Writers return to the scene of the crime
A Stirling crime writing festival is returning for a sixth outing - with a host of top events taking place around the town.
Bloody Scotland returns on the weekend of September 8 to 10 – with top authors from Scotland and further afield descending on the city.
The line-up for this year’s festival was revealed at the Golden Lion Hotel last Thursday - with Ian Rankin heading the bill.
The Rebus author will celebrate 30 years of arguably the genre’s greatest detective at a special event at the Albert Halls on the opening night of the festival.
He will also feature in the recording of a new podcast, with fellow Scottish stalwart Val McDermid also celebrating three decades in the industry at the Albert Halls on the Saturday. The Queen of Crime will reminisce about her stellar career as well as talking about her enthralling new book Insidious Intent which sees the return of the much-loved Tony Hill and Carol Jordan.
Lynda La Plante, creator of Prime Suspect, will close the festival on the Sunday night and will be talking about her legendary character DCI Jane Tennison.
Festival director Bob McDevitt said the programme was a balance of top Scottish and international authors.
“There is a real diversity to the programme, you are always trying to have the big names and other writers as well,” he said.
Local writers RJ Mitchell, Denzil Meyrick and Craig Robertson are also on the bill, alongside regulars such as Chris Brookmyre, Ann Cleeves and Denise Mina.
As in previous years, there will be lots of events with a difference such as a torchlit procession through the Top of the Town.
Following the gala opening of the festival at Stirling Castle and the naming of the McIlvanney prize for Scottish Crime Book of the Year on the Friday evening, the procession will make its way down to the Albert Halls.
The ever-popular ‘lock-in’ Crime at the Coo returns to the Curly Coo and Police Scotland’s Deputy Chief Constable Iain Livingstone will be questioning Alex Gray on her latest book Still Dark.
The Golden Lion will remain the social hub of the festival with a Waterstones bookshop, well stocked bar, the ballroom for events and green room . The Albert Halls will remain the largest venue with capacity for 700 but this year, due to popular demand, organisers have added another large venue between the two, the Allan Park South Church with seating for 120.
There continues to be a discount for local residents, tickets for the unemployed and this year there will be improved disabled access and a mini bus between venues for those that need it.
Speaking at the opening of the event, Stirling Provost Christine Simpson said the event is an important one for the city. “Bloody Scotland brings visitors from all over Scotland and further afield,” she said. “It is exactly the kind of event we want to see flourish in the city.”
Tickets are on sale now, and for more information visit www. bloodyscotland. com/events