Authors booked in for Turriff book festival
NO FEWER than nine authors are taking part in the Turriff Book Fortnight which got underway yesterday (Monday) at Turriff Library and primary schools in celebration of local writers.
Authors Sheena Blackhall, Cathy Cassidy, Caroline Clough, Lari Don, Matthew Fitt, Debi Gliori, Cathy MacPhail, Tom Palmer and Linda Strachan will be in attendance throughout the fortnight to give talks to primary and pre-school children in and around the area.
SIGNED BOOKS
Books by these authors were on sale in Turriff Library in the lead-up to the event to give people the chance to get their books signed. Children can also request books free online if they are members of the library.
Aberdeenshire Libraries has also just launched a service called ‘Overdrive’ that allows members to download books to iPods and electronic books, and some of the visiting authors’ books will be available through the service.
Councillor Richard Stroud, chairman of Aberdeenshire Council’s education, learning and leisure committee, said: "Turriff Book Fortnight is a fantastic way to get young people to join and use their local library as well as the chance to meet award-winning local authors and encourage literary skills too."
Doric speaker and poet Sheena Blackhall is working with pre-school classes this year and recently wrote poems about the Turra Coo statue.
Cathy Cassidy, author of Angel Cake, Sundae Girl and Dizzy, has been shortlisted for a Grampian Book Award and fellow shortlisted author Cathy MacPhail will be at the event and has recently won the Royal Mail Award with her book Grass.
MacPhail has also written the Nemesis thriller series, Run Zan Run, Roxy’s Baby and the Granny Nothing series.
Caroline Clough is a new author on the scene from Fyvie. Her book Red Fever is set in Aberdeenshire and won the Kelpie Award for Children’s Fiction.
Lari Don is author of First Aid for Fairies and other Fabled Beasts, The Mountain’s Blood, Wolf Notes and The Big Bottom Hunt.
EDUCATION
Matthew Fitt is joint founder of ‘Itchy Co’ an educational project to reintroduce children to the Scots tongue and is author of The Eejits, Blethertoun Braes, But N Ben A-Go-Go, Kate O’Shanter’s Tale and other poems.
Debi Gliori is author and illustrator of the Witch Baby and the Pure Dead series as well as the Mr Bear books.
Tom Palmer is renowned for his football stories and has been shortlisted for a Blue Peter Book Award. He is best known for his Football Academy and Foul Play series.
Linda Strachan writes for younger children and teenagers and is author of the Hamish McHaggis series and Spider.
For more information contact Turriff Library on 01888 562539 or email turriff.library@aberdeenshire.gov.uk