BOOKMARK Book Festival

Perthshire's Book Festival

BOOKMARK 2024

Another successful BOOKMARK festival.

 Hundreds of people enjoyed the 12th edition of the popular BOOKMARK festival at Blairgowrie Community Campus on 5 and 6 October.

11 events took place over the two days of the main Blairgowrie and Rattray book festival in a line-up that featured award-winning writers, household names and exciting new talent. Among those appearing at the festival this year were Sally Magnusson, Douglas Skelton, Karen Campbell, Mollie Hughes, Laura Shepherd-Robinson, James Jauncey, Billy Kay, SG MacLean, Chris Whitaker,  D V Bishop, Karen Campbell, Chris Brookmyre and Marisa Haetzmann (Ambrose Parry), Natalie Russell, Mollie Hughes, Merryn Glover, Allan Radcliffe, Zoë Strachan, Louise Welsh, Jamie Jauncey and James Robertson.

The winner of the 2024 BOOKMARK Book of the Year award was announced as Clear by Carys Davies, while the winners of the Christine Findlay Prize for pupils at Blairgowrie High School were announced by Charlotte Stormont of Scone Palace as Erin McWilliam for her short story and Rowan Wightman for her illustration. 

“What a weekend it’s been! “From the importance of illustration, adventures at the southern-most tip of the world, families through the generations, painstaking research, writing techniques and practices, and trauma, to art as escapism and a healing force, writing as therapy, telling the stories you’ve always wanted to tell and choosing your own endings in life, it’s been another thought-provoking, interesting and insightful BOOKMARK festival. Our audiences were very attentive and asked some very pertinent and probing questions of our writers, who all - without exception – were engaging, entertaining and so generous with their time. It was great to introduce new authors to BOOKMARK this year and to welcome back returning favourites."

The guest writers praised the event as well. Laura Shepherd-Robinson commented: “The only thing that can make Blairgowrie in October even more splendid is a load of great books and a great festival to showcase them and BOOKMARK delivers this.” Allan Radcliffe said: “I absolutely loved BOOKMARK, it’s brilliantly well organised. I love festivals that are run by volunteers as they have a real sense of ownership of the event that’s really infectious. Everyone at BOOKMARK was very professional and bent over backwards to facilitate the event and make everyone feel comfortable. The venue is stunning and I was pleased and relieved by how many people came along, how interested they were and the questions they had.” And Chris Whitaker said: “I have been all round America, the UK and Europe and BOOKMARK is my favourite book festival - and I’m not just saying that! I have been looking forward to this event for the whole year and it has been a highlight of the book tour. Everyone was so kind and generous and happy to see me which I really appreciated and I really hope to be able to come back again.”

"Thank you so much to all the wonderful writers and chairs for making it another year to remember, our amazing team of volunteers who work so hard to make it all happen, Adventure into Books, our sponsors including the Gannochy Trust and The Findlay Family;  local businesses  A Proctor Group Ltd, Castle Water and Hodge Solicitors LiP, the technical team from Perth Theatre and Concert Hall, Something Special Flowers, and of course to all our audiences for being so supportive, attentive and enthusiastic.

This chapter may have closed for BOOKMARK 2024, but we will be back on Saturday, November 16, at the St Catharine’s Centre for our last event of the year, a meet the author session with Philip Paris.And of course, we’ll see you all again in 2025!”

Gail Wylie
BOOKMARK Chair

Philip Paris
discussing his compelling novel 
The Last Witch of Scotland

Tickets available from:
Treasurer Rhona Christie  01250 875613
rhona.maclean@yahoo.co.uk

also

Adventure into Books
01250 872852


Background:

BOOKMARK established in 2012, has developed a reputation for being a friendly, well organised Book Festival which offers a wide range of events to suit all interests.

Our Next Event:

Meet the Author - Philip Paris
Saturday 16 November

Meet the Author - Philip Paris

Location: St Catharine's Community Centre, Blairgowrie PH10 6EY

More info >>
All Upcoming Events >>

Find Out More:

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Events Calendar

Find out what we have planned for you in 2024 ...

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Authors

BOOKMARK has, right from the start, attracted important writers. Look who has been with us!

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Committee

Our Committee and find out how to get involved.

more about us

Latest News

blog photo
Kate Davies' Book Selection for November 2024

Wow! What a festival. A feast of powerful stories – personal and fictional: inspiring, gravity-defying, heart-wrenching, thought-provoking, fun. Truly something for everyone. I’m already looking...

blog photo
Kate Davies's Book Selection for October 2024

It’s show time! Festival Month is finally here, and what a weekend of treats to look forward to.  We can take it as read that...

