Plans for 2021 book fest

Next year’s Paisley Book Festival will take place in February with the theme, Radical New Futures.

The first- ever Paisley Book Festival took place in February this year, with appearances from Jackie Kay, John Byrne, Kirsty Wark, Janice Galloway, and the Fun Lovin ’Crime Writers.

Acclaimed writers from across the UK engaged local audiences in a love of reading and writing, and took part in a variety of events.

These ranged from discussion panels, master classes, and workshops to storytelling performances. Many of them sold out.

Thanks to Creative Scotland’s Sustaining Creative Development Fund, the festival is looking for a digital writer-in-residence to work with local communities and help the festival reach a wider audience.

Keira Brown, producer of Paisley Book Festival said: “We are so thankful for the support from Creative Scotland to allow us the opportunity to introduce this new programme.

“This is not only a great opportunity for a writer but one which the local community will also reap benefits from.

“Connecting to Paisley and its people, as well as our book festival theme Radical New Futures, will be a fantastic addition to the festival.”

The residency is open to all forms of writing including prose, poetry, playwriting, writing for children, and genre writing, as long as it is inspired and influenced by Paisley and the 2021 theme, Radical New Futures.

Writers must have a proven track record of publications with at least one book/ collection published as well as a history of community engagement and of delivering writing workshops.

The writer- in- residence will be contracted on a parttime basis for ten weeks from next month until March 2021.

They would be expected to be present at the Book Festival to host or chair events, which have been curated by them as part of their residency.

Deadline for submissions is Wednesday, October 14 at 5pm.

Full details of the residency can be found on paisleybookfest.com/writerinresidence/ The 2021 festival will run from Thursday, February 18 till Saturday, February 27, 2021.

The Paisley Book Festival is funded by Renfrewshire Council and delivered in partnership with Renfrewshire Leisure as part of Future Paisley.