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

Mischief Makar at Eastwood Park Theatre

mischief makar

Saturday, 30 August, 2025, 7.30 p.m. Eastwood Park Theatre and Gallery, Rouken Glen Road, Giffnock, Glasgow G46 6UG The final scheduled performance of Kevin P. Gilday’s Mischief Makar – your last chance to catch this crowd-pleasing show in the Southside of Glasgow. Buy tickets Bringing together brand-new pieces and greatest hits from his back catalogue, […]

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The U.K., Gaza and the Media – In conversation with Peter Oborne

uk gaza and the media

Wednesday 15 October, 2025 The Stand Comedy Club Glasgow, 420 Great Western Road, , Glasgow, G4 9HZ Join leading political journalist Peter Oborne as he discusses his explosive new book Complicit, in conversation with The National editor Laura Webster. Oborne’s forensic new work lays bare the extent of the UK political and media establishment’s complicitly […]

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Book Launch: The Dead and the Dying, Lin Anderson

the dead and the dying

Thursday 21 August, 2025, 7.00 p.m. Waterstones Byres Road, 351-355 Byres Rd, Glasgow West End G12 8AU Scottish crime writing supremo Lin Anderson will be at  Waterstones Byres Road as she launches her latest Rhona Macleod thriller, The Dead and the Dying. Forensic scientist Rhona Macleod – herself a West Ender – is one of […]

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Govanhill Book Festival 2025

govanhill book festival

8 & 9 August, 2025 Come along to Govanhill Book Festival and hear from writers near and far! Launch Event – Nicola Sturgeon in Conversation Queen’s Park Parish Church, 170 Queen’s Drive, G42 8QZ Friday 8 August, 6 p.m. Ahead of the official launch of her memoir ‘Frankly’, local MSP and former First Minister Nicola […]

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The Fringe: Palestine at Govanhill Book Festival

palestine writers at govanhill book festival

Saturday 9 August, 2025, 4 p.m. Queen’s Park Govanhill Parish Church, 170 Queens Drive, Glasgow, G42 8QZ A RARE CHANCE TO HEAR PALESTINIAN AUTHORS IN PERSON! Tickets Welcome to the Fringe: Palestine presents a showcase of some of the most exciting writing coming out of Palestine today. With Palestinian poets, novelists and storytellers joining us […]

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The Irish in Duntocher talk by Florence Boyle

12 August, 2025, 7 p.m. – 9 p.m. By local historian Florence Boyle Duntocher Hall, New Street, Duntocher G81 6DF Come along and find out about ‘The Irish in Duntocher’. Talk by local historian Florence Boyle. Free entry. More by Florence Boyle (Walk from Erskine Ferry to Bowling, Florence Boyle, (2023) – with fascinating historical […]

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Willy Maley – Book Launch: Scrap Mettle at Avant Garde

scrap metal launch

Tuesday 26 August, 2025, 7 p.m. Avant Garde Music Bar and Restaurant, 33 – 43 King Street, G1 5 QT Willy Maley will launch book of poetry – Scrap Mettle Guests Alan Riach, Alison Irvine and Rodge Glass Music: Linda Jaxon Trio Free admission Scrap Mettle ‘Great writers are great no matter the genre or […]

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Saturday, July 26, 2025 | Filed under: Books, Talks, Poetry and Creative Writing Events

My Beautiful Laundrette and Desi Queers Book Launch

31 July, 2025, 8 p.m. Come along to GFT for the launch of Desi Queers, a landmark book on South Asian queer communities in Britain and how they have helped to shape LGBTQ+ movements since the 1970s, written by Churnjeet Mahn, Rohit K. Dasgupta and DJ Ritu. The book launch will be accompanied by a […]

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Poetry Lunch with Len Pennie

len pennie milngavie

Friday, 26 September, 2025 – 12.30 p.m. — 2.30 p.m. Andiamo Milngavie  1 Glasgow Road, G62 6AQ ‘Pinch us – are we dreaming?!’ No, it’s true the wonderful, acclaimed poet Len Pennie will be at Andiamo in Milngavie for a lunch of tasty Italian treats and “poyums annaw”! A formidable follow up to her award-winning […]

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Monday, July 14, 2025 | Filed under: Books, Talks, Poetry and Creative Writing Events

Book Launch: The Good Father – Liam McIlvanney

the good father tour

A stunning psychological thriller by the award winning writer. ‘Heart-stopping and heart-rending, this is Liam McIlvanney’s best novel yet’ VAL MCDERMID Liam is on tour launching The Good Father.  You can catch him at various Scottish locations right up to Bute Noir 1 – 3 August. The Good Father is available to buy at Waterstones and […]

