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

Bloody Scotland 2019

Bloody Scotland 2019

20 – 23 September, 2019 Ian Rankin, Denise Mina, David Baldacci, Louise Welsh, Richard Osman, Mark Billingham, Ambrose Parry and so many more! Tickets available now – bloodyscotland.com/event How to book events at Bloody Scotland Gala Opening, McIlvanney Prize and Torchlight Procession Friday 20th September, 2019 from 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm Who will be crowned winner […]

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Alexandria Writers Open Mic

room open mic alexandria balloch

Balloch House Hotel Monday, 2nd September, 2019 6.30 p.m. for 7 p.m. No headliner at this month’s event.   The evening will be devoted to an extended number of slots and readers are asked to ‘bring a friend’ (no pets are allowed in the function room). Would also like to extend an invitation to anyone who […]

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Sunday, September 1, 2019 | Filed under: Books, Talks, Poetry and Creative Writing Events

Theresa Talbot Creative Writing Workshop

theresa-talbot

(Photo by Aldo Ferrarello) Friday 13 September, 2019 10 a.m. – 12 noon. South West Library, 159 Inverkip Rd, Greenock PA16 9HG Free event – To Reserve Ticket Call: 01475 715667 or 01475 712323 Event on Facebook Listen to Podcast: Theresa Talbot, writer and broadcaster chats to Pat Byrne (Podcast) www.theresatalbot.com  

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Blessed Assurance by Stewart Ennis Book Launch

Stewart+Ennis+02

Tuesday, 17 September, 2019, 7.30 p.m. Waterstones Byres Road Come along to the launching of Blessed Assurance by Stewart Ennis (Vagabond Voices). There will be a talk, plenty of time for you to ask questions and of course a lot of signed copies of the book for you! It’ll be a great evening. . Waterstones, […]

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Saturday, August 31, 2019 | Filed under: Books, Talks, Poetry and Creative Writing Events

Creative Conversations Inaugural Event Autumn 2019

the gloaming jkirsty logan

Inaugural Event: Juana Adcock, Kirsty Logan, Martin Cathcart Froden 24 September, 2019, 5.30 pm. – 7.30 p.m. University Chapel, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ For the inaugural event of the 2019-2020 Creative Writing Programme at the University of Glasgow, we are thrilled to welcome back three recent graduates of the programme to talk about […]

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Thursday, August 29, 2019 | Filed under: Books, Talks, Poetry and Creative Writing Events

The Big Meeting GFT

9 – 11 September, 2019 Since 1871, on the second Saturday in July, the city of Durham is taken over by miners, trade-unions and the public for the Durham Miners’ Gala (known locally as “The Big Meeting”). This people-centred documentary goes behind the scenes of this annual celebration of noise, colour and solidarity, of class […]

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Wednesday, August 28, 2019 | Filed under: Books, Talks, Poetry and Creative Writing Events

The Muse at Avant Garde September 9th, 2019

muse at avant garde sept

Jenne Gray and Lindsey Stewart – Launch of New ChapBook Plus readings by Beag Horn, Joe Murray, Helen Sinclair, Lesley Traynor and Joe Woods.  among others. Robert Henderson on the trumpet. Host Linda Jackson Starts 7.30p.m. Avant Garde, 34-44 King St, Glasgow G1 5QT Event on Facebook  

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Tuesday, August 27, 2019 | Filed under: Books, Talks, Poetry and Creative Writing Events

Place and Peace: three Scottish PEN writers at Scottish Writers Centre

Tuesday, 27 August, 2019, 7 p.m. Place and Peace: three Scottish PEN writers read/perform their latest work. Colin Donati, David Manderson, Emma Doherty at the Clubroom, CCA Glasgow, 350 . Sauchiehall Street, G2 3JD Fiction, nonfiction, poems, music. All welcome. scottishpen.org Event on Facebook

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Postbox Launch of Issue 2

2 September, 2019 6.30 p.m. Project Cafe, Renfrew Street, Glasgow Launch of Issue 2 of Postbox – Scotland’s International Short Story Magazine. Fifteen stories with readings of three of them by Mairghread McLundie, Greg Michaelson and Edwin Stockdale. Free event, everyone welcome. Hosted by Red Squirrel Press Project Cafe, 134 Renfrew St, Glasgow G3 6ST […]

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Scottish Writers Showcase University of Glasgow 2019

polly clark chapel

Review by Pat Byrne Another brilliant event in a fabulous venue with an eclectic mix of literature presented in the gorgeous University Memorial Chapel.  22 August, 2019. Louise Welsh, Prof of Creative Writing, at Glasgow University welcomed people from across the world to share some of the best of Scottish Literature – writers included:  “Ambrose […]

