EIBF - Thursday 25th August

Glasgow provides the backdrop for haunting novels by writers with stellar talents and reputations that are going into orbit. Harris' second novel Gillespie and I tells the story of a tragedy in 1888 at the time of Glasgow's International Exhibition. Meanwhile Raisin's Waterline – also his second novel – takes place in today's city when an out of work former shipbuilder is considering his options now that his wife is dead. Chaired by Jackie McGlone.

After last year's unforgettable memoir Red Dust Road comes a new collection of poetry from the Scottish writer. Fiere is Scots for 'companion, friend, equal' and it vividly describes the many paths our lives take, and how those journeys are made meaningful by our companions on the road. Written with wit and flair, this is an intriguing account of how an identity is formed and the discovery of a language that best honours it.

At the dawn of the 17th century everyone believed the Sun revolved around the Earth, yet some began to suspect otherwise. The Sky's Dark Labyrinth by Stuart Clark is the novelised story of Kepler and Galileo, men whose struggles changed our world forever. Testament of a Witch is the second of Watt's John MacKenzie series in which the advocate investigates the murder of a woman accused of witchcraft. But will he act quickly when the same claims are made against her daughter?

In his review of James Robertson's And the Land Lay Still, Irvine Welsh described it as 'nothing less than a landmark for the novel in Scotland', underlining the author's position as 'one of Britain's best contemporary novelists'. In this very special event Robertson discusses his epic story of Scotland's recent history with Welsh – celebrated author of Trainspotting and its soon-to-be published prequel, Skagboys.

With books that blur the boundaries between genre fiction and literature, Welsh has built a singular reputation in Scotland and abroad. In this event she discusses her most recent book, Naming the Bones, as well as giving an exclusive reading from her forthcoming novel – one that's so fresh she hasn't finished writing it yet. All we know for sure is that it pays homage to Henry James' novella The Turn of the Screw.

Carol Ann Duffy first discovered poetry through reading other people's verse at school. 'A love poem in a quiet English lesson seemed as startling and exotic as a wild bird flying in through the classroom window,' she wrote recently. Now, the Poet Laureate returns the compliment, presenting poems from her own forthcoming collection The Bees. Her poetry is given added flight by musician John Sampson with his recorders, crumhorns and other instruments.