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Second chapter opens for NessBookFest


By SPP Reporter


Bookfest committee
Bookfest committee

AFTER a successful fundraising campaign, NessBookFest is ready to return to Inverness for its second year from Thursday, October October 5 to 8.

The schools programme is already virtually booked up, but the organisers say there are plenty of spaces still available for its extensive public events.

“We are excited about putting the focus squarely on Inverness and its vibrant literary scene.

"It’s not about selling anything – just about celebrating our love of books, of reading and writing, and about giving the community ownership of their fantastic, no-barriers book festival," says organiser Aoife Lyall, a local poet.

‘Our hope is that many Highlanders, from Inverness or beyond, have a look at our extensive programme – it really does have something for everyone.

“Booking for the free tickets couldn’t be easier – simply fill a request form for the events you’d like at https://nessbookfest.wordpress.com/tickets

"Some of our events do not require tickets at all, for example the Waterstones NBF launch in the evening of Thursday, October 5 with The Other Mrs Walker author Mary Paulson Ellis."

"Crime fiction fans are going to love the macabre setting of the Crime and Taxidermy event in the museum, surrounded by taxidermy on all sides.

Helen author
Helen author

"And mums can opt for an entertaining evening of banter in the Victorian Market’s Little Teapot with Buy Buy Baby author Helen McKinven.

"The Tooth and Claw in Baron Taylor Street is the setting for an 80s disco retro trilogy set in Ayrshire on Saturday night.

"And writers and aspiring writers can take advantage of writing workshops and panel events".

Perhaps the most unusual venue is the Caledonian Thistle football stadium which will play host to poets reading from their football-themed anthology, published in collaboration with the Football Memories charity.

The event, free like all others, will include a tour of the stadium and members of the ICT team will be in attendance.

Many of the venues such as the Highland Print Studio, Velocity Café and Leakey’s have limited capacity, so people should book to avoid disappointment.

"We do anticipate tickets being available at the door, too," says outgoing chairperson and children’s author Barbara Henderson.

The NessBookFest committee launched a fundraising campaign after their initial main application for funding faile. ‘But we are almost there!’ Barbara said at the end of last week.

"There has been so much goodwill towards what we are trying to do and we have been successful in obtaining several thousand pounds from local and national funding pots, so I am confident we can raise the rest

" We only need another £500!

"Get behind us, Inverness! What we have here is quite special!"

You can follow @NessBookFest1 on Twitter, like the NessBookFest Facebook page and donate to https://www.gofundme.com/nessbookfest-2017. Businesses should email nessbookfest.2017@gmail.com for a sponsor’s package.

NessBookFest takes place in venues around Inverness from October 5 to 8.


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