Bob McDevitt, Aye Write! Programmer and Photographer

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Bob McDevitt, Aye Write! Programmer and Photographer

Bob McDevitt

(101 Men in Kilts, photography by Bob McDevitt)

Bob McDevitt is a Glasgow based photographer, who focuses on taking photographs of people including professional headshots, family portraits and weddings. Among his work you’re likely to see photographs relating to his other passions: the stage and books.

In his spare time Bob has acting in musical theatre but mainly, for over twenty years, he has been steeped in the world of books and literature. Despite gaining a degree in Biology and going on to train as a teacher, after graduating Bob started working at Waterstones in Edinburgh – immediately he was captivated by the world of literature.

He has worked both in publishing and book selling and when he moved to work at Waterstones in Glasgow he soon found himself responsible for events. Since then he has gone on to work as Festival Programmer at various prestigious literary festivals in Scotland including, Winter Words Festival at Pitlochry, Dundee Literary Festival and Aye Write! – Glasgow’s Book Festival.

ayewrite

Aye Write! Glasgow’s Book Festival 2016

Over the years Bob has been involved with Aye Write he carried out numerous different roles – supporting the steering group, participating as a panel member, chairing events also supporting events in his role as a publisher.

In 2015 he became Event Programmer at Aye Write!

Speaking about his appointment at that time Bob McDevitt said: “I am honoured and delighted to be given the opportunity to programme Aye Write! Over the last ten years I have relished my involvement in the festival, watching it flourish and seeing the audiences’ obvious enjoyment.

“Reading is a truly empowering experience that can fuel our imagination and our emotions. I am very much looking forward to growing the festival and featuring authors and events from a wide range of genres which I hope will appeal to as many people from across Glasgow as possible.”

Such was the success of the Festival in 2015 that Bob was asked to retain the post and he has been busy working with the steering group devising an exciting Aye Write! Festival for 2016. By including a wide variety of talks and events new audiences are attracted and the profile of reading raised. We can expect to see: ‘literary heroes and award-winning authors, ensuring the finest, most popular National and International authors come to the city.’ It also provides the perfect showcase for both established and budding Scottish writers.

If anything, Bob’s enthusiasm and vision for the book festival have increased. His knowledge of books, their authors and their impact is matched by a keen sense of Scottish culture and how literature feeds into this. The programme for this year’s festival is, as yet, under wraps but I’m getting the impression that there will be some very exciting strands.

In 2014 the Scottish Referendum saw the interest in politics among the population reach new heights and events included in the Aye Write!
Programme for 2016 reflect this. There will also be events highlighting debut books by new authors, when they will be paired with better known writers. Topics will be very diverse and will include music, memoir, poetry and science.

Venue choice has been given a considerable boost so apart from the wonderful Mitchell Library, events will also take place at Glasgow Royal Concert Hall – the new extension with its 550 seat capacity is ideal for accommodating performers that attract a large audience.

Once again this year children, families and school pupils can look forward to Wee Write, which will include a wide range of events for children throughout the city.

You can sign up for email updates at ayewrite.com – where the full programme and tickets will be available at the end of January, 2016.