John Dean – Crime Writer

One of the key features of an event like the forthcoming Kirkcudbright Book Festival is the opportunities it affords for audiences to experience local voices. Yes, festivals provide a chance for local readers to hear readings from big name writers (this year those names include political commentator Michael Crick and romantic comedy novelist Fiona Gibson with 1.5 million sales worldwide) but there is plenty of local talent as well, and that is certainly true of Kirkcudbright.

This year, the first local authors to take a bow are children’s writers Jayne Baldwin and Alan McClure, who will entertain nursery and primary schoolchildren at the town’s library as part of the free events running to mark World Book Day on Thursday March 7, with its focus on young readers.

Janye will perform at 10am and at 2pm poet, musician and children’s author Alan McClure, pictured here, will explore  how nature and landscape can provide inspiration for tales and songs, supported by readings from his Kelpies-Prize shortlisted novel Callum and the Mountain and its sequel, Callum and the Other.

More local voices will be heard on the morning of Friday March 6, when the first anthology will be launched by Kirkcudbright poetry group Hexameter, which comprises poets Robin Leiper, Alexandra Monlaur, John Priestley, Peter Roberts, David Mark Williams and Annie Wright.

Local voices can be heard on the morning of Saturday March 7, day three of the four-day festival, which will see the Three Scribblers appear, chaired by LP Mennock, a crime writer and founder of Moffat Writers. The Three Scribblers include crime writer Ann Bloxwich, who lives in Dumfries and Galloway. She will be accompanied by fantasy writer Sarah Burchett Cook and horror writer Iain Alexander.

Echoes of Galloway sees local writing group Stewartry Writers appearing on the final morning of the festival, Sunday March 8, reading a selection of their recent writings.

Providing yet another local voice is May Rinaldi, an award-winning crime writer from Dumfries, talking about her latest book, Liar Talk, and appearing alongside fellow crime writer Samantha Dooey-Miles, on Sunday afternoon.

Local voices will, appropriately, bring down the curtain on the festival on the last night, Sunday March 8, when musicians Susi Briggs and Adam Blake will perform. Susi was born in Dumfries and will appear alongside Adam, a guitarist and singer-songwriter who moved to Scotland in 2019 from London. He’s a regular busker in Dumfries and Castle Douglas.

You can find out more, including how to book a place, at http://www.kbtbookfestival.org