Author Archives: johndean1

Kirkcudbright Book Week Society deeply appreciates all the support that it receives from business and organisations but there’s always room for more! And with planning well under way for the next Kirkcudbright Book Week between March 4-9, 2024, we are keen to talk to any business or organisation who would like to sponsor either individualContinue reading “Sponsors sought for Book Week 2024”

Our series of podcasts offering people an opportunity to revisit some of the events at the recent Kirkcudbright Book Week is attracting large numbers of visits from people either wishing to experience the event they attended or catch up on one they missed. You can do the same by enjoying the wide range of recordingsContinue reading “Podcasts prove a big hit”

The latest crime novel by Jackie Baldwin, who appeared at the recent Kirkcudbright Book Week, is due out on Thursday May 18. Murder by the Seaside is published by Storm Publishing and begins when dawn breaks over the empty beaches of Portobello and Grace McKenna emerges from the icy water after her daily swim, herContinue reading “Book due to go down a Storm”

Planning is well under way for the next Kirkcudbright Book Week to be held between March 4-9, 2024, and which will again include World Book Day for young readers, on Thursday March 7. The team at Kirkcudbright Book Week Society is already hard at work putting the programme together and there are plenty of excitingContinue reading “Book Week planning well under way”

Followers of crime writing, and there were many of them at our recent book week, may be interested to learn that leading forensic scientist and author Professor Jim Fraser will be the guest speaker at the Scottish launch of the Crime Writers’ Association’s National Crime Reading Month (NCRM) in Edinburgh. National Crime Reading Month runsContinue reading “Forensic scientist to help launch National Crime Reading Month”

Author John Dean, who was one of the writers who appeared at the recent Kirkcudbright Book Week, has a new crime novel out. The Name on the Bullet has been published by London-based The Book Folks and is the latest in the series featuring DCI John Blizzard. In the book, which is John’s twenty thirdContinue reading “New book is published”

We are delighted to announce that the next Kirkcudbright Book Week will be held between March 4-9, 2024, and will again include World Book Day for young readers, on Thursday March 7. The team at Kirkcudbright Book Week Society is already hard at work putting the programme together. This year’s Book Week, which ended onContinue reading “Book Week dates for 2024 are announced”

Did you miss out on an event at the recent Kirkcudbright Book Week? Or maybe you attended an event and would like to re-live it all over again? In which case, why not visit our podcast site and do exactly that? You will find a wide range of recordings made during the week at https://kbtbookweek.podbean.com/

And so Kirkcudbright Book Week 2023 comes to an end. There were fifteen events in all, attended by well over 300 people, with many performances sold out. Fine writing, song and music was enjoyed, emotions evoked, memories made and books purchased. Kirkcudbright Book Week Society wishes to say a heartfelt thank you to everyone whoContinue reading “Thank you, one and all”

And Kirkcudbright Book Week finishes with yet another sell-out as the final ticket is sold for An Evening With Laurence Bristow-Smith, with musical illustrations by Gordon Mursell and David Preston, at Broughton House, 12 High St, on Saturday March 4. The show starts  at 7pm as stated on the tickets.

The Gallovidia book shop on St Mary Street in Kirkcudbright is stocking books by some of the authors taking part in Kirkcudbright Book Week.We heartily recommend that you check out the shop, which is owned by husband and wife team of Stewart and Elizabeth Parsons, who have a combined 40 years’ experience of libraries, arts,Continue reading “Well worth a look”

Another reminder that the final event of Book Week on Saturday March 4 – An Evening With Laurence Bristow-Smith with musical illustrations by Gordon Mursell and David Preston – at Broughton House, 12 High St, starts at 7pm as stated on the tickets.

