Books, Talks, Poetry and Creative Writing Events.

hyndland bookshop inside

Books, talks and poetry events. Glasgow has everything on offer for lovers of literature, including major book festivals, book launches, poetry slams and spoken word open mics.

Plenty to choose from with events showcasing new talent as well as acclaimed writers and poets.

Events and New Books To Watch Out For

Aye Write 2021 – Helen McClory & Ruth Thomas

helen mcclory and ruth thomas

15 May, 2021 – 11.45 a.m.  – 12.45 p.m. Prize-winning Scottish Authors Helen McClory & Ruth Thomas chaired by Sara Davies Helen McClory’s first collection of stories, On the Edges of Vision, won the Saltire First Book of the Year. Her latest novel, Bitterhall is a story of obsession told between three unreliable narrators. In […]

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Aye Write 2021 – A City and a Family’s Story of Slavery

craig lamont

Friday 14 May, 2021 – 3.30 p.m. – 4.30 p.m. Craig Lamont & Alex Renton with Graham Campbell chaired by Naomi Shoba  Through the story of his own family’s history as slave and plantation owners, Alex Renton looks at how we owe it to the present to understand the legacy of the past. His book, […]

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Aye Write 2021 Creative Writing

chris dolan

Creative Writing Programme 24 – 29 May, 2021 In  collaboration with the University of Strathclyde: Centre for Lifelong Learning, University of Glasgow, Glasgow Caledonian University and the Gaelic Books Council. The programme offers you the chance to develop writing skills in many different forms including sessions on: writing for television with celebrated TV writer Ann Marie […]

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Joan Eardley Centenary – Writers Celebrate her work

all becomes art

Writers celebrate the work of Joan Eardley in this special event to mark her centenary and launch a new call for work for an anthology. 18 May, 2021 at 7.30 p.m. until 8.30 p.m. Online – Free – Register at Eventbrite About this Event “All becomes art, and as if she was incensed By the […]

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Woodlands Anti Racist Community Library Launch

anti racist library

Saturday, 1 May, 2021 – 11 a.m. until 1.30 p.m. Woodlands Community new Anti-Racist Community Library will officially open Satuday 1 May, 2021 in the Millennium Park. After this launch, the library will be located there fortnightly on Saturdays between 11am-1pm. Please come along for the in person launch and come check out a free […]

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Linda Jackson, The Cabinet launch of poetry collection

lilinda jackson photo

11 May, 2021 – 7pm to 8.30pm Free event – Book via Eventbrite. Linda Jackson is joined by guest poets Sheila Templeton, Aoife Lyall and Eveline Pye. Introduced by Professor Willy Maley About this Event Red Squirrel Press invites you to the Zoom launch of Linda Jackson’s poetry: The Cabinet. ‘This is my late mum’s […]

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Book Launch: America Mules poetry collection by Martina Evans

mules carcanet

Wednesday 21 April 2021 at 7 p.m. Join Carcanet Press to celebrate the launch of Martina Evans’s new poetry collection, American Mules. Hosting the reading will be fellow Carcanet poet Thomas McCarthy. The event will feature readings and discussion, and audience members will have the opportunity to ask their own questions. Also shown during the […]

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University of Glasgow; Full Day Symposium celebrating Creative Writing

creative writing spring symposium

Thursday, 22 April 2021 11 a.m. –4 p.m. A full-day symposium to celebrate the past, present and future of Creative Writing at the University of Glasgow About this Event Creative Writing at University of Glasgow is applying to become the Centre for Writing and Creative Practice. This Centre will consolidate its cross-disciplinary portfolio of research […]

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Balloch Open Mic Blog: ‘To whom it may concern –’

fsw anthology

A friend recently dropped in a new publication in which she was featured. The book, ‘‘To whom it may concern’ Arbroath Anthology, was a collection of letters of petition to commemorate the 700th Anniversary of the Declaration of Arbroath (April 6th 1320). The Federation of Writers Scotland, who produced this book, decided, as it states […]

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Mongrel: Donna Campbell debut poetry collection

mongrel donna campbell

‘Not only are these poems formally elegant, punchy, compassionate, witty and heart-breaking, but they have a self-honesty that is as hard to master in life as it is in poetry… Mongrel is a luminous addition to Scottish poetry.’  Tracey Patrick Following a particularly difficult time in her life, Donna, who is from Clydebank, has created […]

