EIBF 2008: Monday 18th August

Two Scottish poets with a deep relationship to nature. Norman Bissell’s Slate, Sea and Sky travels from Glasgow to the open spaces of an Atlantic island – accompanied by the great Oscar Marzaroli’s photographs. Gerry Loose also combines photography and poetry inspired by Glasgow’s Botanic Gardens.

Business writing that is engaging and imaginative makes a better connection with its audience, whoever that may be, and whatever the message. In this hands-on workshop, leading business writer and novelist James Jauncey helps you discover how to put more of YOU into what you write at work. (Maximum 20 places)

A not-to-be-missed hour in the company of one of the foremost writers of our time. A L Kennedy's fifth novel Day, winner of the Costa Book of the Year, is a brilliantly realised and moving exploration of the simple brutality of war.

A double bill of spellbinding poetry. Jen Hadfield is an English poet living in Shetland; her second collection Nigh-no-Place has been widely acclaimed. Outstanding Scottish poet Donny O’Rourke reads from Cleft in My Heart, and introduces a suite of show-tune lyrics. With music by guitarist Dave Whyte of Ceolbeg.

Should writers follow their own heart and interests or is it better to follow the trends and write a bestseller? Leading Scottish publishers explain how and why they publish, what they look for in a manuscript, and the difficulties of chasing trends. Chaired by agent Jenny Brown.

Three of our finest crime writers reveal their influences. Lin Anderson’s latest novel Easy Kill centres on the killing of young prostitutes, and Alex Gray’s Pitch Black features the brutal stabbing of a footballer. Aline Templeton’s DI Fleming investigates two murders in rural Galloway in Lamb to the Slaughter.

We are delighted to have the extremely popular Chambers Language Quiz at the festival for another year! Come and join our panel guests, including Christopher Brookmyre, as they battle their brains against the weirdest and most wonderful language questions and conundrums. Chaired by Mark Billingham.

A glorious double bill featuring two of Scotland’s leading poets. David Kinloch reads from his new series of poems about Scottish painters and their relationship with France. Richard Price’s latest collection Greenfields lyrically evokes a childhood in Renfrewshire.

What was Scotland’s role in the British slave trade and the campaign to abolish it? The pre-eminent authority on modern Scottish history turns his attention to Scotland’s relationship to slavery and reflects that Scotland is only now, reluctantly, starting to reflect on the less heroic aspects of its involvement in the Empire. Chaired by Iain Macwhirter.

Travel writing with a twist. In Dreaming of Sweden, Andrew Brown describes his love-hate relationship with the country while examining the end of the Swedish Utopian dream. In Strange Telescopes Scottish writer Daniel Kalder relates his bizarre and comic adventures as he pursues a treasure hunt through the former Soviet Union.