There are still places for this event. Thursday March 2 All In a Day’s Work, readings from a book based on the creative response of a group of writers to artifacts held in the Devil’s Porridge Museum, which commemorates the lives and work of the many people who laboured at HM Gretna to provide munitions forContinue reading “Delving into history”

The talk by Stuart Campbell this afternoon has sold out. Stuart, author of the recently-published novel The Woman Clothed With The Sun, will be at the Selkirk Arms in High Street at 2pm as part of Kirkcudbright Book Week. Stuart has previously written for the BBC, the Guardian, The Big Issue and Scottish Book Collector.Continue reading “Another event sells out”

If you enjoyed Tuesday night’s poetry event at Kirkcudbright Book Week, you’ll love this – and there are plenty of tickets still available. Friday March 3 The Leaves of the Years with Hugh McMillan and Stuart  Paterson and invited guest readers Kirkcudbright Dark Space Planetarium The Johnston, St Mary Street 7pm £5 Join Hugh McMillanContinue reading “More poetry to enjoy”

An enthusiastic audience enjoyed the poetry event Where Rivers Meet on the second evening of Kirkcudbright Book Week. Hugh McMillan, Stuart Paterson, Clare Phillips and Nicola Black provided an evening of poetry supported by music  and song and infused with humour, poignancy and acute insight into life in modern-day Scotland. The event was staged at,Continue reading “A fine evening”

The talk on Friday (March 3) by John Nelson as part of Kirkcudbright Book Week,  has sold out. John, who wrote the book On the Trail of a Broken Shoe, will be the Selkirk Arms on High Street at 2pm to talk about the work, which is based on the true story of the lastContinue reading “Another Book Week event sells out”

A packed room enjoyed one of the early events of Kirkcudbright Book Week on Monday night (February 27) when four crime writers entertained the audience at Broughton House. In an event entitled A Walk On the Dark side, Jackie Baldwin, Ian Robinson, Ann Bloxwich and John Dean talked about everything from how they create murderersContinue reading “An entertaining evening”

The season of impenetrable nights that begin in mid-afternoon and mornings that are shrouded in darkness until 9am is slowly receding into memory as winter starts to leave us for another year and the strengthening light reveals banks of waving daffodils as the miracle of Spring returns once more. What better way to celebrate DumfriesContinue reading “Into the light…”

People attending events during Kirkcudbright Book Week will meet our volunteers, who will help make sure that audience members get the best out of the experience. The team will be on hand to do everything from checking tickets to ensuring that people get to their seats alright. Kirkcudbright Book Week Society is grateful to everyContinue reading “Volunteers to play their part”

There are still tickets available for this free Book Week event. Tuesday February 28 A Meeting of Minds with The Gallery Writers, Stewartry Writers and Kirkcudbright Poetry Group The Kirkcudbright Galleries St Mary Street 11am Free event Members of the three Kirkcudbright-based writing groups perform together for the first time, presenting a mixture of proseContinue reading “Writing groups join forces”

There are still tickets available for this Kirkcudbright Book Week event. Tickets for both paid-for and a number of the free events during Kirkcudbright Book Week 2023 can be booked by visiting http://www.eventbrite.co.uk and searching for Kirkcudbright Book Week Collection where all the events are listed. Alternatively, a direct link can be accessed via theContinue reading “A celebration of Southlight magazine”

There are still tickets available for this Kirkcudbright Book Week event. Tickets for both paid-for and a number of the free events during Kirkcudbright Book Week 2023 can be booked by visiting http://www.eventbrite.co.uk and searching for Kirkcudbright Book Week Collection where all the events are listed. Alternatively, a direct link can be accessed via theContinue reading “Delving into wartime history”

Another Kirkcudbright Book Week event has sold out. All the tickets have gone for the event on Thursday March 2 when author Gerry Hassan will give a talk on Scotland’s future and the independence debate at The Garret Hotel & Restaurant 116 High Street Kirkcudbright. Academic and author Gerry, who wrote the recently-published Scotland Rising:Continue reading “Sold out event”

There are still tickets available for this entertaining Book Week event Wednesday March 1 Confessions of a Novice Motorcycle Guide Book Writer with J.G.Fergusson  Selkirk Arms High Street 2pm £5 J.G. Fergusson is a former BBC Scotland journalist/producer and author of several walking guides for the ‘Pocket Mountain’ series. Born in the Rhins of Galloway,Continue reading “On the road with JG Fergusson”