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Streets of Glasgow with Peter Mortimer Glasgow Literary Lounge

the streets of glasgow

Tuesday, 27 August, 2019 Cheeky Besom Productions cordially invites you to an evening with Peter Mortimer. Historian and writer, Peter Mortimer brings life to Glasgow’s past in an informative and entertaining evening of discovery and hidden secrets. Leading you through the streets of Glasgow with more than 250,000 words of research ‘in the can’ that […]

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Glasgoes Poetic 2019

jim carruth

28 September – 14 October, 2019 Events Programme Express Yourself Project Cafe i) Friday 28 September 7-10pm Project Café Renfrew Street Glasgow Express Yourself: Carla Woodburn hosts 10 poets, the theme of the evening is poetry involving “Consumer Market.” FREE Glasgow and District Burns Association ii) Friday 28 September 7pm Renfield St Stephen’s Church Bath […]

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Walk in James Watt’s Footsteps

Walk in James Watt's Footsteps

Walk in Watt’s footsteps on Glasgow Green Sunday, August 25, 2019,  2 p.m. to 3.30 p.m. Glasgow Green, Greendyke Street, Saltmarket, Glasgow G1 5DB (Please wear suitable footwear. Adults only. Meet at the gate to Glasgow Green opposite the High Court.) History fans are being given the chance to walk in James Watt’s footsteps – […]

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An Evening with Gracey Flair at Helensburgh Library

gracey flair

Wednesday, 28 August, 2019, 7.00 p.m. Helensburgh Library 51 West King Street Helensburgh G84 8EB ‘Gracey Flair ‘Funnysophical Poet’ – she’s daft but deep.  She’ll either make yi’ laugh or greet! Gracey Flair, born in the ‘Good Old Port’ (Port Glasgow) and then grew up and followed her nose.  Always a truth seeker and this […]

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The Rebirth of the Clyde, Fairfield Heritage

the rebirth of the clyde

2 October, 2019 . 2 p.m. – 3 p.m. ‘The Story of Glasgow’s Greatest Shipyard’ Fairfield Heritage,  1048 Govan Road Govan, G51 4XS This is the Story of how the last Commercial Shipyard in Scotland was rescued from closure and now – less than five years later – plans to lead the world in the […]

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Spirit of Revolt, Show and Tell – Workers City, The Mitchell

city of revolv archive show and tell

16 September, 2019 12 oon – 2 p.m. A display of material from Spirit of Revolt collections and a discussion, led by Tommy Kayes with James Kelman, Brendan McLaughlin, Billy Clark, Michael Donnelly, Ruth Gillett, Paul Anderson, Euan Sutherland and others on the formation and actions of the Workers City group (1988 – 1993). Blythswood […]

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Free event: Scottish Writers Showcase, University of Glasgow

Thursday 22 August, 2019 at 6–8 p.m. Ajay Close, Amanda Thomson, Anna Levin, “Ambrose Parry” (pseudonym used by the writing duo Christopher Brookmyre and Marisa Haeztman), Martin Macintyre and Polly Clark University Chapel, West Quadrangle, Main Building Gilmorehill Campus, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ The writers will be reading and discussing their work with […]

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Monday, August 19, 2019 | Filed under: Books, Talks, Poetry and Creative Writing Events

Book Launch: Blessed Assurance by Stewart Ennis

blessed assurance

Tuesday, 17 September, 2019 – 7.30 p.m. Waterstones Byres Road, 351-355 Byres Road in Glasgow, G12 8AU Blessed Assurances published by Vagabond Voices “The fact of the matter is Joseph Kirkland was afraid.  Afraid of not being Saved.  Afraid of being Saved. Afraid of the transformation that would occur the moment he uttered those words, Jesus! God! I want you to come […]

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Saturday, August 17, 2019 | Filed under: Books, Talks, Poetry and Creative Writing Events

Pollokshields Proposes Exhibition Launch

pollokshields proposes exhibition the glad cafe

Thursday, 22 August, 2019,  6 p.m.- 8 p.m. The Glad Cafe An informal launch with readings and music Throughout the Spring and early Summer, Henry Bell and Alec Finlay were Glasgow Creative Communities artists in residence in Pollokshields. Over three months they met with community groups, schools, and locals and discussed achievable, desirable and impossible […]