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World Book Night with Denise Mina

denise mina world book night

Zoe Strachan in conversation with author Denise Mina Creative Conversations Friday, 23 April, 2021 – 7 p.m.- 8p.m. Free – Register at Eventbrite About this Event Join Creative Conversations and East Ayrshire Libraries on World Book Night where Zoe Strachan will chat with author Denise Mina about her latest novel, The Less Dead. After a […]

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Celebrate Your Story – Workshop with Samina Chaudry

celebrating stories samina

Tuesday 4 May, 2021 2 p.m. –4.30 p.m. As part of this year’s Your Stories writing project, Scottish Book Trust is offering online workshops to help inspire you to write about Celebration. Sign Up for Samina Chaudry’s Workshop – Free Online Join Samina Chaudry, Next Chapter award winner, for a free online writing workshop on […]

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Open The Door Festival 2021 – Scottish Women’s Writing

open the door

Glasgow Women’s Library Thursday 20th May – Saturday 22nd May 2021 Online Scotland’s first ever festival for Scottish women’s writing returns for its fifth edition! This year inviting the world to Open the Door again, as Glasgow Women’s Library host the festival entirely online. Inspired by Glasgow’s long history of bold, creative women, the theme […]

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Aye Write 2021 – Pre-Festival Event

chris brookmyre denise mina louise welsh

Chris Brookmyre, Denise Mina and Louise Welsh 28 April, 2021 at 7 p.m. £5 – Purchase Online Also available through the Aye Write Pass This event will be live and will also be available to view for 3 weeks after the broadcast date. The Aye Write Digital Festival will run from 14 – 23 May.

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Wee Nature Fest – Islands of Abandonment

Saturday, 27 March, 2021 5 p.m. Cal Flyn’s stunning exploration of places across the world that have been abandoned by humans… Event by Wee Three Indies, The Edinburgh Bookshop  Atkinson-Pryce and Far From the Madding Crowd  Online event Free The Wee Three Indies #Wee Nature Fest continues with Cal Flyn’s stunning exploration of places across the world that have […]

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Sheena Blackhall – Meet the Author

A Bard’s Life – Sheena Blackhall Thursday, Mar 25, 2021 06:00 PM Rymour Books cordially invite you to join them for a Zoom launch of Sheena Blackhall’s ‘A Bard’s Life.’ Now available for order at Rymour Books @RymourBooks Meet the Author Tonight, Sheena Blackhall for the launch of ‘A Bard’s Life’  JOIN MEETING  Meeting ID: […]

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Slow Nature – Woodlands Community Booklet Launch

Event by Woodlands Community Tuesday, 6 April, 2021 –  7 p.m. Free Online As part of their Nature Recovery Project, Woodlands Community have produced this publication with local wildlife and conservation enthusiast, Katrina Caldwell. Join them on Tuesday 6th April 7-8pm to celebrate it’s launch and receive a copy. Woodlands have been focused on encouraging people […]

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A Year of Workers’ Stories

workers stories

24 March, 2021 – 6.30 p.m. Event by Workers’ Stories Project Online: Register at Eventbrite Price: free ‘Over the past twelve months the Workers’ Stories Project has collected and published the everyday experiences of workers across Scotland. ‘ COVID-19 and the resulting lockdowns have caused significant ruptures in our working lives. The impact has been seismic […]

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Douglas Stuart & Jackie Kay: Shuggie Bain

douglas stuart

Cambridge Literary Festival Friday 23 April, 2021 – 5 p.m. £6.00 – Single event ticket £35.00 – £50.00 – Festival Pass Book ticket Douglas Stuart discusses his heart-breaking Booker Prize winning novel with fellow Glaswegian and writer Jackie Kay. Douglas Stuart burst fully-formed onto the literary landscape with his astonishing masterpiece Shuggie Bain, the deserving winner of the 2020 Booker […]

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Creative Conversations: Lisa Robertson

