Bloody Scotland 2018

BLOODY SCOTLAND INTERNATIONAL CRIME WRITING FESTIVAL REVEALS 2018 PROGRAMME INCLUDING TORCHLIGHT PROCESSION TO THE OPENING EVENT & A STELLAR CAST OF NAMES

21-23 SEPTEMBER 2018

Bloody Scotland was thrilled to launch our 2018 programme in Stirling today with Alexander McCall Smith and we revealed that the festival will close on 23 September with Irvine Welsh. The London launch will take place in Waterstones Piccadilly at 6.30pm tomorrow evening. All welcome.

This year's gala opening will take place on Friday 21 September where we will present the McIlvanney Prize for Scottish Crime Book of the Year. Denise Mina and Val McDermid will then lead a torchlight procession - which the public are very much encouraged to participate in - to their event followed by a performance from the Fun Lovin' Crime Writers.

Other leading authors on the programme include international superstar Louise Penny, Ann Cleeves, Chris Brookmyre, Mark Billingham,  Peter James, Stuart Macbride, Quintin Jardine, Denzil Meyrick, Martyn Waites and Bloody Scotland board members old (Lin Anderson, Craig Robertson, Gordon Brown) and new (Abir Mukherjee).

There are also experts in their field including BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner, forensic scientists Dr Richard Shepherd and Professor Sue Black, Kate Bendelow, author of The Real CSI and consultant anaesthetist, Dr Marisa Haetzman who forms the other half of Ambrose Parry along with husband Chris Brookmyre.

Two book to TV events follow last year's sell out event with Ann Cleeves and Douglas Henshall. MC Beaton will be appearing with cast and crew of her Agatha Raisin series and Helen Fitzgerald with an actor from the new TV adaptation of The Cry.

On the international front we have a very special relationship with the Word Festival in Christchurch and will be welcoming Fiona Sussman and Paul Cleave, two winners of the Ngaio Marsh Prize, thanks to funding from Creative New Zealand.

Bloody Scotland likes to nurture new talent ranging from our 'support acts' who read from their newly published books before the headliners in the Albert Halls to the aspiring authors who get the chance to pitch their ideas to a panel of publishers and agents. Alison Belsham who won Pitch Perfect two years ago will be back this year with her debut The Tattoo Thief which has just been published by Trapeze.

The Golden Lion will remain the social hub of the Festival with a Waterstones bookshop, well-stocked bar, the ballroom for events and green room / press office. The Albert Halls will remain the largest venue with capacity for 700 and we will also be using Allan Park South Church with bookshops at each.

There continues to be a discount for local residents, tickets for the unemployed and we continue to improve disabled access with a mini bus between venues for those that need it.

Perennial favourites the quiz, the play and the Scotland v England crime writers football match (this year captained by Chris Brookmyre and Mark Billingham) will all be back along with last year's surprise hit, a live podcast hosted by Steve Cavanagh & Luca Veste which generated as many laughs as the Crime at the Coo cabaret. We will also be presenting our first ever musical, an original piece from the pen of Sophie Hannah.

Pictures from today’s launch can be downloaded here:

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/p9x4qnbndms64mh/AAAUH0P0sjJdNCSLy3d9fGnja?dl=0

TICKETS:

Press passes will be issued to journalists with appropriate accreditation. Please report to the press office in the Golden Lion on arrival. However please note that due to the popularity and small size of the venue free tickets cannot be issued for the Curly Coo.

Tickets will go on sale to the public from 12pm on Monday 4 June from www.bloodyscotland.com or at the Box Office in the Tolbooth Stirling or in the Albert Halls. Free standby tickets are available to the unemployed or those on a low income on the day of the event if there is good availability. Proof of eligibility is required and tickets are limited to one person. A 10% discount is available to people residing in the Stirling Council area. You must give your address at the time of booking. Visit www.bloodyscotland.com/localdiscount for details

This year Bloody Scotland coincides with a number of other Scottish literary festivals, why not take the opportunity to move on from Stirling to the infamous Wigtown Book Festival which runs until 30 September.