WriterStories TV

Lily Freeman interviews childrens’ author Vivian French at the Boswell Book Festival in May 2018.

Colin MacIntyre may be more familiar to some as the man behind Mull Historical Society. Under this pseudonym he has become one of the UK’s most respected songwriters and performers, releasing four albums to critical and chart success. Now Colin …

Matt Haig spoke in front of a packed Book Festival audience about the importance of reading and writing in maintaining mental health and its role in helping him conquer depression, as part of the Festival’s Staying Well strand. Matt said …

Catriona O’Sullivan interviews Ragnar Jonasson at the Edinburgh International Book Festival. Born in Reykjavik, Iceland Ragnar currently works as a lawyer having previously worked in TV and radio. He has translated 14 Agatha Christie novels into Icelandic and set up …

Ali Millar in an illuminating interview with Danish novelist and short-story writer Dorthe Nors at the Edinburgh International Book Festival. Nors has burst onto the UK literary scene with a heady cocktail of short stories, ‘Karate Chop’, translated from the …

It’s a wonderful sunny day in Edinburgh and Olivia Vitazkova meets up with Kate Mosse at the Edinburgh International Book Festival. It’s ten years since Mosse burst on the British literary scene with ‘Labyrinth’, the first of her Carcassonne-based Languedoc …

29 April 2017 Lismore Castle, Co. Waterford Towers and Tales is a celebration of children’s books, stories and illustration, designed to give young audiences unforgettable, creative and transformational experiences with books.

Paul Howard, Eileen Battersby and Anne Sebba, William Wall, Billy O’Callaghan and Alan McMonagle are the first of the writers to be announced for the 13th outing of the Cork World Book Festival running 18-23 April 2017 at Cork City …

13th March 2017 Visual, Carlow The Carlow College Literary Awards brings together the entire college community to recognise and celebrate the very best of Carlow College literary talent. The awards gather together the college literary community in a spirit of …

Number ten in the 2015 series of interviews from the Edinburgh International Book Festival.

Ninth in the current series of interviews with authors at the 2015 Edinburgh International Book Festival.

Latest in the 2015 WriterStories TV series from the Edinburgh International Book Festival.

Sixth in the 2015 series of interviews from the Edinburgh International Book Festival.

Fifth in the 2015 WriterSeries of interviews from the Edinburgh International Book Festival.

Fourth in the 2015 series of WriterStories from the Edinburgh International Book Festival.

Third in the 2015 series of WriterStories.

Second in the 2015 WriterStories series for TV transmission.

One of a series of broadcast programme length compilation of interviews from the 2015 Edinburgh International Book Festival.

Iain Banks is a Scottish author of both mainstream fiction and science fiction, writing under the name Iain M. Banks for his science fiction work. At the Edinburgh International Book Festival, Robert Morgan talks to Iain Banks about his mainstream …

Seventh programme in the 2015 WriterStories series from the Edinburgh International Book Festival.

Edinburgh welcomes back one of Scotland’s most ferociously-talented writers. Andrew O’Hagan’s fifth novel, The Illuminations, weaves two linked stories together: the older woman, Anne Quirk, is a Scottish photographer struggling to keep hold of her memories, the younger man is …

Ricky Brown interviews Doug Johnstone about his crime novels, writing process and the importance of setting at the Edinburgh Book Festival. Once a nuclear physicist, Doug Johnstone is now a successful writer and freelance journalist (and blogger) based in Edinburgh. In …

Here Are the Young Men depicts life for four young men on the savage streets of Dublin. Rob Doyle was born in Dublin, and holds a first-class honours degree in Philosophy and an MPhil in Psychoanalysis from Trinity College Dublin. …

Frances Hider interviews Gavin Francis about his latest book in another video from our Edinburgh International Book Festival author interview series. Edinburgh GP Gavin Francis spent over a year at a remote research station to write the Scottish Book of …

