RebusFest has author Rankin ‘terrified’

Ian Rankin says he’s “terrified” about his RebusFest which starts at the end of next week.

Organised to celebrate 30 years since the first appearance of his Edinburgh detective John Rebus, events will be staged across the city over three days.

But with fans flying in from all over the world, Ian has told The Sunday Post of his anxieties.

“The books have been translated into more than 30 languages and I know of fans from many countries who are coming,” said Ian, 57.

“It’s terrifying because I’m going to be on the ground the whole weekend and if things aren’t going to plan, it’ll be me that gets pelters.

“At the moment I’m thinking ‘What could possibly go wrong? What’s the worst case scenario?’

“I’m one of life’s worriers, but hopefully everything will go right and everybody will have a good time.”

RebusFest takes place in the capital from Friday, June 30 to Sunday, July 2.

Among the events are a Q&A session between Ian and real-life police, a whisky tasting at the Caledonian Hotel and Rebus walks, which sold out within days.

Ian is also compiling scores of questions for a Rebus quiz he will host alongside comedian Phil Jupitus.

And, like most of the events, he will be on hand for a special music night which Ian has admitted is likely to be an emotional affair.

“The support act is a guy called Michael Weston King who’ll be doing a solo acoustic set,” said Ian.

“He worked in the past with a friend of mine called Jackie Leven who died a few years ago.”

He added: “When I started writing the Rebus comeback books it was just after Jackie died and I named the first two after lines in Jackie’s songs.”

Ian Rankin.