Monday 22 March 2021, 1 p.m. In conversation with Elizabeth Reeder Hosted by Creative Writing College of Arts, University of Glasgow On Zoom – Register for Event  You will be sent the link to attend the meeting.  About Lisa Robertson Lisa Robertson is a poet and essayist whose books include XEclogue (1993); Debbie: An Epic (1997), nominated for a […]

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At Home Artist’s Talk: GOMA

GoMA at 25: Andy Goldsworthy in conversation with Martin Craig 31 MARCH, 2021 6 P.M. – 7 P.M. ONLINE REGISTER AT EVENTBRITE GoMA invites you to join artist Andy Goldsworthy in conversation with GoMA Curator, Martin Craig, as they discuss Goldsworthy’s original commission for GoMA, his works in the collection, and his practice today. Andy […]

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Balloch Open Mic: Multi-talented Moira McPartlin

(photograph: George Lammie) A friend recently passed on a book ‘The Incomers’ by Moira McPartlin. I had read it a couple of years ago but am now re-reading it. It reminded me of the time I first met Moira which I reveal below. She was due to headline an Open Mic event but… Hopefully she’ll […]

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Poetry – Rizwan Akhtar – jeton d’amour

jeton d’amour for Rebecca I am not after your extraordinary limbs and the way you cover paths beating my chase watered eyes and bruised hands were used to stop me from wasting words on your face out there in the bazaar I could have picked a bracelet an ivory ring glossy set of bangles you […]

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Wednesday, March 17, 2021 | Filed under: Books, Talks, Poetry and Creative Writing Events

Creative Conversations: Shola Von Reinhold

Monday 15 March 2021 1 p.m Creative Conversations Lunchtime Series hosted by Creative Writing College of Arts On Zoom Free Event – Book at Eventbrite You will be sent the link to attend the meeting. Shola von Reinhold is a Scottish socialite and writer. Shola has been published in the Cambridge Literary Review, The Stockholm Review, […]

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St Patrick’s Day Special: The Great Irish Songbook

Wednesday 17 March, 2021 7.30pm GMT From Celtic Connections 2020 Rounder Records recording artists Dervish present The Great Irish Songbook from 2020’s Celtic Connections, online internationally on St Patrick’s Day 2021. Buy tickets

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New Writers Showcase 2020 Scottish Book Trust

Wednesday 31 March 2021, 11.30am–3pm Discover some of Scotland’s best new writing on digital showcase Hear our Scottish Book Trust New Writers Awardees read their work On Twitter Premiere Use #WriterShowcase Judges Spotlighting some of the finest new writing talent emerging in the Scottish scene, the 2020 awards judges included Abir Mukherjee, Raman Mundair, Michael Pedersen, […]

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Creative Conversations: Kirstin Innes

kirstin innes

Monday 08 March 2021 1 – 2 p.m. Creative Conversations Lunchtime Series hosted by Creative Writing College of Arts, University of Glasgow  Kirstin Innes, Writer and Journalist in conversation with Zoe Strachan. Free on Zoom (When you register you will be sent link to attend the event online.) Kirstin Innes is an award-winning writer and […]

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Wild Women International Womens Day 2021

wild women magi gibson

Magi Gibson and Gerda Stevenson in Virtual Conversation Join poet Magi Gibson and fellow poet, playwright and actress Gerda Stevenson for this special ‘Wild Women’ event to mark International Women’s Day 2021 Inspired by IWD’s 2021 theme, #ChoosetoChallenge, Magi and Gerda will be reading from a selection of their works, as well as discussing what inspires […]

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International Women’s Day – Virtual Book Club

invisible women

8 March, 2021 6 p.m. We are glad to invite you to our first virtual book club for International Women’s Day. Caroline Criado Perez’ Invisible Women We will be discussion Parts II and IV (‘The Workplace’ and ‘Going to the Doctor’) of Caroline Criado Perez’s bestseller ‘Invisible Women’. Free Online Event Register for Event Join […]

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Balloch Open Mic – Interview with Billy Scobie

song of the river

People often have a strong connection with and a passion for one particular place. Some spend their whole lives in such a place and never feel the need to go elsewhere.  In my opinion such a man is Billy Scobie, as his poems reveal and confirm. Some time ago I interviewed Billy via email and […]

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song of the river

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