Bestselling author and former Children’s Laureate Michael Rosen is issuing a passionate plea to parents, families and children: to look beyond the school gates to see and learn about the world afresh. From understanding politics and religion to enjoying poetry …

Ricky Brown talks to Caroline Criado-Perez at the Edinburgh Book Festival about her book ‘Do it Like a Woman: … And Change the World’. Winner of the Liberty Human Rights Campaigner of the Year award, Caroline Criado-Perez is well known …

We interviewed Marc Lambert the CEO of Scottish Book Trust and author Anne Donovan about the exciting events at this years Book Week Scotland. Book Week Scotland is a week-long celebration of books and reading that takes place every November. …

Olivia Vitazkova interviews A D Miller the author of Snowdrop on the moral undertow of his new novel The Faithful Couple. Two young British men on the cusp of adulthood, meet at a hostel in San Diego. They strike up …

Bridgett Richards talks with Patrick Gale about his new novel A Place Called Winter which moves far from his customary Cornwall location. The novel evokes the harsh landscapes of the Canadian prairie for those who emigrated from Britain to make …

Ali Millar interviews Sean Michaels on his debut novel, Us Conductors. The novel concerns the creator of one of the world’s strangest instruments. Locked in a cabin aboard a ship bearing him back to Russia and away from the love …

Louise Welsh recently published Death is a Welcome Guest, the second part in her Plague Times trilogy following last year’s A Lovely Way to Burn. Welsh believes good thrillers are a reflection of the times they are written in. ‘The …

In conversation with Ali Millar at the 2015 Edinburgh International Book Festival, Rachel Cusk introduces her new novel Outline, a novel the New York Times has described as ‘lethally intelligent’ and ‘a heartbreaking portrait of poise, sympathy and regret’.

“How the silver darlings shaped human Taste” An interview at the Shetland Library, with Donald S. Murray, author, poet and educator. Murray is a Hebridean by birth now resident in the Shetland Isles where he works and writes in collaboration …

As the methods of warfare get more brutal, subtlety and secrecy become valid tools in overpowering enemy forces. For his book Kill Chain: The Rise of the High-Tech Assassins, Andrew Cockburn, the Washington editor of Harper’s, has been quietly researching …

WELCOME TO Ó BHÉAL – FÁILTE GO DTÍ Ó BHÉAL Welcome to Ó Bhéal, Cork’s weekly poetry event. Featuring guest poets, a poetry challenge and later open-mic, Ó Bhéal has become a prominent, thriving feature in the cultural landscape of …

Talking at the Amnesty International event as part of Edinburgh International Book Festival, author Ian Rankin shares his thoughts on the power of free speech and the written word. Ian Rankin is best known for his Rebus series. Started when …

Alexandra Gushurst-Moore interviews author Sara Maitland at this year’s Edinburgh International Book Festival. The book, Moss Witch and other stories, is a captivating set of short stories in which Maitland explores scientific interest through a wide variety of story-telling styles.

2014 is the 75th anniversary of the publication of James Joyce’s book Finnegans Wake. Joyce was a Dubliner and is internationally recognised as one of the world’s greatest writers. As a tribute to him, and Finnegans Wake, the seven UNESCO …

Appearing at the Shetland Jazz Festival 2014: Jazz & Literature, acclaimed jazz artist and author Gilad Atzmon introduces his new book “The Wandering Who?”. Gilad was born in Israel in 1963 and trained as a musician in Jerusalem.  The book …

Laura Clements talks to writer and awardee of the Scottish Book Trust’s Robert Louis Stevenson Fellowship, Lisa Ballantyne, about her work. Lisa Ballantyne was born in Armadale, West Lothian and was educated at Armadale Academy and University of St Andrews. …

Writer Duncan McLean looks back at his friendship with Orkney based photographer Gunnie Moberg. Based in Orkney since 1992, McLean was part of a loose group of writers whose work centred on Edinburgh and often explored topics such as poverty, …

First of a new and occasional series of discussions titled Writers’ Stories. Writers’ Stories is a longer format allowing writers and literary figures to unravel something of how they progress. Nicole Brandon talks with two winners of the 2013 Scottish …

