Thriller writer Christopher Brookmyre and bakery queen Flora Shedden will be among the star attractions at a popular Perthshire book festival.
The annual Bookmark event has gone from strength to strength since its launch in 2013.
Now organisers have revealed their impressive line-up for the 2017 festival, to be held at venues around Blairgowrie this October.
The curtain will raise on Friday, October 6 with a visit from acclaimed author Christopher Brookmyre who shot to fame with his 1996 debut novel Quite Ugly One Morning.
He will be at the town’s community campus to discuss Want You Gone, the follow-up to 2016’s McIvanney Prize winner Black Widow, in which a journalist is blackmailed by a devious hacker.
Later in the evening, writer Rachel Crowther will introduce her new novel, Every Secret Thing, a tale of friendship, betrayal and second chances.
The festival continues on Saturday, October 7, with a visit from former anti-sleaze MP Martin Bell OBE. The ex-broadcaster, one of the country’s best known war reporters, will talk about his latest title, War and The Death of News.
Great British Bake Off star Flora Shedden will be along in the afternoon to discuss her first cookbook Gatherings and the imminent launch of her new bakery in Dunkeld.
Other authors attending include Lin Anderson, Ron Butlin and former Home Secretary Alan Johnson, who will speak about his latest release, the Long and Winding Road.
The Blairgowrie Players will bring the festival to a close the following afternoon with a performance in the town hall.
Chairing this year’s festival will be Bookmark patron, award-winning broadcaster and Courier columnist Fiona Armstrong.
Tickets are now available for each event. A festival booking office will open nearer the time.
Perth and Kinross Council’s head of culture Fiona Robertson – who is spearheading the 2021 City of Culture bid – has praised the event. “Over the years, the team behind Bookmark has worked tirelessly to build it up and make it a key feature of the Perth and Kinross events calendar.
“Since the first festival in 2013, Bookmark has become not just a lively exploration of books and words, but a celebration of what communities can do by working together and bring something special to the local area.”
Details of bookings and times are at the Bookmark website.