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Friday, July 11, 2025 | Filed under: Books, Talks, Poetry and Creative Writing Events

Book Launch:’She Wakes Me Up” – Willy Maley

willy maley she wakes me up

Thursday, 24 July, 2025, 7 p.m. Waterstones, 351 – 355 Byres Road, Glasgow G12 8AU Launch of Willy Maley’s first book of poetry. Free entry Book a spot – Phone 0141 357 4759 or Email

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Coorie Club #003, Scottish Writers Centre

Coorie in

1 July, 2025, 7 p.m. Scottish Writers Centre, Clubroom, CCA, 350 Sauchhall Street, Glasgow G2 3JD Come along to SWC’s Coorie Club! A relaxed social session offering gentle encouragement, a compassionate environment and peer support for writers. Whether you are “sick of sittin’ ’round here tryin’ to write this book,” seeking out advice, looking to […]

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The Future is Now – Poetry Workshop with Tom Murray

The Future is Now with Tom Murray

Thursday 19 June, 2025, 7 p.m. – 9 p.m. Creative Lab, CCA, 350 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow G2 3JD By Scottish Writers Centre Join poet Tom Murray in a workshop that explores how we live today in the age of technology, and how it affects our work and life. Is it a good thing, or bad, […]

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Joint Book Launch: Stephen Watt and Spencer Mason

stephen watt spencer mason book launch

Tuesday 1 July, 2025, 7 p.m. Avant Garde, 34-44 King St, Glasgow G1 5QT Seahorse Publications is pleased to launch collections of poetry by Stephen Watt and Spencer Mason. With music provided by the Linda Jaxson Trio and open mic opportunities, this promises to be an exciting, dark, and curious evening of macabre wit and […]

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Monday, June 16, 2025 | Filed under: Books, Talks, Poetry and Creative Writing Events

Breaking the Cycle: Escaping Diet Culture, Embracing Food Freedom – Luisa Mannering

breaking the cycle by luisa mannering

Breaking the Cycle is a deeply personal exploration of Luisa Mannering’s experience growing up immersed in diet culture and the lasting effects this had on her. In her book she shines a light on the powerful influence of diet culture and the beauty industry, revealing how their messages, both blatant and subtle, shape our relationships […]

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Love Loss Data – Lacunas Music Society

Love Loss Data Lacunas Music Society

Thursday, 26 June, 2025, 8 p.m. Cottiers, 93 – 95 Hyndland Street, Glasgow G11 5PU Beautiful songs and evocative music, complemented with spoken word and arresting visuals, love loss data is presented by Lacunas Music Society. Part of WestFest Actress Blythe Duff – best known for her role as Jackie Reid in the long running crime show Taggart – […]

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Liam McIlvanney, The Good Father – Aye Write 2025

the good father

Thursday 31 July, 2025, 6.30 p.m. The Mitchell Library, North Street, Glasgow G3 7DN The Long Shadow of Scottish Gothic: Liam McIlvanney Aye Write ‘s first event of 2025, welcoming award winning crime author Liam McIlvanney in conversation with Scottish literature expert Dr Valentina Bold. A unique discussion of Scottish Gothic inspired by Liam’s new […]

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Margaret Macdonald and Charles Rennie Mackintosh: Partners in Life and Art?

partners in art hunterian

The Hunterian Art Gallery, University of Glasgow, 82 Hillhead Street Glasgow G12 8QQ Thursday, 5 June, 2025, 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. A talk by curator Joseph Sharples, which will consider the extent of the couple’s artistic relationship. Followed by a Q&A. Tickets “In all my architectural efforts you have been half if not threequarters […]

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Professor Gordon Gibb Talk on Fires at the Mack

gsa story gordon gibb

Monday 2 June, 2025, 7 p.m. Kelvinside Hillhead Parish Church, Saltoun Street/Observatory Road, Glasgow G12 Professor Gordon Gibb, a former student and lecturer in architecture at Glasgow School of Art, shares his insight into the fires that led to the loss of “the Mack”, Charles Rennie Mackintosh’s masterwork. Fascinating insight into one of the nations’s […]

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Wednesday, May 28, 2025 | Filed under: Books, Talks, Poetry and Creative Writing Events

Charity Book Launch for Elephant by Gillian Shirreffs

Saturday, 14 June, 2025, 12 noon – 2 p.m. Fundraiser for Beatson Cancer Charity. Hosted by Laura Boyd (reporter for STV News) with special musical guest, Matt Hickman (Brownbear) Glasgow University Union, 32 University Avenue Glasgow G12 8LX Fundraising book launch in aid of Beatson Cancer Charity. Hosted by Laura Boyd (entertainment reporter for STV […]

