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TEN reasons you won't want to miss Glasgow's book festival Aye Write

Montage of Ruby Wax, Josie Long, Val McDermid, Sally Magnusson and Aye Write 2023 logo <i>(Image: Newsquest)</i>
Montage of Ruby Wax, Josie Long, Val McDermid, Sally Magnusson and Aye Write 2023 logo (Image: Newsquest)

AYE Write, Glasgow’s book festival, is back from May 19 to 28 with more than 120 events, featuring 175 authors from Scotland and around the world.

Here are 10 reasons you won’t want to miss it.

RUBY WAX

American comedian, actor and writer Ruby Wax is in Glasgow to discuss her new book, I’m Not As Well As I Thought I Was, an honest and insightful look at her struggles with mental health and journey through treatments.

Glasgow Times: Josie Long
Glasgow Times: Josie Long

Josie Long (Image: Newsquest)

JOSIE LONG

Writer and stand-up Josie Long discusses her magnificent collection of stories, Because I Don’t Know What You Mean and What You Don’t, with comedian Frankie Boyle.

Glasgow Times: Val McDermid
Glasgow Times: Val McDermid

Val McDermid (Image: Newsquest)

VAL MCDERMID

The queen of crime writing discusses her latest Allie Burns thriller 1989, which is set a decade after the bestselling first novel in her ground-breaking series.

Glasgow Times: Darren McGarvey
Glasgow Times: Darren McGarvey

Darren McGarvey (Image: Newsquest)

DARREN MCGARVEY

Writer and activist Darren McGarvey is back at Aye Write to discuss his book, The Social Distance Between Us, newly released in paperback, which examines the true scale of Britain’s social ills.

Glasgow Times: Sally Magnusson
Glasgow Times: Sally Magnusson

Sally Magnusson (Image: Newsquest)

SALLY MAGNUSSON

The broadcaster, writer and former Glasgow Times Scotswoman of the Year will be discussing her latest novel, Music in the Dark, an exploration of unlooked-for love in later life, its contrariness and its awkward, surprising joys in a story of resilience, memory and resurrection.

MARK BILLINGHAM AND CHRIS BROOKMYRE

Mark Billingham (former actor, television writer and stand-up comedian whose series of novels featuring DI Tom Thorne has twice won him the Crime Novel of The Year) joins acclaimed thriller writer Chris Brookmyre to discuss their latest books: respectively The Last Dance, featuring a detective who is also a dancer; and The Cliff House, in which seven women with seven secrets arrive on a private island for a hen do.

ALASTAIR CAMPBELL

Former Labour spin doctor Alastair Campbell is in Glasgow to talk about his latest book But What Can I Do? Why Politics Has Gone So Wrong And How You Can Help Fix It, which is part call to arms, part practical handbook and part examination of the state of politics across the UK.

Glasgow Times: Douglas MacIntyre, author of the Hungry Beat book
Glasgow Times: Douglas MacIntyre, author of the Hungry Beat book

Douglas MacIntyre, author of the Hungry Beat book (Image: Colin Mearns/Newsquest)

WE COULD SEND LETTERS

Douglas MacIntyre, author of Hungry Beat: The Scottish Independent Pop Underground Movement 1977-84; Bob Last, of Fast Product Records; and musician Malcolm Ross (Josef K) will be in conversation with Nicola Meighan for this special event, which also includes a live set featuring musicians from Aztec Camera, Orange Juice and Teenage Fanclub.

STUART BRAITHWAITE

Mogwai frontman Stuart discusses his book, Spaceships Over Glasgow, which spans a delinquent childhood, rock star hedonism and making music in one of the most ground-breaking post-rock bands of the past three decades.

LIZ LOCHHEAD AND JIM CARRUTH

One of Scotland’s greatest living writers, Liz Lochhead joins award-winning poet Jim Carruth in conversation at a special event to mark milestone birthdays, share poems old and new, talk about their friendship and reveal why they have no intention of retiring any time soon.