Books of the Month

November 2024

The Last Witch of Scotland

The Last Witch of Scotland by Philip Paris

The Specimen by Jaima Fixsen

There are Rivers in the Sky by Elif Shafak

Tell Me Everything by Elizabeth Strout

The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store by James McBride

The Burning Stones by Antti Tuomainen

Cairn by Kathleen Jamie

See Details >>

Testimonials

author photo Sir Alexander McCall Smith Author

Quote

Having just done an event for BOOKMARK in anticipation of the festival, I can thoroughly recommend this celebration of books and all that they mean. Do try to get along to some of the BOOKMARK events – you will have a most enjoyable time.

author photo Caroline Milligan

BOOKMARK 2022 - It was lovely to be back in Blairgowrie and at the festival again, and great to have another opportunity to see Jock's Jocks.  Well done on another hugely successful festival to you and your brilliant team... all the best Caroline. P.s - I bought the new Andrew Greig from the festival bookshop and was pleased to see it came out top in your festival books.



author photo Christopher Brookmyre

BOOKMARK 2022 - Many thanks for inviting me back. Marisa and I had a lovely time, and the audience were gratifyingly warm and appreciative. Chris

author photo Clare Hunter

BOOKMARK 2022 - Can I thank you and the Bookmark team for such an enjoyable afternoon with lovely hospitality and the delightful surprise of a goodie bag stuffed with such thoughtful thank yous. So, thank you all. Kind Regards Clare

author photo Lin Anderson

BOOKMARK 2022 - Hi Ladies, I wanted to say a big thank you for a wonderful weekend. It's such a pleasure to take part. So wonderfully organised and friendly...a joy. As you heard from Chris...not all festivals are like this!!! Many thanks again. Lin

author photo Maurice Millar

Dear Gail,  This is just a short note to thank you for offering me the opportunity to display my book at the Bookmark Festival this weekend... Thanks again.  Maurice

author photo Olga Wojtas

BOOKMARK 2022 - Thank you for a terrific Book Festival! All the sessions were brilliant, and it was incredible to have such variety. I didn't look in the goodie bag until I got home, and am stunned and delighted with all the wonderful contents, in particular the raspberry jam and the personalised bookmark!Hope Team BookmarkBlair manages to get some relaxation now, and we're looking forward to seeing you next year, Olga and Alistair

author photo Chris Whitaker

Message from Chris Whittaker - August 2022

It was only his second visit to Scotland and he loved his short time with us! 150 talks/chats about We Begin… and Gail, BOOKMARK Chair, managed to ask him a question he’d never been asked before!
'Thank you so much for having me, I’m already missing Blairgowrie!'

author photo Joshua Rozenberg QC and Mungo Bovey

Thank you so much. I'm now back in London, which seems very grey in comparison — though it is evening, I suppose. I had a lovely day out and enjoyed it all. Thank you for persevering with me and for looking after me so well. - JR


Thank you ...  It was a pleasure to meet you today and take part in your event which I thought was excellent. - MB

author photo Literary Lunch Attendees

Thanks to all who organised this excellent event! What a success! Insightful and engaging guest speaker and thoughtful introduction, interviewer and vote of thanks.  Quality food, stunning scenery, great company. 
Please can we have some more events like this - wonderful venue, meal, speakers and company.  Thank you.

author photo BOOKMARK attendee from Aberdeenshire

I love the Blairgowrie Book Festival. So glad it's taking place this year.

author photo Merryn Glover Author

Of Stone and Sky

An inspired move by this small but perfectly formed literary festival. 

https://twitter.com/merrynglover/status/1395467883661123586?s=11


author photo On-line Event with Richard Frazer & Olga Wojtas

Here are some of the wonderful remarks that attendees said at the end of the session:

Thank you to all those who have made this a lovely hour.

Thank you Richard for a great interpretation of your book and the modern meaning of pilgrimage.

author photo C J Schüler C J Schüler

Message from C J Schüler - October 2020

I have just received the beautiful bookmark, your lovely card and your kind words about the book. Many, many thanks. That feels like a win in itself.   Hope to see you in Blairgowrie next year...

author photo Rachel Joyce Rachel Joyce

Message received from Rachel - October 2020

'What a wonderful boost this award has been for me.'  
Read more: https://www.facebook.com/230422897014589/posts/3454929907897189/?extid=0&d=n


author photo Ali Smith Author

Message received, by postcard, from Ali 2020

BOOKMARK was my favourite Festival.

author photo Olga Wojtas Author

Interviewed in 2020

I always love coming to BOOKMARK as the atmosphere is so friendly and encouraging. I think Gail Wylie is an inspiration and what she and the committee have done here with BOOKMARK is fantastic. This is one of the best book festivals in the country and has really put Blairgowrie on the map.

author photo Gerda Stevenson actor/ writer/ director/singer-songwriter

Interviewed in 2019

I love the welcome that the excellent, professional BOOKMARK team of wonderful women gives to its authors and its ability to always bring together a terrific audience – really very special.

author photo Ken Cox Patron

Interviewed in 2019

Very well done on the programming and organisation of the Festival. Most impressive again and getting Nicola Sturgeon to interview Ali Smith was a triumph. Proud to be associated with BOOKMARK.

author photo Dean Nelson Journalist

Interviewed in 2019

I would like to thank you for inviting me and for making Pamela and I so welcome…We had a wonderful time…BOOKMARK is a wonderful festival and if you ever need someone to chair a session or help in any way, I’d be delighted.