Exciting events ahead for NessBookFest 2023!
NessBookFest is returns from 28th-30th September, and we are so looking forward to welcoming audience members – both new and returning – to our 2023 events!
Our headline event features award-winning comedian, writer, and co-presenter of BBC Radio’s The Infinite Monkey Cage, Robin Ince, where he will be speaking about his latest book, Bibliomanic. After its success last year, our lively Poetry Slam is making a return and will again see the winner go through to the Scottish Slam finals which take place in Glasgow early next year. Jenny and Annie from hit podcast Stories of Scotland will be sharing some of their favourite legends, myths, and traditional stories from the Highlands and Islands, retold through a queer lens.
Fiona Gillan Kerr will launch her novel, The Bone on the Beach, at the festival. It is a reimagining of the ancient Celtic legend of ‘Dierdre of the Sorrows’, told as a contemporary ghost story and mystery. On top of all this, Mel MacKay is running one of her ever-popular Meet the Books sessions at Inverness library, and there is a prize giving to celebrate the success and stories of the prize winners of our inaugural NBF Writing competition.
In keeping with NBF’s ethos, all events are free of charge and can be booked via Ticket Tailor by searching for NessBookFest on that platform. Links to tickets are also provided on our social media pages and here on the website.
NBF suggest it is advisable for audience members to bring cash if they wish to purchase books from authors at in-person events.
We are again partnering with many local venues and organisations, including Inverness Library, the Junction Church, Bike Shed, The Beaufort Hotel and Waterstones, and we gratefully acknowledge funding and support from the Scottish Book Trust and Inverness Paving. Details of venue locations and event specifics can be found below as well as on our social media.
We hope you can join us for this year’s book festival. Have a gander at our wonderful events below and book your weekend’s activities!
2023 Programme
Thursday 28th September
17.00 – The Bone on the Beach by Fiona Gillan Kerr
Inverness Library
The Bone on the Beach is a contemporary mystery and ghost story – the Celtic legend of Deirdre of the Sorrows reimagined for the modern day.
Defined as the most tragic of all Celtic legends, it is the tale of a young girl, trapped by men’s perceptions and the expectations of her community. Her only means of escape endangers her life and the lives of those she loves. In this contemporary retelling, two stories and lives are interwoven – that of Deirdre and of Meghan Bell – who, fifteen years later, revisits the mystery of Deirdre, seeking the truth behind the legend.
The author, Fiona Gillan Kerr, will read an excerpt from her book, sign copies, and discuss the inspirations behind her work.
This event is free but ticketed.
19.30 – Stories of Scotland Podcast – Queer as Folklore: LGBTQ+ Legends of the Highlands & Islands
The Beaufort Hotel
Join Jenny and Annie from hit podcast Stories of Scotland as they share some of their favourite legends, myths, and traditional stories from the Highlands and Islands retold through a queer lens. With the style of warm storytelling that you would expect in front of a fire in a rural bothy, Jenny and Annie give their own rainbow twist to some fascinating lore.
A dangerous adventure to the otherworld, with stories to make you laugh and cry at the wonders of fairies, selkies, ghosts and more. Through these tales, we transport the audience to the cold North seas, the majestic mountains, and some unsuspecting Highlands villages.
Look out for book-in-development based on queer retellings of Highland folklore with support from Creative Scotland.
This event is free but ticketed.
Friday 30th September
18.30 – NBF Poetry Slam 2023
The Bike Shed
Poets go head-to-head to be crowned the NBF Poetry Slam Champion 2023!
Join us for an evening of poetry at The Bike Shed!
Poets will go head-to-head in a battle to be crowned the new NBF Poetry Slam Champion 2023 and book their place in the Scottish Finals in 2024.
Watch a diverse range of poets perform their work and be judged and scored on their performances with a champion of poetry emerging by the end of the night!
This event is free but ticketed.
Saturday 30th September
10.30 – Meet the Books: ‘Science, or Science Fiction?’
Inverness Library
Meet the Books: ‘Science, or Science Fiction?’ Mel MacKay explores what the future may have looked like in the 19th century, while sharing examples from an Inverness Library collection unavailable to the public: ‘Right to Fly’ and ‘Channel Runner’.
This event is free but ticketed.
13.30 – NBF Writing Competition Winners Event
Inverness Library
Join us in the Inverness Library to hear the all the highly commended and winning pieces of the NBF writing competition read by the authors.
We love showcasing new writing talent. It’s one of the things that drives us to put together our wee festival every year. So what better way to celebrate new talent than to hear these great compositions read by the authors themselves?!
NBF 2023 has a theme of ‘Future’ which entrants were encouraged to interpret however they chose in their short story and we had some fantastic entries!
Their will be a chance to hear the pieces from all categories – primary, secondary and adult, as well as a small prize giving ceremony!
This event is free but ticketed.
19.30 – Robin Ince: BIBLIOMANIAC – An Obsessive’s Tour of the Bookshops of Britain
Junction Church
Why play to 12,000 people when you can play to 12? In Autumn 2021, Robin Ince’s stadium tour with Professor Brian Cox was postponed due to the pandemic. Rather than do nothing, he decided he would instead go on a tour of over a hundred bookshops, from Wigtown to Penzance; from Swansea to Margate.
Packed with anecdotes and tall tales, Bibliomaniac follows Robin up and down the country in his quest to discover just why he can never have enough books.
ROBIN INCE is co-presenter of the award-winning BBC Radio 4 show and podcast, The Infinite Monkey Cage. He has toured his award-winning stand-up across the world, both solo and with his radio double-act partner, Professor Brian Cox. He is the author of ‘I’m a Joke and So Are You’ and ‘The Importance of Being Interested’.
This event is free but ticketed.
Further Information
Tickets: All events are free and should be booked through Ticket Tailor (click on the links beside the above events or search for NessBookFest and the event title on http://www.tickettailor.com.
Venues:
Inverness Library, Farraline Park, Inverness IV1 1NH
Junction Church, Bank Street, Inverness IV1 1QU
The Bike Shed, Grant Street, Inverness IV3 8BN
Further information:
Email: nbfinverness@gmail.com
NessBookFest Facebook, Twitter & Instagram feeds
Website: www.nessbookfest.com
Donations:
In keeping with NessBookFest’s ethos of #nobarriers, all events are free of charge. However, in order to secure a free-access festival in the future, we welcome donations should audience members feel inclined. Cash buckets will be present at live events and arrangements will also be in place for digital donations.
Funders:
NessBookFest is grateful to the following sponsors and supporters, The Scottish Book Trust and Inverness Paving.
NessBookFest 