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Book Launch: A City of Segregation CCA

book launch city of segregation

19 August, 2019 – 6.30p.m. – 8 p.m. From LA to Glasgow A book launch for City of Segregation Los Angeles may seem a long way from Glasgow, but with a century of vibrant civil rights struggle against exclusionary housing policies and recent attempts to displace communities for boutique hotels and lofts, its current patterns […]

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Wednesday, August 14, 2019 | Filed under: Books, Talks, Poetry and Creative Writing Events

Danger Poets, Waterstones Byres Road

danger poets byres road

29 August, 2019 7.30 p.m. Waterstone’s  351-355 ByresRoad, Glasgow, G12 8AU Jenny Lindsay + Magi Gibson + Ali Whitelock – that’s an explosive mix of poetry/spoken word! Three of the most dynamic and challenging voices in Scottish poetry. Books will be on sale. Free. Refreshments.

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Women With Fierce Words CCA

women fierce words

Scottish Writers’ Centre Women with Fierce Words: Fringe Off The Fringe Tuesday 13 August 2019 7pm, Free (unticketed), Clubroom 18+ Women with Fierce Words is an inclusive collective of established women writers, speaking their truth, their way. They write about what affects them and their world. Their work is often thought provoking, sometimes controversial, but […]

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Friday, August 9, 2019 | Filed under: Books, Talks, Poetry and Creative Writing Events

Books at the Botanics

books at the botanics

Friday 9 – Monday 12 August, 2019 Come along to Glasgow Botanic Gardens and enjoy a browse at the Book Fair.  Soooo the weather isn’t looking too great but don’t forget it’s  indoors, accessible for wheelchairs and buggies and they love to see a dog. Open 10 am till so 5 pm Glasgow Botanic Gardens, […]

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Launch Govanhill Book Festival 2019

go south southside book festival

Friday 9 August, 2019 6 p.m. – 7 p.m. In association with Go South: Southside Book Festival The Rum Shack, 657 Pollokshaws Road, Glasgow G41 2AB Two new exciting book festivals with a difference come together to celebrate their launch and their events in the Govanhill International Festival.  Free. 6.00pm: Welcome to Govanhill Book Festival […]

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Govanhill: Portrait of a Community review Pat Byrne

save our pool

The Deep End – Govanhill Baths Arts Space 21 Nithsdale Street,  Glasgow G41 2PZ Part of Govanhill International Festival 2019 Jim and I had a great time at the Govanhill Carnival on Sunday at Queens Park so I though I would venture back across the Clyde to catch some more of the festival. I went […]

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Paul Murdoch, Alexandria Writers + Open Mic

paul murdoch

Tuesday, August 6th, 2019 –  7 p.m. The Balloch House Hotel, Balloch Road, Balloch G83 8LQ (five minutes from train station) The headliner for August is Paul Murdoch who may finally be revealing what he wants to be when he grows up. Paul Murdoch, born the son of a slater in 1961, began performing on […]

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Pinolino Puppet Show and Story Telling

Saturday, 3 August, 2019 Waterstones, 153 – 157 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow G2 3EW Pinolino is an extravagant puppet storyteller from the Pine Forest in Tuscany. The forest where it was born is dying because of pollution and climate change. Pinolino has a mission: keeping the pine forest alive and blooming in people’s imaginations through the […]

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Free Pride CCA

pride is a protes

3rd August, 2019 CCA 350 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow G2 3JD Free Pride: an independent and community-led LGBTQ Pride event, with three core values: radical, inclusive, and free. Free Pride Workshop: Zines with From Glasgow to Saturn Sat 3 August 2019 A crafty Zine Workshop with From Glasgow to Saturn! 5.15pm, Free (unticketed), Clubroom All ages 0141 352 4900 Related […]

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Mary Irvine’s Blog: Bruce Biddolph Outstanding as ‘The Inquisitor’

the inquisitor

Peter Arnott’s play ‘The Inquisitor’ was recently performed by Bruce Biddolph at the Alexandria Library . The audience sat in a semi-circle in front of a table. A man entered. His dress implied he was someone of importance. An official, maybe. Collar, tie, smart jacket and trousers, highly polished shoes. The table became an office […]

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Edinburgh International Book Festival 2019

edinburgh international book festival

1 – 26 August, 2019 In an era of contradiction and division the 2019 Edinburgh International Book Festival invites authors and audiences to find new stories to give meaning to the world. Stories are to society what DNA is to human life – small strings of information which become bound together to make up a shared understanding of […]

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edinburgh international book festival

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