Diaries at the ready, booklovers! Borders Book Festival, a favourite on the literary calendar amongst audiences and authors alike, is back this June at its spiritual home of Harmony Garden, Melrose, in the Scottish Borders.
Running this year from Thursday 13th to Sunday 16th June, the annual extravaganza will feature over four days the very best and brightest voices from the worlds of literature, entertainment, politics, sport, health and lifestyle, with more than 100 events planned, offering something for every taste, whim and interest.
Festival Directors Alistair Moffat and Paula Ogilvie have given just a few hints at some of the big names appearing this summer, including: bestselling novelist David Nicholls, acclaimed author of, amongst others, One Day, which was a huge hit on publication back in 2009 and was recently released as a Netflix mini-series to rave reviews; children’s writing royalty Sir Michael Morpurgo OBE, now celebrating 50 years since first being published, author of more than 150 books, co-founder of the charity Farms for Children, President of Booktrust and former Children’s Laureate (2003-2005); and BBC Scotland stalwart and celebrated author Sally Magnusson in conversation with fellow BBC legend Kirsty Wark about her 30 years on flagship BBC show Newsnight in an Adam & Company session celebrating brilliant women in the media and all that it means for society at large.
The full book festival programme is to be revealed on Wednesday 24th April, after which tickets will go on sale at www.bordersbookfestival.org.
The Baillie Gifford Children’s Programme takes place throughout the day on the Saturday and Sunday (15th & 16th June), bursting at the seams with events to inspire, excite, educate and expand young minds – plus it’s great fun for the adults, too!
Alistair Moffat, Director of the Borders Book Festival, said:
“It’s spring at long last, and it’s that wonderful time of year when we open our June diaries and look ahead to four light, warm (hopefully rain-free) days, spent in a haze of bookish chat, food and drink village indulgence and long-overdue catch-ups amid the marquees.”
“This year the Borders Book Festival will offer literature alongside lively discussion, comedy twinned with quiet contemplation, political debate set against personal life stories, and sporting prowess on display alongside stars from stage and screen. There really is something for everybody, and we can’t wait to let you into the full line-up!”
The winner of this year’s prestigious £25,000 Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction, last year won by Lucy Caldwell for These Days, will once again be announced at a special event at the book festival, having recently been taken under the wing of The Abbotsford Trust, a fitting return for the Prize to the home of Sir Walter Scott himself.
For more information on the longlist of twelve titles, go to: /www.walterscottprize.co.uk/news-and-media/
Box Office opens at 12 noon on Wednesday 24th April with tickets available at www.bordersbookfestival.org or by calling 0131 290 2112.
Book Festival and author images are available to download here