Book festival back with a packed programme

Literature fans will assemble in the city when the 13th Off the Page book festival kicks off this weekend.

A wide-ranging programme of events hosted by Stirling’s Libraries will be running throughout the area for a week from Saturday (May 12).

On the opening day archaeologist Dr Murray Cook and Emily McCulloch will allow an audience to come face-to-face with Stirling’s oldest resident Torbrex Tam – who is more than 4000 years old. There will also be a Jungle Book Party at Bannockburn Library for those aged seven to 10. A team from Blair Drummond Safari Park will be on hand to talk about their animals.

On Monday Glasgow writer Meg Henderson will be at Bannockburn Library while journalist Lesley Riddoch will be at the Stirling Smith talking about her book ‘Blossom’ which looks at Scottish identity.

Poet, editor and prison tutor Em Strang will be at Doune Library on the same evening.

Novelist James Robertson – who grew up in Bridge of Allan – is among the highlights on a packed Tuesday.

His books include The Fanatic and Joseph Knight, and he will be at Dunblane Library.

Fiction writer Ross Sayers will be at St Ninians Library and author of the bestselling Dr Ruth Galloway novels, Elly Griffiths, will be at Bridge of Allan Library. Malachy Tallack, who this year publishes his first novel, will talk at Strathblane Village Club.

On the Wednesday Callander Library will be host to Stirling-based nature writer, journalist and poet Jim Crumley – author of more than 30 books. And award-winning author Alex Nye will take book fans on a journey through Scotland’s bloody past at Killin Library.

An ‘Off the Page’ showcase will take place at the Golden Lion Hotel on Thursday where Stirling Makar Clive Wright and author and publisher Laura Fyfe will welcome a host of top writers and folk singer and songwriter Bill Adair.

Paul Murdoch will also deliver a workshop on writing and imagination at St Ninians Library.

Alan Parks will be at Central Library on the Friday and on the final day – Saturday, May 19 – author Steven Cole will be at the Tolbooth.

Throughout the week there will also be a range of other events including workshops on journal writing and 3D printing, and tours of the Engine Shed and Bannockburn House.

For a full programme of events go to culturestirling.org.