Events
The Bookmark is keen to stimulate community enthusiasm in all things literary. We aim to bring interesting, exciting authors to Grantown, both established names and those starting out on their writing careers. We have hosted a range of events including author talks and discussions, in addition to supporting a number of book groups that meet regularly. The Bookmark is also responsible for organising Grantown’s annual Wee Crime Festival which runs in the autumn. Know as ‘Dark Nights, Dark Deeds… Death in Grantown’ and the 7th festival took place in November of 2019.
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Upcoming events
Peak Beyond Peak: the Unpublished Scottish Journeys of Isobel Wylie Hutchison
6th May, 2022: 7:30pm
Join Hazel Buchan Cameron in conversation with Merry Glover to discuss the book, “Peak Beyond Peak: The Unpublished Scottish Journals of Isobel Wylie Hutchison”.
Thursday 20th October from 7:30pm at the Grantown Museum in association with The Bookmark.
Dark Nights, Dark Deeds, Death in Grantown
The Wee CrimeFest
Friday 28 Oct.
Pie, Pint and a Play: Carry on Sleuthing – A Death on the Ocean Wave. A Play from Douglas Skelton, Michael Malone and special guests.
Saturday 29 Oct.
10:00 Does there have to be a murder? Michael Malone and Sharon Birder interviewed by Caro Ramsay.
12:00 Historical Crime – Douglas Skelton and Shona MacLean interviewed by Sharon Birder.
14:00 In Conversation – Lin Anderson and Caro Ramsay interviewed by Douglas Skelton.
16:00 Cliff House – Christopher Bookmyre interviewed by Michael Malone.
19:00 Crime and Dine – Dinner with the authors.
Saturday 29 Oct.
10:00 The Morning After the Crime Before – Bacon rolls and coffee, ticket includes author session below.
10:30 Highland Crime – Neil Lancaster and Gareth Halliday interviewed by Shona MacLean.
Tickets for all events available from The Bookmark.
Past events
6th May, 2021: 1-2pm
Book Launch: Of Stone and Sky by Merryn Glover
The Bookmark is excited to be the official bookseller of Of Stone and Sky and signed copies will be available to purchase, with a 10% discount. To pre-order, please visit The Bookmark shop or get in contact.
About the book
After Highland shepherd Colvin Munro disappears, a mysterious trail of his possessions is found in the Cairngorm mountains. Writing the eulogy for his memorial years later, his foundling-sister Mo seeks to discover why he vanished. Younger brother Sorley is also haunted by his absence and driven to reveal the forces that led to Colvin’s disappearance. Is their brother alive or dead?
Set on a farming estate in the upper reaches of the River Spey, Of Stone and Sky follows several generations of a shepherding family in a paean to the bonds between people, their land and way of life. It is a profound mystery, a passionate poem, a political manifesto, shot through with wisdom and humour.
About the author
Merryn Glover was born in a former Rana palace in Kathmandu and grew up in Nepal, India and Pakistan. Her first major work was a stage play, The Long Way Home, which was broadcast on Radio Scotland. She has written three further radio plays for Radio 4 and Radio Scotland. Merryn’s first novel, A House Called Askival (2014), was published by Freight. In 2019, she was appointed the first Writer in Residence for the Cairngorms National Park.
Tiny Tales on The Malt Whisky Trail with Alexander McCall Smith
17th November, 2020: 1-2pm
This event will be broadcast on The Malt Whisky Trail’s Instagram Live on Tuesday 17 November from 1pm.
For more information about Alexander McCall Smith’s latest books, click on the book covers below. To purchase copies, please visit The Bookmark or get in contact.
Join the prolific Alexander McCall Smith as he visits The Malt Whisky Trail in beautiful Speyside, bringing literature and laughter to the heart of Malt Whisky Country.
Known and loved across the world for his No.1 Ladies’ Detective Agencyand 44 Scotland Street series, master story-teller Alexander McCall Smith will appear at The Glenlivet Distillery, one of the nine whisky sites that form The Malt Whisky Trail. The distillery sits in a wild and remote glen, its history laced with drama and intrigue, so where better to join Alexander for a heartwarming hour of infectious laughter and much-needed cheer.
From this warm autumnal whisky setting, Alexander invites you to join him as he roams the world – sharing first his love for Scotland with its rich heritage of storytelling, then the latest from Botswana, home to Precious Ramotswe. He will read from his Tiny Tales collection and offer a very special treat in the form of a poem from his new collection, In a Time of Distance, which perfectly captures the areas of travel and home amidst a time of isolation.
An Evening with Catherine Czerkawska
Tuesday 13th Semptember 2016 we held an event with Catherine Czerkawska for her novel “The Jewel” in The Garth Hotel, Grantown on Spey. “The Jewel” is a fascinating novel about the life of Jean Armour and her husband, Robert Burns. There was book discussion by the author and audience and songs of Robert Burns sung by Marie-Louise Napier. We had a wonderful turnout, over 40. Read more about this book here.
