This year’s festival, which runs from in Stirling from September 20th-22nd, will include David Baldacci, Denise Mina, Ian Rankin, Shari Lapena and debut author, straight from Pointless, Richard Osman.
The London launch will be in Scotland House at 6.30pm tomorrow evening (Tuesday 4th June), hosted by bestselling author and Bloody Scotland director Abir Mukherjee.
Torchlight Procession and Harley Davidsons
Bloody Scotland has been praised for going beyond the usual remit of a literary festival to create a fringe featuring football, a torchlit procession, a cabaret, a podcast, a quiz and this year will also include a ‘Killer Ceilidh’; a procession of Harley Davidson riders; a play at the Sheriff Court which will allow the audience to vote on the verdict of a real murder trial and a screening of classic crime films from The 39 Steps to Reichenbach Falls, introduced by Ian Rankin.
The aim is to give the authors a unique experience and makes the weekend more appealing to those who might not normally go to a book festival. There continues to be a discount for local residents, tickets for the unemployed and improved disabled access, with a mini bus between venues for those that need it.
Gala opening
The gala opening on Friday 20 September will once again feature the announcement of the winner of the McIlvanney Prize for the Scottish Crime Novel of the Year and will also reveal the first winner of the new prize for Scottish crime fiction debut. The winners will join one of the world’s leading thriller writers, David Baldacci, at the head of the annual torchlight procession down to the Albert Halls.
Highlights include:
- Ian Rankin.
- Alexander McCall Smith.
- Denise Mina and Louise Welsh.
- Icelandic queen of crime Yrsa Sigurdardottir.
- Mark Billingham.
- Richard Osman, from Pointless, who has just signed a much publicised seven-figure deal for his first crime novel The Thursday Murder Club.
Non-fiction writers attending the festival are Alice Vinten (police constable in the Met) appearing with Mim Skinner (insight into the experiences of women in prison); former prison governor Dr David Wilson and forensic scientist Professor Angela Gallop, whose book details her high profile work on cases such as Damilola Taylor, Stephen Lawrence and Rachel Nickell).
International cast of characters
Convenor of Stirling Council’s Community Planning and Regeneration Committee, Cllr Chris Kane, said: “Bloody Scotland has grown into one of Stirling’s most loved events and presents a terrific mix of our best loved and brand-new writers. It has become a key fixture in our ever-growing events calendar and the 2019 festival will again offer a truly international cast of characters, with authors travelling to Stirling from North America, Central America, Asia and Europe.
"The programme offers something for everyone, going beyond the usual remit of a literary festival. There is always a tremendous reaction from audiences and we have worked closely with Bloody Scotland organisers to bring a real sense of the festival to all of Stirling.”
Val McDermid said: “The secret of Bloody Scotland's success is that everyone's a winner. There are rewards for readers and writers alike. For the audience, there's everything from panel discussions to the most incoherent football match in the country, from the spectacle of a torchlit procession through the streets of Stirling to convivial conversations that go on long into the night.
"And for writers, there are showcases for emerging authors, opportunities to perform before a generous and well-informed audience, and the thrill of the McIlvanney Prize. It's a dizzying weekend of pleasure. Nobody leaves Bloody Scotland without their head birling like a peerie.”
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