Edinburgh International Book Festival: Wednesday 19th August

10.15am - Fiction - Regi Claire and Andrea McNicoll

Let these sublime short stories, pitch-perfect and revealing of entire lives, transform the rest of your day. In Scottish-Swiss author Regi Claire’s collection Fighting It, characters battle to retain their belief in themselves. The beautifully-crafted interlinking tales of Andrea McNicoll’s début Moonshine in the Morning present an unforgettable cast of strong-minded women clinging to traditional village life in Thailand.

5pm - Literature - Gill Arbuthnott and Barry Cunningham

Barry Cunningham is best known as the editor who ‘discovered’ J K Rowling. Now managing director of his own children’s book publishing company, Chicken House, Barry is still dedicated to fostering emerging talent. One of his newest Scottish authors, Gill Arbuthnott, joins him in this event to explore the evolution of her cracking epic Keepers’ Daughter and its path to publication.

6.30pm - Fiction - Ian Rankin

The creator of Rebus has also written graphic novels, opera libretti, song lyrics and most recently a short novel, A Cool Head. What else has Ian Rankin got up his sleeve? Come and find out in an hour of relaxed and witty conversation with one of Edinburgh’s most prolific and best-loved literary figures.

6.45pm - Masterclass - How to Make a Publisher Say Yes

Think you've written a great book but can't find an agent or publisher? Desperate to catch that elusive contract? Want to avoid pitfalls and make a perfect pitch? Hear the no-nonsense and thought-provoking advice of Nicola Morgan, who has made a publisher say ‘yes’ on many occasions and is the creator of the acclaimed blog Help! I Need a Publisher.

8.30pm - Poetry - Michael Russell: Selected Works

Since February 2009, Michael Russell has been Scotland’s new Minister for Culture and the man charged with delivering the new Creative Scotland. He has had a long and distinguished career in politics working closely with the SNP leadership. Outside the political arena he is a renowned commentator, newspaper columnist and author of several books. Come and find out what inspires him as he picks his favourite poems, in discussion with Robyn Marsack, director of the Scottish Poetry Library.

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  A Cool Head - Ian Rankin - Paperback
  Gravy worked in the graveyard - hence the name. He was having a normal day until his friend Benjy turned up in a car Gravy didn't recognise. Benjy had a bullet hole in his chest, but lived just long enough to ask Gravy to hide him and look after his gun.
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  Fighting It - Regi Claire - Paperback
  Each of the stories in 'Fighting It' illustrates an aspect of the title phrase: they focus on people struggling with their individual lives and destinies.
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  The Keepers' Daughter - Gill Arbuthnott - Paperback
  Ten years ago, Alaric, leader of the Shadowmen, killed many of the Keepers - the teachers and bearers of ancient knowledge threatening his barbaric rule. Now rebellion is flaring up in the Archipelago again and the Shadowmen are out hunting for Keepers once more.
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  Moonshine In The Morning - Andrea McNicoll - Paperback
  'Moonshine in the Morning' presents an unforgettable cast of strong-minded women and their wayward husbands clinging to village life in Thailand before the relentless advance of modernity.