Following on from a recent appearance at Pitlochry’s Winter Words Festival, journalist, broadcaster and author Lesley Riddoch, discusses her new book ‘Blossom: What Scotland Needs To Flourish’, with Nicole Brandon. Through anecdotes and conversations with Scots who have worked without …

We talk to veteran broadcaster Peter Snow at the 2013 Lennoxlove Book Festival about his newest book “When Britain Burned the White House”, which tells the story of the War of 1812 and Britain’s attempt to stop the Americans by …

It all started with the ‘Poetrees’, the first of 10 mysterious sculptures that appeared in literary and arts institutions in Edinburgh in 2011. Each sculpture, handcrafted from a book, had a small note attached to it with the words “A …

This edition of the Book Show comes from World Book Day in March 2001, at Edinburgh’s Assembly Rooms. Featuring interviews with Ian Rankin, Lindsey Fraser of the Scottish Book Trust, and children’s author Julia Donaldson who wrote The Gruffalo, World …

The Book Show presents a Christmas special with storyteller and poet David Campbell reading a festive tale, accompanied by Alexandra Salinasova on vocals.

As part of Book Week Scotland 2013, first and second year illustration students at Edinburgh College of Art teamed up with Analogue Books to create small editions of books about Edinburgh’s Grassmarket.

Artist Andrew Crummy introduces his book The Great Tapestry of Scotland, a behind the scenes look at the work that was carried out to create the large community arts project. Andrew Crummy designed each of the 150 panels that were …

American author Michael Connelly discusses his book The Gods of Guilt, a crime thriller about defence attorney Mickey Haller. Connelly decided to become an author after being introduced to the work of Raymond Chandler. Connelly studied journalism and creative writing …

Sara-Jane McGeachy interviews author Patrick McGrath about his new book ‘Constance’. McGrath is an English novelist and writes primarily in the gothic fiction genre. His works tend to explore subject matter such as mental illness, repressed homosexuality and adulterous relationships.

Vicki Jarrett is a novelist and short story writer from Edinburgh. Her first novel, Nothing is Heavy, was published in September 2012. Her short fiction has been published in various magazines and anthologies, broadcast by BBC Radio 4, Radio Scotland …

Griff Williams interviews author China Miéville about his work, how the novel can reflect a social project and the potential power of the readership. China Miéville is a fantasy fiction writer, comic writer and academic. Miéville often describes his fiction …

Nicola Bieg interviews Thomas J. MacColl about his short story ‘Timer’, which centres around an old man who is starting feel the effects of old age. MacColl was one of 17 writers selected to feature as part of the book …

Jess Johannesson Gaitan talks to writer Michael Jacobs about his new book The Robber of Memories, at the Edinburgh International Book Festival 2013. In 2011, Michael Jacobs travelled all the way up the Magdalena to its source high up in …

Graffiti artist Rogue-one introduces his mural for Buckhaven Library as part of a week long project for Book Week Scotland 2013 to celebrate reading, writing and the importance of public libraries. As part of Book Week Scotland 2013, artists were …

Claire Stewart introduces the mural at Bonnybridge Library by graffiti artist Rogue-one, as part of Book Week Scotland’s Mural project. As part of Book Week Scotland 2013, artists were commissioned to create five new artworks unveiled on a different library …

Artist David Galletly introduces his mural for Castlemilk Library as part of a week long project for Book Week Scotland 2013 to celebrate reading, writing and the importance of public libraries. As part of Book Week Scotland 2013, artists were commissioned …

M Louise Kelly was born in Newcastle but now lives in Edinburgh and mainly writes for Young Adults and children. She gave up a permanent position lecturing in psychology and linguistics to dedicate more time to her writing. She has …

Mark Harding interviews novelist Andrew Crumey about his new book, The Secret Knowledge. Crumey (pronounced “Croomy”) has a PhD in theoretical physics and is former literary editor of Scotland on Sunday. His novels combine history, philosophy, science and humour, and …

