiri

Writing Landscapes by Linda Cracknell

Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe

Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift

The Circle by Dave Eggers

Sparrow by James Hynes

See Details >>

Testimonials

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.