The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)

Bookmark festival attracts literary stars to Perthshire town.

Crimewrite­rand Bake Off star among the attraction­s

- Jamie buchan jabuchan@thecourier.co.uk

Author Christophe­r Brookmyre and bakery queen Flora Shedden will be among the star attraction­s at a Perthshire book festival.

Bookmark has gone from strength to strength since its launch in 2013.

Now organisers have revealed their line-up for the 2017 festival, to be held at venues in Blairgowri­e in October.

The curtain will raise on Friday October 6 with a visit from acclaimed author Mr Brookmyre who shot to fame with his 1996 debut novel Quite Ugly One Morning.

He will be at the town’s community campus to discuss Want You Gone, the follow-up to 2016’s McIlvanney Prizewinne­r Black Widow, in which a journalist is blackmaile­d by a devious hacker.

Later in the evening, writer Rachel Crowther will introduce her new novel, Every Secret Thing, a tale of friendship, betrayal and second chances.

The festival continues on Saturday October 7 with a visit from former anti-sleaze MP Martin Bell.

The ex-broadcaste­r, one of the country’s best-known war reporters, will talk about his latest title, War And The Death Of News.

Bake Off star Flora Shedden will be along in the afternoon to discuss her first cookbook, Gatherings, and the imminent launch of her bakery in Dunkeld.

Other authors attending include Lin Anderson, Ron Butlin and former Home Secretary Alan Johnson, who will speak about his latest release, The Long And Winding Road.

The Blairgowri­e Players will bring the festival to a close the following afternoon with a performanc­e in the town hall.

Chairing this year’s festival will be Bookmark patron, award-winning broadcaste­r and Courier columnist Fiona Armstrong.

Tickets are now available for each event and a festival booking office will open nearer the time.

Perth and Kinross Council’s head of culture Fiona Robertson – who is spearheadi­ng the 2021 City of Culture bid – has praised the event.

“Over the years, the team behind Bookmark has worked tirelessly to build it up and make it a key feature of the Perth and Kinross events calendar.

“Since the first festival in 2013, Bookmark has become not just a lively exploratio­n of books and words, but a celebratio­n of what communitie­s can do by working together and bring something special to the local area.”

Details of bookings and times are on the Bookmark website at bit.ly/ZbF2Sf.

Since the first festival in 2013, Bookmark has become not just a lively exploratio­n of books and words, but a celebratio­n of what communitie­s can do by working together

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