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

The Dead Don’t Boogie by Douglas Skelton, Book Launch, Waterstones Argyle St 8 September, 2016

the dead don't boogie

The first Dominic Queste thriller will be unleashed in paperback in September. Come along and enjoy author Douglas Skelton being verbally mangled by the inimitable Caro Ramsay Thursday 8 September, 2016 Waterstones, 174 – 176 Argyle Street, Glasgow G2 8BT www.douglasskelton.com/ You can also catch Douglas Skelton on 23 September, Murder With A Smile at […]

Read the full article: The Dead Don’t Boogie by Douglas Skelton, Book Launch, Waterstones Argyle St 8 September, 2016

In Process Masterclass with Louise Welsh, Scottish Writers’ Centre, CCA, 11 October, 2016

Louise Welsh Courtesy of Steve Lindridge

CCA Tue 11 October 2016 7pm, £6 (£3/Free to SWC Members) on the door, Clubroom 18+ 0141 352 4900 Glasgow-based Louise Welsh, award-winning author. has written six novels, produced many short stories and articles, written for radio and stage, including The Devil Inside  – a libretto for opera. Louise was writer in residence for The […]

Read the full article: In Process Masterclass with Louise Welsh, Scottish Writers’ Centre, CCA, 11 October, 2016

Scottish Writers’ Centre,In a Cloud of Seabirds: The Art of Collaborating Tue 27 September 2016

in a cloud of seabirds

CCA Tue 27 September 2016 7pm, £6 (£3/Free to SWC Members), Clubroom 18+ 0141 352 4900 In a Cloud of Seabirds: The Art of Collaborating with Artist/Illustrator, Douglas Robertson As an artist, Douglas Robertson has been using the written and spoken word extensively in his work for over twenty years. Through collaborations with poets, past […]

Read the full article: Scottish Writers’ Centre,In a Cloud of Seabirds: The Art of Collaborating Tue 27 September 2016

St Mungo’s Mirrorball Showcase CCA – 6 October, 2016

st mungos mirrorball

CCA 7pm, £5 on the door, Clubroom All ages 0141 352 4900 A National Poetry day celebration of the life and work of George Mackay Brown on the 20th anniversary of his death with readings and contributions from Mirrrorball members. George Mackay Brown (17 October 1921 – 13 April 1996) was a Scottish poet, author […]

Read the full article: St Mungo’s Mirrorball Showcase CCA – 6 October, 2016

Aye Write: Peter Hook, Substance, 6th October, 2016

Peter Hook Aye Write.jpg

6th Oct 2016  •  6:30PM – 7:30PM  •  Mitchell Theatre Peter Hook, founding member of Joy Division and New Order talks about his new book Substance: Inside New Order Peter Hook, founding member of Joy Division and New Order talks about his new book Substance: Inside New Order.  The book is  a no-holds-barred, comprehensive account […]

Read the full article: Aye Write: Peter Hook, Substance, 6th October, 2016

Disappearing Glasgow Exhibition, Chris Leslie,Glasgow School of Art– 17 September until 2 October, 2016.

Preview 16 September. Glasgow School of Art, Reid Building, Renfrew Street, G3 The skyline of Glasgow has been radically transformed as high rise tower blocks have been blown down and bulldozed. Does this Disappearing Glasgow herald a renaissance in the city? Photographer and filmmaker Chris Leslie is widely acknowledged as the most consistent chronicler of […]

Read the full article: Disappearing Glasgow Exhibition, Chris Leslie,Glasgow School of Art– 17 September until 2 October, 2016.

Kevin Cadwallender, Last Monday at Rio, 29 August, 2016

last monday at rio

Last Monday, Open Mic at Rio, Partick   29 August, 2016 Kevin Cadwallender airs the verbal stylings at The Rio this month. Living proof that whatever happened to the likely lads was liable to turn out strange. Open mic session before the Mighty K does his bit. Just say please! Cairns comperes. 27 Hyndland Street, G11 […]

