Scotland’s first crime writing festival launched
Taking place in Stirling from 14 – 16th September 2012, the festival will incorporate an innovative mix of events cover forensics, ebooks, an investigation into the ethics of crime writing, and a major controversial debate: ‘This house believes it's time a crime novel won the Man Booker.’
Naturally there’s a Scottish slant to events – the pitch session for new writers will be presided over not by dragons but ‘nippy sweeties’, an all-female panel of editors and agents.
The festival will also celebrate three important landmarks in Scottish crime writing: the 125th anniversary of the publication of the first Sherlock Holmes story; the 35th anniversary of ‘Laidlaw’ as discussed by William McIlvanney; and the 25th anniversary of the birth of Rebus which will be celebrated by Ian Rankin as he gives the festival’s keynote address about the distinctiveness of Scottish crime writing and its relationship with international crime fiction.
The Festival kicks off with a day of masterclasses and workshops run by the University of Stirling, with headline speaker Ann Cleeves, author of the series now dramatised as ‘Vera’ on ITV.
Emma Turnbull at Creative Scotland says, “Bloody Scotland will be a welcome addition to the host of vibrant and diverse literature festivals we support across Scotland.”
For a full list of festivals and events taking place in Scotland this summer