BOOKMARK Book Festival

Perthshire's Book Festival

BOOKMARK 2024

AGM Saturday 18 May 2024

As we were only too painfully aware, Blairgowrie became an island on the second day of our 2023 Festival.

With that in mind, let's imagine ourselves on a rather drier and hotter island and choose a book that we would take with us.
I would love to compile a list of 
BOOKMARK members' Desert Island Books 
and present this to you all at the 
AGM. 
Talking about these choices would provide an engaging, amusing and highly informative session!

Please email me 
gewylie@btinternet.com 
your choice of book ('box sets' are allowed!) 
by 
11 May, please.  
Time for me to put the list together before we all set sail.

AND...

If you would like to discover more about the plays in the current season at 
Perth Theatre, 
I'm giving 45 minute talks on
 
April 18 - Moby Dick and 
May 2 - Joe Orton and What the Butler Saw.

The talks start at 6.00pm and cost £2 (if you're not a Friend, otherwise they are free)  
You don't have to go to that evening's performance and I finish in time for people to get to other commitments.
Perth Theatre is not a 'rep' company so these are all visiting productions and I have been really impressed by everything I've seen so far. For instance,The Time Machine has been nominated for an Olivier Award.

All details at www.perththeatreandconcerthall.com




 BOOKMARK Book Festival 

presents 

Sir Alexander (Sandy) McCall Smith

at Perth Theatre.  

This much loved writer will be joined by his friend and acclaimed journalist
 Magnus Linklater:
their wide-ranging  and captivating conversation will travel from Botswana to Edinburgh,
alongside his rich and hugely engaging cast of characters including
Mrs Ramotswe and Isabel Dalhousie.
Sandy McCall Smith’s love of music, poetry, art and so many other interests
will also feature in this unmissable and highly entertaining event.

 For ticket information, please click here

  For all our other events please click here.


What's On - In Conversation 
with
Sir Ian Rankin and Gregory Burke

Perth Theatre
Friday 17 May 2024
12.00

For more information, please click here



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:

BOOKMARK AGM and Desert Island Books
Saturday 18 May

BOOKMARK AGM and Desert Island Books

Location: St Catharine's Community Centre, 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 May 2024

This month’s BOOKMARK AGM on the 18th has a Desert Island Theme, which of course got me thinking about what I would take Skipping quickly past the BOOKMARK...

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Kate Davies' Book Selection for April 2024

Foolery is afoot as we enter April, and Loki, the Norse God of Mischief, is in full swing. A dash of nonsense to start us...

Books of the Month

May 2024

Caledonian Road

Caledonian Road by Andrew O'Hagan

One Hour of Fervour by Muriel Barbery

A Thousand Ships by Natalie Haynes

The Bee Sting by Paul Murray

No one Saw a Thing by Andrea Mara

See Details >>

Testimonials

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.