An important part of Kirkcudbright Book Week is encouraging the next generation of writers and, to that end, students from Kirkcudbright Academy have been working with author Hugh McMillan to develop their skills. As part of the initiative, the work produced by the young writers features in an exhibition at Kirkcudbright Library, one of theContinue reading “A showcase for young talent”

These are exciting times for crime author Ann Bloxwich with a new publisher, a new book and a forthcoming appearance at Kirkcudbright Book Week to celebrate. Ann talks about her writing career in the latest in our series of podcast interviews by Book Week Society chair Chris Walker and author Gerry Hassan, who will alsoContinue reading “Crime writer is interviewed for podcast”

A second Kirkcudbright Book Week event has sold out, meaning that all the spaces for both free events for young readers on World Book Day (Thursday March 2) have been snapped up. Both events are at Kirkcudbright Library and feature children’s authors. The evening one featuring Alan McClure sold out in mid-January and now allContinue reading “Second event sells out”

Sales are a bit slow for this Book Week event, which is a pity because it’s an excellent event. Why not buy your ticket today? Wednesday March 1 Confessions of a Novice Motorcycle Guide Book Writer with J.G.Fergusson  Selkirk Arms High Street 2pm £5 J.G. Fergusson is a former BBC Scotland journalist/producer and author ofContinue reading “An excellent event”

We know that the readers of Dumfries and Galloway like their poetry but ticket sales are a bit slow for these events so why not show your support for our poets by buying a ticket? The events are: Tuesday February 28 Where Rivers Meet Join Hugh McMillan, Stuart Paterson, Clare Phillips and Nicola Black inContinue reading “A chance to support our poets”

Book Week strikes a topical note but if you want to buy a ticket, you’ll have to be quick as they are selling fast! Thursday March 2 A talk on Scotland’s future and the independence debate by Gerry Hassan The Garret Hotel & Restaurant 116 High Street Kirkcudbright 11am £6 The independence debate is theContinue reading “The subject everyone’s talking about”

A publisher and an organisation which helps promote authors have joined the list of sponsors of Kirkcudbright Book Week. One of the UK’s leading independent publishers, The Book Folks, specialises in crime fiction, mysteries and thrillers, although they dabble in other genres, too. They publish three authors who live close to Kirkcudbright – John DeanContinue reading “Publisher backs Book Week”

There are still plenty of tickets left for a Kirkcudbright Book Week event which will celebrate the life and work one of the area’s best-known poets. Join Hugh McMillan and Stuart Paterson and invited guest readers in an evening celebrating William Neill. You can find out more, including how to buy your ticket, at ThisContinue reading “Celebrating a fine poet”

Many thanks to the team at Feast Cafe at 32 St Cuthbert St, Kirkcudbright, who will be running the intervals at some of the Book Week events. You can check them out on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/feastcafekirkcudbright/

The Dumfries and Galloway town of Kirkcudbright is gearing up for the long-awaited return of Kirkcudbright Book Week 2023, which was twice cancelled due to the covid outbreak. The week, which will take place between Monday February 27 and Saturday March 4, is designed to celebrate the developing literary scene in Kirkcudbright and the widerContinue reading “Kirkcudbright prepares for return of Book Week”

Poet Hugh McMillan, who is due to appear twice at Kirkcudbright Book Week, has just performed at an even more august occasion (if that was possible!) . The author was invited to 10 Downing Street to read poetry in three different sessions to people invited to the Prime Minister’s Burns‘ celebrations, having been recommended byContinue reading “Downing Street date for poet”

Author John Nelson appears in our latest podcast ahead of his appearance at Kirkcudbright Book Week. John talks about his book On the Trail of a Broken Shoe, which is based on the true story of the last man hanged in Scotland for horse-stealing, in an interview conducted by Chris Walker, the Chair of KirkcudbrightContinue reading “Podcast recalls a grisly event”

