Book Festivals in Pictures

Last week was a big week for me. It involved three events at Edinburgh International Book Festival and one event at Inverness Book Festival. These were my first public performances of my new children’s book ‘Can’t Dance Cameron‘. I wanted to say a massive thanks to everyone who came along to the events. Here are a few highlights in pictures. I should probably say excuse my excitement over minor details like seeing my name on the signing board – this is all new to me so it still seems very exciting and not quite real!

Event 1: Public Event ‘Dancing Capercaillies‘ at Edinburgh International Book Festival

Oh my goodness, I’m on the board:

Mum got excited after seeing Cameron on the ‘Today at the Festival’ shelves in the book shop:

The event kicked off – no photos allowed. But a couple of people snook some pics (don’t blame me), here’s a tweet:

The fabulous @auntyemily at her amazing @edbookfest event. #edinburghbookfestival pic.twitter.com/GPSPK5OsEm — Christina Banach (@ChristinaBanach) August 18, 2014

And a photo of the Q and A with my lovely chair, Margaret Bell.

Questions included ‘What inspired you to write the book?’, ‘Why are pine cones bigger in America?’ and ‘How old are you?’

Then it was signing time! It was lovely to meet so many children and parents. Here’s a picture of me near the end of the signing. That’s Rosie my niece, Poppy my best friend’s daughter and Eleanor Collins, my Editor from Floris Books sitting next to me. She’s on sticker duty – would you like a red squirrel or a capercaillie?

Congratulations to @auntyemily for a fantastic show @edbookfest. I can now dance like a Capercaillie ☺ pic.twitter.com/8YUJrvNytp — Sarah Broadley (@sarahpbroadley) August 18, 2014

And this gorgeous wee girl is Hailie, my friend Hazel’s granddaughter. I’m not sure who looks most excited?

I took a pic of the ‘SOLD OUT’ screen on the way out, it felt good to be up there. It also felt good to have finished one event. I’d been feeling so nervous in the week leading up to it. Like most authors, I spend a lot of time alone. I’m an introvert so planning an event where I dance like a bird on the stage and kick giant foam pine cones is always going to scare me, even if I’ve been working with children for years. So it was good to have that first event under my belt.

Event 2: Amnesty Imprisoned Writers Series ‘Reading Malala’

Again, no pictures allowed but I wrote about the event here. Thanks to Amnesty for the amazing opportunity to read Malala’s work. People were moved to tears by her words, it was such a privilege to be part of something so worthwhile.

Thank you @auntyemily @tbradman @donnacooner and Jean Hanff Korelitz for beautiful #ImprisonedWriters readings @edbookfest today!

— Amnesty Scotland (@AmnestyScotland) August 18, 2014

Of all the people I’ve met at @edbookfest, Malala is perhaps the most palpably committed to changing the world for the better

— Nick Barley (@nickbarleyedin) August 25, 2014

DAY OFF!

I needed one. We went to Craigmillar Castle. These are the lovely people who’d traveled a long way to see me in the book festival. My parents, one of my sister’s and her family and my best friend and her family.

Lovely day with friends & family exploring Craigmillar Castle. Now toasting @edbookfest at mine (the cat is scared) pic.twitter.com/pNjMG3Wlzs

— Emily Dodd (@auntyemily) August 19, 2014

Event 3: Schools event at Edinburgh International Book Festival

Again, no pictures allowed but I had a lovely time with primary 2 and primary 3 classes from Pentland Primary School. I also had an author portrait taken later that day by photographer Chris Close. Here it is hanging up at the festival next to (can you believe it!?) Jacqueline Wilson!

Event 4: Public event at Inverness Book Festival 

Look what we found at the Inverness Book Festival @auntyemily 😉 #InvernessBookFest pic.twitter.com/ozHHzKTKRU — The Istanbul Review (@istanbulreview) August 20, 2014

The lovely people in Inverness Book Festival and Publishing Scotland made me feel so welcome. I was excited to see the programme for the first time:

Again, no photos allowed during the event but here’s a picture of me and illustrator signing books afterwards. We’re not in a car park – there was a car inside the venue at Eden Court:

Here we are outside:

And inside again:

Thanks to Duncan Charles Clarke Photographer for the Inverness Book Festival Pictures.

More Book Festivals 

Literary Dundee launched their lovely programme yesterday. I’m going to be doing a children’s event on the Saturday 25th October at Dundee Literary Festival. I’ll also be doing something for grown-ups about writing science in Portobello Book Festival (read about my other book for adults that launched this month here). Portobello Book Festival is in October, their programme launches a week today…

Book Launch: You’re Invited

Lastly, if you’re close to Edinburgh you’re invited to my book launch on Thursday September 11th, 6pm. I’d love to see you there. Kids welcome too. Get tickets here.

Massive thanks to everyone at Floris Books, Edinburgh International Book Festival, Inverness Book Festival and Publishing Scotland. Thanks to photographers Chris Close and Duncan Charles Clarke and to my illustrator Katie Pamment. Lastly thanks to everyone who’s supported me and the book at events and on social media!