Alistair Moffat sums up the 2011 festival

Sunshine matters, and it shone brilliantly out of a clear autumn sky at Lennoxlove House last weekend, bathing the book festival in glorious light, backlighting the brown and yellow leaves and warming the hearts of all who came. 

Lennoxlove House

Scottish literary festival: A dramatic opening

It opened with drama; the pipes and drums of Loretto School and a magnificent firework display. More dazzle followed when we showed an exclusive extract from War Horse, the new Steven Spielberg film based on Michael Morpurgo’s novel, and the author spoke about the business of adaptation. Then Alistair Darling gave a brilliant exposition of the financial crash, the crash and burn of the banks- and from a vantage point in the middle of the pyrotechnics.

Loretto School Pipe Band

Book festival weekend highlights

And the weekend was off! Excellent session followed excellent session, but perhaps a highlight was the re-staging of John Byrne’s brilliant play, Writer’s Cramp, 35 years after its premiere on the Edinburgh Fringe in 1977. After two of the original cast of three had dropped out through illness, Isla Blair and John Sessions took their parts alongside Bill Paterson and brought the house down. It was magical.

2011 cast of Writer's Cramp

Feedback

And so was Lennoxlove, a magical festival, full of atmosphere, full of warmth and light. The literary editor of The Herald said: ‘I can’t think of a better setting for a book festival, or a more appreciative audience.’  Isla Blair and Julian Glover said: ‘we are still glowing from that wonderful weekend… fantastic, so well organised yet really warm and friendly.’  And Mrs Sandra Crace, attending her very first book festival, said ‘it made one proud to be Scottish’.

Thanks to all those who came and made the festival what it was.  We would very much appreciate your feedback:  if you didn’t fill in a questionnaire at the festival, please fill in our online Audience Survey and you will be entered into a prize draw for £75 worth of book tokens.

A glorious weekend

Lennoxlove Book Festival 2012

And for those wanting to take advantage of early booking next year, please don’t forget our Friends scheme: you can join online.

Until next year!

Alistair Moffat, Festival Director

And we're off...day one fireworks and bagpipes

The first pics from Day 1 of the 2011 festival. Festivities kicked off with the talented Loretto School Pipe Band while fireworks lit up the sky.

Festival marquees were packed with audiences eager to hear Claire Tomalin, Michael Morpurgo, and Alistair Darling. All three speakers didn't disappoint and lively question and answer sessions were enjoyed by all.

Kelvin Sewell shared insights from his years as a homocide detective in Baltimore, and revealed that the hit series, 'The Wire', is very close to the truth of real events. Quote of the night from Kelvin, "I've had two contracts put on my life...I didn't tell my wife until after the book came out."

Loretto School Pipe Band

Fireworks light up the sky

Some great events to follow today, with the fun packed Knight Frank Family Book Festival. Look out for Debi Gliori and 'The Scariest Thing of All', Adam Hart Davis and 'A Brief History of Time', and the splendiferous James and the Giant Peach Party.

And today for adults: whet your appetite with Alys Fowler and her Thrifty Foraging, cycle the Americas with Mark Beaumont, or find out about life behind doors at number 10 Downing St with Sarah Brown. Many other additional sessions on offer...full programme information from Lennoxlove Book Festival Box Office.

NB Photos courtesy of Writer Pictures

Preparing for festival kick-off…and editor’s pick

The final countdown to our literary festival weekend and it’s all systems go behind the scenes. Our speakers are feverishly preparing their talks, the marquees are being flung up, and Lennoxlove House is dusting down the antiques and preparing to throw open the doors. It all begins with a bang on Friday night - quite literally - with fizz, fireworks and a pipe band at our opening party – by the way, still time to become a friend of the festival and grab your party ticket.

As a final pre festival round-up of this year’s speakers, we’d thought we’d offer you our editor’s pick of events:

Alys Fowler – BBC gardener, Alys will share some tips on Thrifty Foraging. Who needs Tesco when you can find your next meal in the great outdoors!

Hacking Unhacked – three characters from the frontline of politics and media will offer their view of this year’s biggest story

Norman Davies - one of our greatest historians unlocks the story of Europe’s hidden past

Isla Blair –not only a fine actress but also a great author, as will be revealed
Adam Hart-Davis – full of barmy scientific facts, Adam will offer his very unique and brief take on the history of time

Michael and Rebecca Frayn – celebrated novelists and playwrights, this literary dynasty are teaming up to discuss life, stories, families and everything

Bodymore, Murderland – Baltimore cop Kelvin Sewell will share the real stories from the murderous streets made infamous by the classic HBO TV series, The Wire

How to Make a Publisher Say Yes (Nicola Morgan) – invaluable advice for aspiring writers looking to secure that first book deal

Andrew Murray - Andrew ran 2,659 miles from John o’ Groats to the Moroccan Sahara Desert to raise cash for charity. An epic challenge and now an epic story

Hugh Johnson – a wine legend, Hugh will talk about his vintage life and career

Something for everyone including the kids at our Knight Frank family book festival.

Still to buy your tickets? Then visit our box office website for more information. The box office will also be open for ticket sales all weekend at the festival.

We look forward to seeing you there!