Book Week Scotland launches 2022 programme

This year's Book Week Scotland programme has been announced today (26 October), with a line-up themed around 'Scotland's Stories', as part of Scotland's Year of Stories 2022.

Literacy charity Scottish Book Trust has worked closely with writers and partners to put together an exciting week packed full of online and in-person events and activities, taking place 14-20 November.  Book Week Scotland is the country's biggest celebration of books and reading and this year the public are invited to vote on their favourite animal from fiction - voting is now open, and a national winner will be revealed during the week!

Events throughout the week include an evening with Sally Magnusson sharing stories from four vibrant Scottish communities, and Book Shriek Scotland - a celebration of Scotland's folklore, presented by Kirsty Logan and Heather Parry, featuring storytellers and writers including Garth Marenghi. Scottish Book Trust will also be asking people to share what they're reading during the week on a Reading Map of Scotland.

A new book, Scotland's Stories, has been published by Scottish Book Trust, featuring true stories from people across Scotland as well as exclusive contributions from published writers Angus Peter Campbell, Raman Mundair, Graeme Armstrong and Helen Fields. 70,000 copies of the book will be given out for free during Book Week Scotland through libraries and community spaces, and it will also be available to read online and as an audiobook.

From icons of literature to local tales, Scotland's Year of Stories encourages locals and visitors to experience a diversity of voices, take part in events and explore the places, people and cultures connected to all forms of our stories, past and present.

Here are Book Week Scotland programme highlights:

Scotland's Stories: Tales from the People of Scotland with Sally Magnusson - Monday 14 November, 7pm at Glasgow Film Theatre. Join Sally Magnusson to celebrate the real-life stories told by people from four vibrant communities across Scotland. The pieces in this event have been generously shared by people from the Garnock Valley, Port Glasgow and Greenock, Lochgelly and the South Islands of the Western Isles. Each story was shared by a member of the public as part of Community Campfires, supported by Scotland's Year of Stories 2022. Reserve your ticket on Eventbrite.

Book Shriek Scotland is a celebration of Scotland's spooky folklore -and some from further afield. This is an online event premiering on Monday 14 November, in which award-winning authors Heather Parry and Kirsty Logan present an anthology of folk tales told by storytellers and writers, including Garth Marenghi, Amanda Thomson, Ailsa Dixon, John Lees and Anna Cheung. People will be invited to send us folk tales from their hometowns on social media after the event.

Tales Fae Fife: a writing workshop with James Oswald - Tuesday 15 November, 6.30-8.30pm at 58 Bonnygate in Cupar. Join Fife author James Oswald, author of the Inspector McLean, The Ballad of Sir Benfro and the Constance Fairchild series, for an exciting event that will include a mini writing workshop. Find out more and reserve your ticket on Eventbrite.

The full Book Week Scotland 2022 programme is now live.

Marc Lambert, CEO of Scottish Book Trust, said, "Book Week Scotland is a special time of year, where people across Scotland can come together to celebrate and experience the magic of books and reading. The 2022 programme features a mix of fun, spooky, inspiring and unusual events and activities."