2025 NBF Gallery – 1st to 3rd October and a little bit everywhere else

This year’s theme was Nature, and it started out all so well. Ian Chisholm had a brilliant whistle stop tour of a primary and secondary school in Inverness on our first day, while at night, Philip Paris took us through his book Fire in Their Hearts, a story based on the heartbreak, trials and separation many people experienced during the Scottish diaspora. Then Storm Amy rudely arrived, and the rest of the Festival was in tatters. It took a month to be able to host the majority of the rest of the events in November. Merryn Glover and LD Lapinski held fantastic workshops that were really engaging and fun at our new venue in the Discovery College in the Eastgate Centre. Shelagh Campbell brought her very funny book Ailig agus an Dalek Gàidhlig and kindly helped with the Young Writers Competition Awards. Sadly, the Billy Kay and Robyn Stapleton event has had to be postponed to the 2026 festival along with Ian Blythe’s Meet The Books and the UHI Writers Showcase. The NBF Poetry Slam is to be held in January. This has meant that we have now decided on a cancellation policy, and this explains what conditions we will cancel in without thinking about it too much.

Writing Competition Winners

Secondary School

First Prize: The Sneezin Season by Martha Brown and Erin Scott

Second Prize: An Owl in the Night by Oihane Heffer

Third Prize: My Safe Place by Jessica Bassy

Primary School:

First Prize: Moorlands of Ullapool by Palam Jones

Second Prize: A Year of Whispers in the Trees by Jessica Campbell

Third Prize: As I walk by Chloe Whitecross

Gaelic:

First Prize: Saoghal na Lusan Beòthail by Gideon Wilson

Second Prize: Ruith! By Catriona NicDhomhnaill

Third Prize: Orain Nadarra by Finlay MacMillian

2025 NBF Poetry Slam Winner: TBC Jan 17th 2026

2024 NBF Gallery – 26th to 28th September

In 2024, our theme was ‘Ambition’, and there was lots of it about. From the grand design of half the city of Inverness described by Calum MacLean’s fascinating talk on Inverness’s own famous architect, Alexander Ross. Helen MacPherson shared her incredible story of her love of Country and Western which led to a star studded career at Moray Firth Radio. Barbara Henderson joined in Inverness Library to tell the story of The Boy, The Witch and The Queen of Scots. Barbara also kindly presented the Writing Competition Awards prizes afterwards. Maggie Craig enthralled us with devious and daring do deeds of the Jacobites and their families.

Writing Competition Winners

This year, the competition was only open to Young Writers under the age of 18. The winners were:-

Gaelic winner: Miann bathte by Sophie Smith

Secondary School winners:-

First Prize: The Bookstore of Knowledge and Hope by Alex Agosto

Second Prize: The Universe Trio by Chloe Maclennan

Third Prize: The Words That Changed a Life by Rayhan Shah

Primary winner: Ambition by Omer Farooq

2024 NBF Poetry Slam Winner:

Lynsey Gilmore

2023 NBF Gallery

For 2023 we had ‘Future’ as a theme. To start with, Robin Ince shared his love of books and independent book shops across the UK at the Junction Church. Jenny and Annie from Stories of Scotland podcast graced us with a Live In person event at the Beaufort Hotel and regaled us with Scottish myths with a twist. Fiona Gillian Kerr launched her debut book Bones on the Beach at Inverness Library.

Writing Competition

This was our first year with our Writing Competition which included both Adult and Children’s Classes.

The Winners of each class in 2023 were:-

Adults

First Prize: His Working Future’s Past by Una Arran

Second Prize: Solemnity by Craigg Owens

Third Prize: Jubilee by Matthew Farmer

Secondary School

First Prize: 1 hour left by Emma De-vry

Second Prize: A Promising Future by Aimee Ross

Primary School

First Prize: Study No 48 by Noah Fraser

Second Prize: Future by Eliza Higgins

Third Prize: Dreaming of My Future by Millie Howes

2023 NBF Poetry Slam Winner:

Lynsey Gilmore

2022 NBF Gallery – 28th to 30th September

Our guest authors for 2022 included Shona MacLean who opened our festival with her latest book The Bookseller of Inverness which was most appropriate. Ruairidh Maclean led a guided walk along the banks of the Caledonian Canal. The Cinnamon Sisters (Jay Whittaker, Lynn Valentine and Leonie Charlton) were online with their own brand of accessible poetry. Helen Forbes delighted us with her book Shadow of the Hill. Ross MacKay enthralled the little ones at Inverness Library with history book Daddy’s Bad Day. Catriona Murray lead us through her biography of Gaelic poet and activist, Murdo MacFarlane and his contribution to the health of modern Gaelic. Aoife Lyall refected on her time with Butchers Dog and all things poetry. A Journalist panel consisting of Val Sweeney, Tom Ramage and Jane Cumming debated whether journalism is the first attempt at writing history or just words to sell papers under the canopy at the Simpsons Garden Centre. Jeff Zycinski closed our festival with his talk on his career in the BBC which was finished with the showing of ‘All The Presidents Men’ at Eden Court.

NBF 2022 Poetry Slam Winner:

Tim Williams