Aye Write

I'm delighted to be opening this tour to celebrate the Aye Write Book Festival, which is taking place in Glasgow between 6th and 16th November this year. Big thanks to Tim Donald at Brownlee Donald Associates for asking me. Usually, The book festivals I attend focus on crime fiction, my favourite genre. But the great thing about Aye Write is it includes all genres and a huge range of topics. I'm delighted to see such a packed programme again after a couple of years with a smaller number of events. The link to the whole programme is further down the page.

I was asked to choose two events that I am really looking forward to. I thought it would be easy but, goodness, I looked through the programme and found no less than 30 events I'd like to see across the ten days! Narrowing it down to just two to highlight was hard!

The Winter Job and Black as Death: Antti Tuomainen and Lilja Sigurdardottir with Neil McKay
Sunday 9th Nov 2025,12:45pm,
Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, The Green Room
£9.50

On Sunday 9th two of my favourite authors, and two of my favourite people, really, are appearing together at the Concert Hall. Antti Tuomainen and Lilja Sigurðardóttir will be talking about their new books - The Winter Job and Black as Death respectively. I've just read The Winter Job and will be reviewing it on the blog tomorrow. A sofa delivery goes awry - dark, funny and a great read. I reviewed Black as Death on 16th of this month. The final instalment in the An Áróra Investigation series brings the five book story arc to a conclusion but includes its own mystery for Áróra to investigate. I know it's going to be a fun session as the two chat with Neil McKay.

You can buy tickets for their event here:
https://www.glasgowlife.org.uk/event/1/the-winter-job-and-black-as-death-antti-tuomainen-and-lilja-sigurdardottir-with-neil-mckay

Poyums Annaw: Len Pennie with Lindsay Johnstone
Sunday 9th Nov 2025, 7:45pm
Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Strathclyde Suite
£12.70

Later on Sunday poet Len Pennie will be talking to Lindsay Johnstone about her new poetry collection, Poyums Annaw. You may know Len from her Scots Word of the Day on Instagram. She's a fierce champion of the Scots language and her poems cover a range of hard hitting subjects. She's always thought provoking and interesting, and I love her poetry - check out her debut collection, Poyums - and I'm excited for her session. 

You can buy tickets for Len's event here:
https://www.glasgowlife.org.uk/event/1/poyums-annaw-len-pennie-with-lindsay-johnstone


There were several other sessions from the ones I fancied that particularly caught my eye. I'll just put the brief details below. I haven't included any more crime fiction ones because I want to try to give an idea of the different subjects covered but, fear not, there are plenty of crime fiction ones too. Anyway, other highlights for me include:

• Hold Fast: Catherine Simpson & Nina Mega with Gabriella Bennett - mother and daughter Catherine & Nina talk about their life and relationship as Nina was growing up with autism.

• How to Have a Magnificent Midlife Crisis: Kate Muir with Vicky Allan - this just sounds like a splendid idea!

• Jules and Greg’s Wild Swim: Julie Nimmo and Greg Hemphill with Bryan Burnett - the book that accompanies their TV series.

• Conversations with Tim Ingold: Anthropology, Education and Life with Hannah Whaley - talking about the big stuff.

• Muckle Flugga and In The Hide: Michael Pedersen and Gordon Buchanan with Nicola Meighan - mixing fact and fiction, both authors talk about how the natural world inspired their books.

• You Don't Have to be Mad to Work Here: Benji Waterhouse with Sean McDonald - psychiatrist and stand up comedian Benny Waterhouse tells stories from his working life.

• Lost Boys and Hermit: James Bloodworth and Chris McQueer with Sean McDonald - looking at the darker side of the manosphere.

To find out more about all the sessions mentioned above, and others including politics, nature, and the countryside, relationships, lifestyle, music and musicians, cooking, crime, history, Scotland and more, click the link below to view the whole programme - there really is something for everyone. Hope to see you there!

https://www.glasgowlife.org.uk/whats-on/aye-write