Line-up to be announced for this year's NessBookFest in Inverness

Programmes for NessBookFest will be handed out in the Eastgate Shopping Centre this Saturday

Now fully funded through the generosity of a range of backers, NessBookFest in October has been supported by Creative Scotland, the Inverness Common Good Fund and the Scottish Book Trust through its Live Literature scheme.

“We are delighted to be bringing such a wide and exciting range of literary events to Inverness this October,’” chairwoman Barbara Henderson said.

“We’ll be handing out programmes in the Eastgate opposite Waterstones tomorrow and also visit the library. All events are free and we have some brilliant new venues and exciting collaborations.”

Since being founded by local volunteers in 2016, NessBookFest has grown in size and ambition.

This year, guests will include international best-selling author Lucy Foley, TV historian and author Sarah Fraser and award-winning crime writer Margaret Kirk, but the organisers also pride themselves on featuring local and emerging voices.

One such event is a local poetry showcase featuring Kirsteen Bell from Lochaber, Stephen Keeler from Ullapool and Black Isle resident Lynn Valentine.

There are schools events too,

with the “record-breaking read-in” and inter-school book quiz set to return.

The programme also features outreach events to Highland Hospice and Raigmore Hospital wards, a sizeable Gaelic strand and an outdoors double-bill featuring dolphin conservationist Charlie Phillips.

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