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dharma gadelica: readings for Gerry Loose at the Kibble Palace

gerry loose

Sunday 25th May, 2025 at 3.30 p.m.- 4.30 p.m. The Kibble Palace, Botanic Gardens, 730 Great Western Road, Glasgow G12 0EU Readings in memory of Gerry Loose, who died on 30 April 2024. The memorial renga composed earlier in the day will  by those who knew Gerry, including Sukhema Butler, dogo (greum maol stevenson), Gerrie […]

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Robots and Oranges – Alan Windram

Saturday, 21 June, 2025, 2.30 p.m. Advanced Research Centre, University of Glasgow, 11 Chapel Lane, Glasgow G11 6EW Join Alan Windram, award-winning author, in this highly interactive, fun-filled children’s event with his latest One Button Benny picture book. ‘One Button Benny and the Dinosaur Dilemma’ plus his brand new book ‘Kevin The Orange’. Come along […]

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Book Launch: Elephant by Gillian Shirreffs

book launch elephant gillian sherriff

Saturday 7 June, 2025 – 7 p.m. – 9 p.m. Gillian Shirreffs in conversation with Elissa Soave Waterstones, 153-157 Sauchiehall St, Glasgow G2 3EW One in two of us will get cancer in our lifetime, yet it so often remains the elephant in the room. In this unprecedented book, talented novelist, Gillian Shirreffs, collects and […]

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A Poetical Meander Through The Hebrides

poetical meander through the hebrides with ann mackinnon

Wednesday, 14 May, 2025, 7 p.m. An Evening With Ann MacKinnon Community Hub Helensburgh,  116 E Princes St, Helensburgh G84 7DQ Free entry and Refreshments About Ann MacKinnon Ann MacKinnon writes in both Scots and English. A New Scottish Writers’ Award led to a pamphlet called Nae Flooers being published by Tapsalteerie. She is widely published in […]

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Thursday, May 8, 2025 | Filed under: Books, Talks, Poetry and Creative Writing Events

Free Talks at WestFest

2 – 26 June, 2025  WestFest Kelvin Hall1445 Argyle St, Glasgow G3 8AW Part of Glasgow 850, join WestFest & Friends of Glasgow West for a series of free and fascinating talks at Kelvin Hall. All talks are fully illustrated and start at 7pm, lasting approx. 1 hour. Please arrive early to be sure of […]

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A Conversation with Andrew O’Hagan, University of Glasgow ARC

an evening with andrew o'hagan

Tuesday, May 6, 2025 · 6 – 7:30pm  A conversation with Honorary Professor Andrew O’Hagan, chaired by Prof Gerard Carruthers (Scottish Literature) By College of Arts & Humanities, University of Glasgow  At: Advanced Research Centre (ARC), University of Glasgow, 11 Chapel Lane Glasgow G11 6EW A conversation with Andrew O’Hagan – novelist, essayist, and Honorary […]

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Rachelle Atalla – Books at the Green

the salt flats

Tuesday 29 April, 2025, doors 7 p.m. starts 7.30 p.m. Rachelle Atalla in Conversation with Sarah Smith Partickhill Bowling and Community Club, 46 Partickhill Road, G11 5BY

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ARC Conversations and Identities Journal: Global Dignity and Seeing Others

Michèle Lamont

Monday, May 12, 2025, 4 p.m. – 5.30 p.m. Professor Michèle Lamont from Harvard University reflects on how we equip ourselves to think across different levels of analysis. Advanced Research Centre, University of Glasgow, 11 Chapel Lane Glasgow G11 6EW Global Dignity and Seeing Others How can we equip ourselves to think across different levels […]

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Michael Pedersen in conversation with Nicola Sturgeon

michael pedersen book launch

Sunday 25 May, 2025, 6 p.m. – 7 p.m. Waterstones, 153 – 157  Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow G2 3EW Join the award winning writer and poet, Michael Pedersen, as he launches his debut fiction title, Muckle Flugga, in conversation in store. ‘Life on a remote island is turned upside down by a stranger’s arrival, testing bonds […]

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Scottish Writers’ Centre: Hand on the Baton

Hand on the baton, Scottish Writers Centre

Tuesday, 22 April, 2025 ,  7 p.m. – 9 p.m. ‘Break out your poetry, fiction and song…We’re back.’ SCW will present a night of thanks, celebration and looking forward. It would be impossible to thank Scottish Writers Centre’s outgoing co-chairs Sheila Wakefield and Christie Williamson enough but they’ll give it a good go! Sheila and […]

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Hand on the baton, Scottish Writers Centre

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