Author Sally Gardner talks to us at the Lennoxlove Book Festival 2013 about her new book Tinder, based on the story “The Tinder Box” by Hans Christian Andersen. She also tells us about her genre of writing and about the …

Julie Whitley talks with Ian Rankin about the Book Festival’s celebration of Iain Banks and how Rebus was brought out of retirement for one or possibly two further books. Ian Rankin is best known for his Rebus series. Started when …

Arts Development Officer for Literature Donald Anderson, introduces Shetland’s Wordplay Festival, which has been running every year since 2001. Featuring writers, poets and speakers from as far as Canada, the festival offers guests a chance to meet with their favourite authors …

We talk to Irish author Colm Herron at the Edinburgh International Book Festival 2013, about elements that appear in his work such as comedy, and his early writing as a child.  

First time author Pippa Goldschmidt talks to us about her first novel ‘The Falling Sky’, the uncertainties of the universe, the lengthy process of scientific research and her work as ‘The Regulator for Outerspace’.

Laura Clements talks to South African author Lauren Beukes about her event with Russian author Mikhail Shishkin, discussing the novel as time machine. Both authors are considered to be very different in terms of style and work, but have been …

Nicole Brandon interviews Jonathan Stroud at Edinburgh International Book Festival 2013, where he will be launching his new young adult series, Lockwood and Co. Starting with The Screaming Staircase, this series follows a group of paranormal investigators. Jonathan starting writing …

Scottish crime writer Alex Gray, talks to Errol Rivera about Scotland’s crime fiction and the similarities it has to Scandinavian crime fiction. Alex Gray has written ten crime fiction books. Before embarking on a career in writing, Alex taught English …

Writer Catherine Simpson talks to Julie Whitley about her piece ‘The Cutting Ring’, a short story she wrote especially for the Edinburgh International Book Festival’s Story Shop, a daily event that showcases the work of up-and-coming writers living and working …

Author and Naturalist Mark Cocker discusses his book, Birds and People, featuring photography by David Tipling, and the very significant relationship our society has with birds, from using them as food to symbolic objects. Mark Cocker has been writing about …

Writer and journalist Mark Craddock talks about the piece of work he reads at the Story Shop event, which showcases up-and-coming talent living and working in Edinburgh today. Mark is an award winning journalist back in America, and has come …

Author Adam Thirlwell discusses the new book which he has been editing, Multiples, which takes stories from different authors in many languages and translates them into English. The idea is to see whether the essence of the story remains through …

Our Books Coordinator, Nicola Bieg, interviews writer Rosie Hopegood at the Edinburgh International Book Festival. Rosie talks about her short stories, some of which she read at the Story Shop, an event that showcases up-and-coming writers in Edinburgh, and what …

Laura Clements talks to Irish writer Eoin Colfer, about the audience he writes for, the importance of having the freedom to write what he likes and exciting future projects. Eoin Colfer is best known for his hugely successful Artemis Fowl …

Esther Woolfson talks to Adam Ley-Lang from the EIBF 2013. In her new book “Field Notes from a Hidden City” she writes about the natural life of cities, in particular Aberdeen, and discusses her interest in the creatures we live …

Mark Harding interviews writer Ken Macleod about his childhood friendship with Iain Banks and working across the genres of near-future science fiction and space opera. Ken Macleod has written 13 works so far, most of which are science fiction. Originally …

Writer Andrew Jamieson talks to Griff Williams about his debut novel, steampunk fantasy, The Vengeance Path. The book was delivered in weekly instalments over the course of three months thus making it only available in short bursts. This throws up …

Jess Johannesson Gaitan speaks to author Amy Sackville about her new book, Orkney. A story of a professor who marries his student, 40 years his junior, and takes her to Orkney for their honeymoon. Told from his point of view, …

Errol Rivera interviews crime writer Denise Mina about the various roles she will be playing throughout her time at the Edinburgh International Book Festival, including her work with the World Writer’s Conference. Whilst researching her PhD thesis on the ascription …

Writer, broadcaster and comedian Viv Groskop, talks about her new book ‘I Laughed, I Cried’, which documents her challenge of completing 100 stand up comedy gigs in 100 nights.