Read the full article: Kevin Cadwallender, Last Monday at Rio, 29 August, 2016

Poetry, West Brewery Bar and Restaurant, Tuesday 6 September, 2016

poetry hop room.jpg

COME EAST TO WEST on Tuesday 6th September, at West Brewery Bar and Restaurant in The Hop Room at 7.30, FREE Bringing poetry and music to Glasgow’s East End, the line up is me,Mary Thomson, reading from my recent pamphlets ‘Alphabetical Order’ and ‘East End’, Charlie Gracie with his new pamphlet and then contributions from […]

Read the full article: Poetry, West Brewery Bar and Restaurant, Tuesday 6 September, 2016

Gifford Lectures 2016, University of Glasgow

University of Glasgow – photography Jim Byrne

Gifford Lectures 2016: Sean Carroll – The Big Picture: On the Origins of Life, Meaning, and the Universe Itself Gifford Lectures Date: Wednesday 19 October 2016 – Thursday 27 October 2016 Time: 17:30 – 19:30 Venue: Bute Hall and Hunter Halls Category: Public lectures Speaker: Sean Carroll Downloads: Abstracts for the Gifford Lectures 2016 There […]

Read the full article: Gifford Lectures 2016, University of Glasgow

The Five STEPS to a Winning Mindset, Professor Damian Hughes 14 September, 2016 Waterstones Sauchiehall Street

damian hughes

14 September, 2016 Waterstones, 153-157 Sauchiehall St, Glasgow G2 3EW In The Five STEPS to a Winning Mindset, Professor Damian Hughes, the acclaimed author of Liquid Thinking and How to Think Like Sir Alex Ferguson, draws on both his life time experience and academic background within sport, organisation and change psychology to reveal the best […]

Read the full article: The Five STEPS to a Winning Mindset, Professor Damian Hughes 14 September, 2016 Waterstones Sauchiehall Street

Stuart Cosgrove, Young Soul Rebels –Northern Soul Event The Admiral Bar Sat 27 August, 2016

stuart cosgrove the admiral bar

August’s DIVINE is a northern soul special of epic proportions! The Admiral Bar is very proud to welcome Stuart Cosgrove to launch his personal history of northern soul “YOUNG SOUL REBELS” in Glasgow, with a reading, a Q&A session, a book signing AND an exclusive guest DJ set at the club night Doors open at […]

Read the full article: Stuart Cosgrove, Young Soul Rebels –Northern Soul Event The Admiral Bar Sat 27 August, 2016

Scottish Writers’ Centre Silence and Other Stories with Tim Turnbull CCA Tue 13 September 2016

tim turnbull

Scottish Writers’ Centre Silence and Other Stories with Tim Turnbull Tue 13 September 2016 CCA 7pm, £6 (£3/Free for SWC Members) on the door, Clubroom 18+ 0141 352 4900 In the last five years, Tim Turnbull has made a transition from writer and performer of poems to short story writer, with a brief excursion into […]

Read the full article: Scottish Writers’ Centre Silence and Other Stories with Tim Turnbull CCA Tue 13 September 2016

Botanic Concrete Website Launch Thu 8 September 2016 Project Cafe

botanic concrete website launch

Botanic Concrete Website Launch Re-imagining Garnethill Thu 8 September 2016 6pm, Free but ticketed, at The Project Cafe, 134 Renfrew St All ages Book online / 0141 352 4900 Botanic Concrete has developed a new website for sharing community actions and tools for reimagination. The website will not only record the events and initiatives proposed […]

Read the full article: Botanic Concrete Website Launch Thu 8 September 2016 Project Cafe

Scottish Writers’ Centre Three Poets – Three Languages of Scotland, CCA Tue 30 August 2016

scottish writers centre

Scottish Writers’ Centre Three Poets – Three Languages of Scotland Tue 30 August 2016 7pm, £6 (£3) on the door, Free to SWC Members, Clubroom 18+ 0141 352 4900 Related CCA Events Scottish Writers’ Centre Silence and Other Stories with Tim Turnbull Tue 13 September 2016 Sheila Templeton, Maggie Rabatski and A.C. Clarke read and […]

Read the full article: Scottish Writers’ Centre Three Poets – Three Languages of Scotland, CCA Tue 30 August 2016

AH Proctor, Byres Road Book Festival, Hillhead Library 26 September, 2016

Thumble Tumble and the Ollpheist is a story about witches and dragons. As with all good fairy stories, there is the balance of good and evil. Come along and hear AH Proctor read Thumble Tumble and the Ollpheist – 3 to 4 p.m. Hillhead Library,348 Byres Road, Glasgow G12 8AP0141 276 1617

