Reports on Two Live Literature Events

First of all, I had a very good evening at the Linlithgow Book Festival last Saturday (4th November). You can read a fuller account of the festival at Tonguefire.

I began by hearing crime fiction writer, Alex Gray. She read a little from her new book, but talked for most of the session about how she writes, her research, and so on, which was very interesting. I don’t often have the time to read crime fiction, but it’s a genre I enjoy. Then there was the open mic, which was, quite honestly, one of the best open mics I’ve ever attended – some very good poems and prose. Afterwards, a few of us ended up in a Linlithgow bar. We sat at the table next to the band who treated us to Wild Mountain Thyme, The Jeely Piece Song etc at a volume just sufficient to guarantee that none of us could make out what anyone else was saying. Anyway, it was a very enjoyable evening from what appeared to be a highly successful festival.

Secondly, I can report that the readings (Patricia Ace, James W Wood, Colin Will, and AB Jackson) at the Great Grog yesterday evening were very good. I think it’s highly unlikely that anyone will ever forget being at this one! I was pleased that those attending their first ever live poetry event (and there were a few in that category) seemed really to like it. I didn’t get home until close on 2am, so stimulating was the post-gig discussion at The Standing Order, and I was up at 7am. Quite a way to end the 2008 Great Grog poetry season! A small break now until February when we’re back with a bang (Alan Gay, Jane McKie, Andrew Shields, and Tim Turnbull).