The line-up has been confirmed for the online crime fiction event to be run as part of Kirkcudbright Book Week: Tuesday February 28 Free on-line event Talking Of Crime…2pm A  Zoom event featuring crime writers from around Scotland, who will take readers on a tour of the country with each author explaining what effect theContinue reading “How Scotland inspires crime writers”

Kirkcudbright Book Week 2023 has been awarded a grant of £1,350 by the Robin Rigg Community Fund to support the event’s varied programme of performances by authors. The annual week, which will take place between Monday February 27 and Saturday March 4, celebrates the developing literary scene in Kirkcudbright and the wider Dumfries and GallowayContinue reading “Community fund awards grant to Kirkcudbright Book Week”

Poet Hugh McMillan appears in our latest podcast ahead of his appearances at Kirkcudbright Book Week. Hugh talks about his writing career in an interview conducted by Chris Walker, the Chair of Kirkcudbright Book Week Society, and author Gerry Hassan, and the podcast can be heard at https://kbtbookweek.podbean.com/ He will be appearing in two eventsContinue reading “Hugh McMillan talks about writing on podcast”

Kirkcudbright Book Week has its first sold-out performance with the news that the last place has gone for Alan McClure’s appearance in front of an audience of young readers at the town’s library during World Book Day on Thursday March 2. However, there are still plenty of places for the other free event for youngContinue reading “Tickets available for performance by children’s author”

The skies are gloomy, it’s pouring with rain and there’s a chill wind blowing, which means that people are looking to cheer themselves up and what better way of doing it than by buying tickets for events at Kirkcudbright Book Week, which starts at the end of February? One of the reasons that Book WeekContinue reading “A chance to banish the winter blues!”

It’s well worth checking out an entertaining podcast interview with crime writer Ian Robinson ahead of his appearance at Kirkcudbright Book Week. Having spent twenty-seven years in the Metropolitan Police, Ian is now a full-time writer. Six of his crime novels have been published and Rubicon is currently in development with the BBC for aContinue reading “Crime writer Ian features in podcast”

Are you a lover of historical fiction? Then check out these events during Kirkcudbright Book Week. Monday February 27 Screening of ‘S.R.Crockett: The Kirkcudbright Connection’ (20 minutes) followed by virtual chat/ Q&A with Cally Phillips of Galloway Raiders. The Kirkcudbright Galleries, St Mary Street 11am£5 S.R.Crockett (1859-1914) is the most famous and prolific novelist of Galloway.Continue reading “Historical fiction at Book Week”

World Book Day, which is aimed at younger readers, falls within Kirkcudbright Book Week – it’s one of the reasons Book Week is staged when it is each year – and this year there are a couple of excellent free events at the town’s library. Thursday March 2 World  Book Day – events for youngContinue reading “World Book Day events for young readers”

Calling all readers of non-fiction! Check out what’s on offer during Kirkcudbright Book Week Monday February 27 Screening of ‘S.R.Crockett: The Kirkcudbright Connection’ (20 minutes) followed by virtual chat/ Q&A with Cally Phillips of Galloway Raiders. The Kirkcudbright Galleries, St Mary Street 11am £5 S.R.Crockett (1859-1914) is the most famous and prolific novelist of Galloway. HisContinue reading “Non-fiction events at Book Week”

There are a couple of events at Kirkcudbright Book Week that will appeal to crime fiction enthusiasts. Monday February 27 Walk on the Dark Side – crime fiction event Broughton House, 12 High St. 7. 30pm £7  Spend an evening with crime writers Jackie Baldwin, Ian Robinson, Ann Bloxwich and John Dean as they exploreContinue reading “Crime fiction features in Book Week”

The aim of Kirkcudbright Book Week is to showcase and celebrate the developing literary scene in the town and surrounding area and that includes providing a stage for both professional and emerging talent. These events may interest. Tuesday February 28 A Meeting of Minds with The Gallery Writers, Stewartry Writers and Kirkcudbright Poetry Group TheContinue reading “A showcase for talent”