Read the full article: AH Proctor, Byres Road Book Festival, Hillhead Library 26 September, 2016

Book Launch: ‘And When I Die’ Russell D McLean, Waterstones Argyle St, 2 September, 2016

Book Launch: And When I Die, Russel D McLean Waterstones Argyle St 2 September 2016 Join us at Waterstones Argyle Street in Glasgow to celebrate the launch of AND WHEN I DIE, Russel’s first Glasgow-based crime thriller. Free entry, but do please let us know if you’re coming so we can get in enough wine […]

Read the full article: Book Launch: ‘And When I Die’ Russell D McLean, Waterstones Argyle St, 2 September, 2016

William Shakespeare’s Star Wars, Waterstones Sauchiehall St, Friday 26 August

star wars

With author Ian Doescher   Waterstones, 153 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow G2 3EW Come along for a night of Star Wars Shakespeare fun with author Ian Doescher as he reads from his series of Shakespeare Star Wars books and signs copies. We have a prize for those who really get into the spirit and dress up […]

Read the full article: William Shakespeare’s Star Wars, Waterstones Sauchiehall St, Friday 26 August

PEOPLE WHO WORK: A Creative Writing Workshop with Brian Whittingham 20 September, 2016

brian whittingham

PEOPLE WHO WORK: A Creative Writing Workshop with Brian Whittingham Spend the day learning and writing about what ‘Clydebuilt’ means amidst the shipbuilding heritage at the former working world of the Titan Crane. Titan Enterprise Office and Titan Crane: http://www.titanclydebank.com/get-directions.aspx Tuesday 20th September 2016 10:00 – 12:00: Presentation and seminar on the working history of […]

Read the full article: PEOPLE WHO WORK: A Creative Writing Workshop with Brian Whittingham 20 September, 2016

‘Communal Luxury: The Political Imaginary of the Paris Commune’ (2015) by Kristin Ross CCA 17 August, 2016

cities and bookmark

Cities & Bookmark: Reading Platform | ‘Communal Luxury: The Political Imaginary of the Paris Commune’ (2015) by Kristin Ross Wed 17 August 2016 7pm, Free and unticketed, Clubroom Ages: 15+ 0141 352 4900 Related CCA Events Cities Until Fri 30 September 2016 Please note this event will now start at 7pm. Kristin Ross’s new work […]

Read the full article: ‘Communal Luxury: The Political Imaginary of the Paris Commune’ (2015) by Kristin Ross CCA 17 August, 2016

The Haystack featuring a Q&A with Joanna Cherry CCA 17 August, 2015

scotish pen

Scottish PEN presents The Haystack A FREE screening of the documentary, The Haystack Featuring a Q&A with Joanna Cherry QC MP, Olivia Cappuccini and David Irvine  The CCA, 17th August, 6.15pm Did Orwell get it right, or is Big Brother bigger and more invasive now than ever envisaged? The Snowden revelations in 2013 demonstrated the […]

Read the full article: The Haystack featuring a Q&A with Joanna Cherry CCA 17 August, 2015

Gutter Magazine Issue 15 Glasgow Launch, Gesso, 19 August, 2016

gutter issue 15

Gutter – the Magazine of New Scottish Writing – presents a launch reading event for its Autumn 2016 issue. Post-Brexit, the theme of this issue is the ‘North Alantic Drift’ and it features work from Icelandic, Canadian, Scottish and Irish writers, including James Kelman, Malachy Tallack, Christie Williamson, Cynthia Rogerson, Au∂ur Jónsdóttir and many others, […]

Read the full article: Gutter Magazine Issue 15 Glasgow Launch, Gesso, 19 August, 2016

Poetry Apothecary with Rebecca Sharp CCA Sunday 18 September, 2016

poetry apothecary rebecca shap

  CCA, 350 Sauchiehall Street, G2 3JD   11 a.m. – 4 p.m.   In this unique workshop, you will create a poem with a matching essential oil scent blend to take home. We will be exploring how the ingredients and techniques for composing and blending a scent can be compared to writing a poem, […]