Jack Smith was an American filmmaker, photographer and actor. His work influenced that of Andy Warhol and John Waters. Paul Robertson introduces the exhibition in which a first edition of ‘The Beautiful Book’, a very rare photography book created by …

Photographer Graham Miller captures rare and intimate moments in this series of photographs of families with a person with Down’s Syndrome. Each photograph is accompanied with quotes and audio recordings of the interviews with the families. Miller also produced a …

From its humble beginnings in 2005 as a box of books on the platform, the Pitlochry Station Bookshop has gone from strength to strength. The staff, comprised entirely of volunteers, have so far raised over £85,000 for five (soon to …

Agnes Janich introduces her recent book ‘Body Memory’ before giving a presentation on her work at the Fruitmarket Gallery.  

Renowned Scottish writer and artist, Alasdair Gray reads extracts from his new book, ‘Every Short Story – 1951-2012’ at Summerhall. Stuart Kelly discusses Gray’s prolific career and its lasting impact on Scottish Culture.

The Anobii First Book Award celebrates new writers, which are featured in the Book Festival each year. The award is different from others as it allows the readers to place their votes for their favourite debut novelist. This event at …

Screen-writer and novelist Emer Martin introduces her trip to Neu! Reekie! #27 and reads her poem on the war-time evacuation of European artists to New York.  Martin recently completed her short film Unaccompanied following production of Irvine Welsh’s directorial debut …

Interview at Waterstones in Edinburgh with Sandi Toksvig talking about her book ‘Flying under Bridges’

John Simpson is the BBC World Affairs Editor. He has over 40 years experience covering International journalism and has covered many key events in history such as the Beijing Tiananmen Square massacre, as well as reporting from over 30 warzones. …

Brian Aldiss is an author of both general fiction and science fiction. Having been greatly influenced by the science fiction pioneer, H.G Wells, Aldiss is also the vice-president of the international H.G. Wells Society. At the Edinburgh International Book Festival, …

Hanif Kureishi is an English novelist, playwright and screenwriter. The themes in his works often deal with subjects like sexuality, racism and immigration. Much of his work such as My Beautiful Laundrette and his novel Intimacy have been made into …

The legalisation of certain drugs has been a hotly contested subject, leading to many arguments for and against the proposals. Roger Pertwee, Professor of Neuropharmacology at Aberdeen University, previously claimed that cannabis should be legalised and sold under similar restrictions …

Emily Molloy interviews Sian Bowen during the launch of her book ‘Suspending the Ephemeral’ at the Fruitmarket Gallery, Edinburgh.

In 1860 the first ever golf ‘major’ was held in Prestwick – a man from East Lothian won. In 1871 the first ever rugby international in the world took place in Edinburgh – Scotland won. In 1872 the first ever …

Mary Mowat interviews David Torrence at Glasgow’s Aye Write! book festival.

Mary Mowat interviews Alistair Darling during Glasgow’s Aye Write! book festival.

Mary Mowat interviews Alistair Findlay at the Aye Write! book festival in Glasgow.

Karina Dent talks with author Dan Rhodes at the Edinburgh International Book Festival in 2004 on his novel ‘Timoleon Vieta Come Home: A Sentimental Journey’.

Andy Field interviews Billy Bragg at the 2007 Edinburgh International Book Festival.

Francesca Atkinson interviews Edwina Currie at Waterstones.

Author Robert Irwin discusses his book For Lust of Knowing : The Orientalists and their Enemies, a non-fiction work exploring the history of the academic discipline Orientalism.

