Lanark writer is top of festival bill
Monday 8th March 2010
Alasdair Gray, a giant of Scottish and world literature, heads the bill for the second Clackswrite Writers' Festival, which takes place later this month.
Alasdair, who's most acclaimed work is the classic novel Lanark, will read from some of his work followed by a Q&A session. The event is free.
A writer and artist, he is currently working with renowned glass artist Siobhan Healy to create a large glass piece that will go on display in Alloa Library window as part of the Imagine Alloa project.
Councillor George Matchett, Portfolio Holder for Inclusion, said: "I'm delighted that the Clackswrite Writers' Festival is taking place again this year and has attracted a wealth of talent which should appeal to all ages and tastes. The talks and discussions are free to attend and I'm sure the event will prove to be popular."
The Writers' Festival opens on Friday 19th March with Alasdair's appearance at Alloa Library.
The festival, which was held for the first time in 2007, has been organised by Writer in Residence Tom Murray. It has grown from a one-day event to a weekend festival which will culminate with the premiere performance of Clax Youth Theatre's new play.
Another big name on the festival bill is Janet Paisley, who will hold a poetry workshop for both the beginner and the more experiences writer at Alloa Library on Saturday 20th March. Janet is an award winning poet, playwright and fiction writer who's latest work is the novel Warrior Daughter. There are limited places available at this workshop so book your place now by calling 01259 722262.
'Publishing: The future for publishers, writers and readers' will be presented by Sally Evans and Stuart Kelly at Alloa Library also on 20th March. They will discuss how the publishing and reading experience might change in the future, from the perspective of the publisher, writer and reader. This will be an open forum with discussion between the guest speakers and audience. Sally is well respected publisher and widely published poet and Stuart is literary editor for the Scotland on Sunday.
On Saturday evening Clax Youth Theatre present their new play 'Tangents' in D'Nisi Coffee House. Set in a fictional cafe 'Tangents'' is a series of interwoven stories that reflect the comings and goings of staff and young people in the cafe. The stories - both serious and comic - can connect with each other or stand alone.
The youth theatre will give a second performance in the same venue on the evening of Sunday 21st March. Tickets for the play, priced £3, are available by emailing alisonyoung@clacks.gov.uk or calling 01259 763940. Tickets are limited so book now.
The full programme for the Writers Festival is available at www.clacksweb.org.uk.
Notes to Editors
Writers biographies
Alastair Gray
Alasdair Gray is a writer and artist whose books are translated into many languages, while being studied in Scottish and foreign schools and Universities. Later this year shows of his paintings will be hung in the Talbot Rice Edinburgh University Gallery, and in the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art. He is delighted that Clackmannanshire's main library in Alloa has commissioned from Sioban Healey his stained glass panel about Scotland's international links and foundation, and will be happy to read there.
Janet Paisley
Janet Paisley is an award winning poet, playwright and fiction writer. She also writes non-fiction and screenplays. She writes in Scots and English She is the author of poetry collections Reading The Bones and Ye Cannae Win. Her latest work is the novel Warrior Daughter. Her work has been translated into many languages. This workshop will focus on poetry, and is suitable for the beginner and the more experienced writer.
Stuart Kelly
Stuart Kelly is literary editor for the Scotland on Sunday. He regularly reviews books and publishes articles on the contemporary writing in newspapers which include amongst others The Scotsman and The Daily Telegraph. He is the author of the highly original The Book Of Lost Books -- an account of all the books that have been lost to posterity. He is well qualified to comment on the future of publishing and how it might effect the reader and the writer.
Sally Evans
Sally Evans is well respected publisher and widely published poet. She runs Diehard Publishers and publishes and edits the broadsheet Poetry Scotland. She organises the highly successful annual Callander Poetry Weekend which attracts poets and visitors from all over the world. As a publisher, and a poet, she deals with the realities of publishing everyday and is well positioned to discuss where publishing might be heading.
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