EIBF - Tuesday 16th August

One of the keys to a successful story is to create characters which connect with readers, weaving the words on the page together to present a cast of believable beings that readers will love or love to hate. In this workshop, acclaimed Scottish crime writer Lin Anderson, creator of the Rhona MacLeod series, explains the elements required to build convincing fictional characters. Sold Out.

An actor whose appearances include The Last King of Scotland, David Ashton is also a renowned author of plays and TV adaptations – not to mention his growing reputation as a writer of historical thrillers set in Edinburgh. For today's drama-filled event he reads from A Trick of the Light, the latest in his popular series featuring Inspector McLevy. It's the 1860s and McLevy forges a partnership with Arthur Conan Doyle in pursuit of a ruthless killer.

Born in Malta and raised in Hong Kong, this Scottish cyclist and Tour de France stage winner is banned for life from appearing in the Olympic Games after a doping scandal in 2004. But he has refused to stay bitter and is looking ahead to competing in the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games. Millar reflects on his career with Richard Moore, author of several books on cycling, including a powerful new account, Sky's the Limit. Sold Out.

To describe Brookmyre as simply a crime writer is to woefully underestimate the breadth of his skills. He's a raconteur, singer and comedian manqué and his events are always among the best loved and hilarious of any in Edinburgh. The bestselling Scottish author has just published a new crime thriller that re-affirms his status as one of the most seriously talented writers in his field. Sold Out.