Stephanie Forton talks to author David Lodge at the Edinburgh International Book Festival 2006, about his work, the challenges presented between writing fiction and non-fiction, and his latest book, The Year of Henry James: The Story of a Novel. David …

Jimmy Kerr interviews Northern Irish writer Bernard MacLaverty about his new collection of short stories ‘Matters of Life and Death’, at the 2006 Edinburgh International Book Festival. Bernard MacLaverty has had many careers in his lifetime including a Medical Laboratory …

Andrew Field interviews Simon Callow at the 2006 Edinburgh International Book Festival, discussing his work on his Orson Welles biographies. Simon Callow is an English actor best known for his stage work, and has worked with some of the best …

David Mitchell is an English author whose works have been short listed for the Man Booker Prize, the James Tait Memorial Prize and the Guardian First Book Award. He is known for interweaving many narratives together in the one novel. …

Local author Christopher Wallace and Angela Best talk to Edinburgh Television at a book-launch in Waterstones.

Raj Chakraborty interviews Joel Bakan about his book and documentary ‘The Corporation’, at the 2005 Edinburgh International Book Festival. Joel Bakan is an author, filmmaker and a professor of law at the University of British Columbia. His work examines the …

Jim Kelly interviews author Carlo Gebler at the Edinburgh International Book Festival 2005 about the focus on history in Irish writing. Carlo Gebler is an Irish author and playwright, and has published many fiction and non-fiction novels, plays and short …

Author and journalist Jimmy Burns discusses his writing on football and the impact certain clubs like Barcelona have on the world of football. Burns has written for the Financial Times, The Observer and The Economist among others. His writing, particularly …

To commemorate Hilary Mantel’s unprecedented second Man Booker literary award, we have an interview with Colleen Connors from 2004 in which Mantel discusses her memoir ‘Giving up the Ghost’.

Tana McPhee interviews Ariel Dorfman in 2004 on his novel ‘Burning City’ written with his son, Joaquin.

Raj Chakraborti’s interview with Tariq Ali at the Edinburgh International Book Festival in 2004.

In 2004 Colleen Connors interviewed British journalist, Christina Lamb, about her book, Sewing Circles of Herat. The book is based on a group of female writers who disguise themselves as a sewing group. Under Taliban ruling, it is impossible for …

Andy Field interviews acclaimed children’s author, Brian Jacques. Jacques was best known for his Redwall series, a set of fantasy novels that told the story of anthropomorphic animals who could speak. There are 22 books in total, which have been …

Tana McPhee interviews Lars Saabye Christensen about his novel, The Half Brother.

Raj Chakraborti’s interview with George Monbiot at the Edinburgh International Book Festival in 2003. Monbiot outlines Keynes ‘reserve fund’ solution to the deepening crisis of inequality highlighting movements in Brazil, Mexico and South Africa that set a tone for peaceful …

Francesca Atkinson interviews Jeanette Winterson on her novel The Powerbook.

Journalist Fergal Keane discusses his Amnesty International event at the Edinburgh International Book Festival, whilst also discussing human rights and the importance of such a topic.

Part of the 11/9 publishing imprint series that fosters new Scottish talent, David Cameron and Tom Bryan discuss their new works, Rousseau Moon and The Wolfclaw Chronicles, respectively.

Author Graham Swift discusses his book, Last Orders at the Edinburgh International Book Festival in 2001.

Robert Morgan’s interview with celebrated ‘vain and greedy’ but iconoclastic author and playwright Gore Vidal at the Edinburgh International Book Festival in 2001.

Francesca Atkinson in discussion with Frank McCourt on ‘Tis the sequel to Angela’s Ashes.

Wole Soyinka talks about his book Burden of Memory at the 2000 Edinburgh International Book Festival.

Anthony Bourdain discusses his book Kitchen Confidential, a look into the often salacious world of running a restaurant.

Described by the press as ‘the most sophisticated drugs baron of all time’, Welsh author Howard Marks discusses his ideas on the legalisation of drugs in the UK in this interview at the Edinburgh International Book Festival, where he was promoting …

Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka speaking on the work of South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Committee at the 2000 Edinburgh International Book Festival.