Calling all poetry-lovers! Check out what’s on offer at Kirkcudbright Book Week. Tuesday February 28 A Meeting of Minds with The Gallery Writers, Stewartry Writers and Kirkcudbright Poetry Group The Kirkcudbright Galleries St Mary Street 11am Free event Members of the three Kirkcudbright-based writing groups perform together for the first time, presenting a mixture ofContinue reading “Poetry at Book Week”

Dumfries and Galloway organisations are celebrating National Lottery Community funding for activities that will bring people together both at the Festive period and all year round. Fed Up – Community Cafe received £57,886 to continue to provide cooked breakfast and lunches five days a week from its café in the centre of Stranraer. It willContinue reading “Book Week secures Lottery funding”

Ann Bloxwich, who is appearing at Kirkcudbright Book Week, has announced that she has signed a deal with a new publisher. Her contract with Red Dragon Publishing Ltd means that her debut crime novel What Goes Around will not be available until its relaunch with a new cover and ISBN number in March 2023, atContinue reading “Author signs with new publisher”

An exciting project has been launched to help teenage students at a Kirkcudbright school to develop their creative writing skills through working with a well-known author with an international reputation. The senior students, who attend Kirkcudbright Academy, will work with poet and writer Hugh McMillan to produce an anthology to be launched during Kirkcudbright BookContinue reading “Students given opportunity to work with award-winning author”

It’s well worth checking out an entertaining and thought-provoking interview with author and academic Gerry Hassan ahead of his appearance at Kirkcudbright Book Week in the latest of our podcasts at https://kbtbookweek.podbean.com/e/a-chat-with-gerry-hassan/ In the interview, Gerry examines his love of writing and also refers to the talk he will deliver during Book Week, which willContinue reading “An entertaining interview”

You can check out some of author John Dean’s  thoughts on crime fiction as Chris Walker and Gerry Hassan interview him for the Kirkcudbright Book Week podcast at https://kbtbookweek.podbean.com/

Thursday March 2 Talk by Stuart Campbell, author of the recently-published novel The Woman Clothed With The Sun Selkirk Arms High Street 2pm £5 Stuart Campbell has previously written for the BBC, the Guardian, The Big Issue and Scottish Book Collector. He is the editor of RLS in Love, an anthology of Robert Louis Stevenson’sContinue reading “Extra event added to programme – a tale of extraordinary events in Galloway”

A new book has been published, written by Laurence Bristow-Smith, who will be appearing at Kirkcudbright Book Week. Published in November 2022, Tribes into Nations takes a fresh look at the ethnic and cultural evolution of the British Isles and challenges the long tradition of Anglocentric history which saw the past through the prism ofContinue reading “New title by Book Week author is published”

The programme has been announced for Kirkcudbright Book Week 2023, which is making a welcome return after twice being cancelled due to the covid outbreak. The week, which will take place between Monday February 27 and Saturday March 4, 2023, is designed to celebrate the developing literary scene in Kirkcudbright and the wider Dumfries andContinue reading “It’s back! Programme announced for long-awaited return of Kirkcudbright Book Week“

Saturday March 4 An Evening With Laurence Bristow-Smith with musical illustrations by Gordon Mursell and David Preston Broughton House, 12 High St  7pm £6   Laurence Bristow-Smith spent twenty-six years as a diplomat serving in Taiwan, China, eastern Europe, the Balkans, Norway and Italy but one of the most important events in his life wasContinue reading “A musical celebration”

Friday March 3 The Leaves of the Years with Hugh McMillan and Stuart  Paterson and invited guest readers Kirkcudbright Dark Space Planetarium The Johnston, St Mary Street 7pm £5 Join Hugh McMillan and Stuart Paterson and invited guest readers in an evening celebrating the life and work of Galloway’s greatest modern poet, William Neill. AContinue reading “Celebrating a fine poet”

Friday March 3 Talk by John Nelson, author of On the Trail of a Broken Shoe Selkirk Arms High Street 2pm £3 The book is based on the true story of the last man hanged in Scotland for horse-stealing.  As part of John’s research, he rode a Clydesdale into the Highlands in 2011 following inContinue reading “A salutary tale”