Read the full article: Poetry Apothecary with Rebecca Sharp CCA Sunday 18 September, 2016

Liam McCormick’s debut pamphlet, ‘Why Do People Never Snap and Think They’re Buddha? review by Stephen Watt

Liam McCormick

Exhibiting a veritable flare for developing candid, memorable characters, young Glaswegian poet Liam McCormick’s debut collection of prose and poetry ‘Why do people never snap and think they’re Buddha’ is a blunt, impartial observation of adolescents in the west of Scotland finding their way through onerous school days and the daily evils which they bring. […]

Read the full article: Liam McCormick’s debut pamphlet, ‘Why Do People Never Snap and Think They’re Buddha? review by Stephen Watt

National Poetry Competition 2016 – closing date for submissions 31 October

poetry comp

National Poetry Competition The Poetry Society’s annual National Poetry Competition is for previously unpublished single poems and has a first prize of £5,000.  2016 The competition is now open for entries! Ten prizes First prize: £5000 Second prize: £2000 Third prize: £1000 Seven commendations: £200 each Winning poems are published on The Poetry Society website, and […]

Read the full article: National Poetry Competition 2016 – closing date for submissions 31 October

Doune, Doune, Doune The Rabbit Hole at McChuills, 11 August, 2016

doune the rabbit hole festival 2016

  McChuills, 40 High Street, G1 1NB Thursday, 11 August, 2016 – 8 p.m. A night of highlights from the SPOKEN WURD tent at DOUNE THE RABBITHOLE 2016 descends on McChuills on 11 August.  If you canny make the festival, it’s a chance to see what’s goin on. And if you’re sorted for Doune, come […]

Read the full article: Doune, Doune, Doune The Rabbit Hole at McChuills, 11 August, 2016

The Muse at St Louis, Brian Whittingham Wednesday 10 August, 2016

the muse brian whittingham 10 aug

West End Launch – ‘Sometimes I Radiate’ Everyone’s invited to another great night of literature at St Louis with host Linda Jaxson, who will also provide the musical entertainment with Tony Stallone. Glasgow Writer Brian Whittingham is the main guest of the evening and you can look forward to performances by the poet Finola Scott […]

Read the full article: The Muse at St Louis, Brian Whittingham Wednesday 10 August, 2016

Mary Irvine’s blog: literary goings on Dumbarton and Glasgow West End, July 2016

elephant book cover.jpg

Hiya! Feeling a wee bit guilty that I haven’t been writing of late, not just for this site but generally. I have been subject to a period of lethargy. The ideas are all there. It’s the physical effort that seems to be lacking. However, I have decided not to justify this state as ‘part of […]

Read the full article: Mary Irvine’s blog: literary goings on Dumbarton and Glasgow West End, July 2016

Kimberley Chambers and Anna Smith – crime writers in conversation Waterstones

kemberley chambers

  Waterstones 153 – 157 Sauchiehall Street G2 3EW Thursday, July 28, 2016 at 6:30 PM We are very pleased to welcome back two masters of Crime fiction Kimberley Chambers and Anna Smith as they discuss their latest novels and take questions from the audience. Speak to a bookseller or call 0141 332 9105 Anna […]

Read the full article: Kimberley Chambers and Anna Smith – crime writers in conversation Waterstones

Long Way From Glasgow a memoir by John Donaldson

long way from glasgow

John Donaldson’s memoir ‘Long Way From Glasgow’ is a fascinating read. It encompasses his life growing up in Glasgow during the Second World War and the years he spent in Canada building the trade union movement. John’s experiences are well worth chronicling including difficulties encountered in Africa and time spent in such far flung places […]

Read the full article: Long Way From Glasgow a memoir by John Donaldson

Book launch: I See You Clare Mackintosh Tuesday 26 July, 2016

i see you

Waterstones, Argyle Street  Tuesday 26 Jun, 2016  7 p.m. Clare Mackintosh, author of the explosive and spine-tingling debut thriller I LET YOU GO, launches her second novel I SEE YOU exclusively at Waterstones Argyle Street! Don’t miss this amazing opportunity to hear Clare talk about her powerful psychological thriller with BBC Scotland presenter and local […]

Read the full article: Book launch: I See You Clare Mackintosh Tuesday 26 July, 2016

i see you

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