Friday March 3 Feast Cafe 32 St Cuthbert Street 2pm Southlight 32 is the latest edition of the region’s illustrated literary magazine and this free event is a chance to meet the editors, listen to some brief readings and connect with other writers. The magazine will be on sale at £5. How to acquire your ticketsContinue reading “Magazine celebration”

Thursday March 2 World  Book Day – events for young readers Talk by Ayrshire-based children’s writer Greta Yorke Kirkcudbright Library  Daar Road Free event 11am Greta is the author of books including Witch Hitch, which won  the under 7s category in the Scottish Association of Writers’ Competition in 2010 and was published in 2015, featuringContinue reading “Events for young readers”

Thursday March 2 All In a Day’s Work, readings from a book based on the creative response of a group of writers to artifacts held in the Devil’s Porridge Museum, which commemorates the lives and work of the many people who laboured at HM Gretna to provide munitions for World War One. The Kirkcudbright Galleries, StContinue reading “All in a day’s work”

Thursday March 2 A talk on Scotland’s future and the independence debate by Gerry Hassan The Garret Hotel & Restaurant 116 High Street Kirkcudbright 11am £6 The independence debate is the defining issue of our times in Scotland with huge implications not just for the people who live here, but the rest of the UKContinue reading “Examining both sides of the big debate”

Wednesday March 1 Confessions of a Novice Motorcycle Guide Book Writer with J.G.Fergusson  Selkirk Arms High Street 2pm £5 J.G. Fergusson is a former BBC Scotland journalist/producer and author of several walking guides for the ‘Pocket Mountain’ series. Born in the Rhins of Galloway, and now living in Moffat, he has been riding motorbikes sinceContinue reading “A motorcycling celebration”

Tuesday February 28 Where Rivers Meet Join Hugh McMillan, Stuart Paterson, Clare Phillips and Nicola Black in an evening of poetry and song from four of the finest writers in contemporary Dumfries and Galloway. Station House Cookery School 56-58, St. Mary Street 7pm Tickets £8 How to acquire your tickets Tickets for both paid-for andContinue reading “Where rivers meet”

Tuesday February 28 Free on-line event Talking Of Crime…2pm A  Zoom event featuring crime writers from around Scotland, who will take readers on a tour of the country with each author explaining what effect the Scottish location of their books offers them as writers. Audience members  will then be able to ask questions. Writers takingContinue reading “Talking of crime”

Tuesday February 28 A Meeting of Minds with The Gallery Writers, Stewartry Writers and Kirkcudbright Poetry Group The Kirkcudbright Galleries St Mary Street 11am Free event Members of the three Kirkcudbright-based writing groups perform together for the first time, presenting a mixture of prose and poetry. How to acquire your tickets Tickets for both paid-forContinue reading “A meeting of minds”

Monday February 27 Walk on the Dark Side – crime fiction event Broughton House, 12 High St. 7. 30pm £7 Spend an evening with crime writers Jackie Baldwin, Ian Robinson, Ann Bloxwich and John Dean as they explore the art of crime writing, illustrated through examples from their crime novels. Having spent twenty-seven years inContinue reading “A walk on the dark side”

Monday February 27 Screening of ‘S.R.Crockett: The Kirkcudbright Connection’ (20 minutes) followed by virtual chat/ Q&A with Cally Phillips of Galloway Raiders. The Kirkcudbright Galleries, St Mary Street 11am £5 S.R.Crockett (1859-1914) is the most famous and prolific novelist of Galloway. His stories range across the region, but his Kirkcudbright connection is little known. The shortContinue reading “Celebrating one of our own”

Kirkcudbright author Anne Micklethwaite, a member of the town’s Gallery Writers group,  has published a collection of poetry. A Cup of  Tea and a Poem reflects the way that Anne’s work often echoes the legendary Japanese female poets who identified with the cycles of nature in order to deal with loss. This is clearly shownContinue reading “Poetry collection is published”