A Blether O Books: Scotland Through Literature

Join the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum this November as they welcome a selection of authors in this celebration of Scottish literature!

About A Blether O Books: Scotland Through Literature

	1st Nov 2025 to 2nd Nov 2025
	See event description for details
	Robert Burns Birthplace Museum Murdochs Loan Alloway, Ayr KA7 4PQ what3words location: backup.sleeps.until
	£10 / £8
	Visit the event website here

Listed Under Books Events / Talks and Lectures Events

Robert Burns Birthplace Museum is proud to present the second annual Blether O' Books, where we are joined by some of Scotland's finest literary minds. With an exciting and varied programme of authors, we are given a window into modern Scottish society.

Saturday 1st November: A Blether O' Books with Anna Groundwater
10.30am
Dr Anna Groundwater contextualises the Scottish past in Connecting Two Millenia of Scotland's History, kicking off A Blether O' Books 2025.
Dr Anna Groundwater is a cultural and social historian of early modern Scotland, currently Principal Curator of Renaissance and Early Modern History at National Museums Scotland. She is the author of Connecting Scotland's History: a Scottish history timeline within 2,000 years of world history (Luath Press, 2025).

Saturday 1st November: A Blether O' Books with Malachy Tallack
12.30pm
In That Beautiful Atlantic Waltz, award-winning author and songwriter Malachy Tallack discusses his novel of the same name. He will also perform songs from the book's accompanying album.

Saturday 1st November: A Blether O' Books with Kirsty Wark
2.30pm
Join Kirsty Wark, renowned Scottish author and broadcaster for In Conversation with Kirsty Wark in which she discusses her own novels, and what fiction impacted on her and her audience.
Kirsty Wark has built up a reputation as one of the UK's most formidable and versatile television journalists. She is best known as an anchor on the BBC's flagship News and Current Affairs show Newsnight. Kirsty has written two novels - The Legacy of Elizabeth Pringle and The House by the Loch - both published by Two Roads. She is currently writing her third novel.

Sunday 2nd November: A Blether O' Books with Lesley Riddoch
10.30am
Lesley Riddoch, award winning broadcaster and journalist, considers "Are Scots the most indoor folk in Europe?"
Lesley Riddoch has written five books - Huts: A Place Beyond, McSmorgasbord, Riddoch On The Outer Hebrides, Blossom: What Scotland Needs To Flourish, Thrive: The Freedom To Flourish and co-produced/presented six films (the latest about Denmark was being screened in early 2024). The latest film, plus others about Norway, Faroes, Iceland, Estonia and the Declaration of Arbroath, are available online.

Sunday 2nd November: A Blether O' Books with Lin Anderson
12.30pm
Forensic Fact Meets Fiction in this event with Lin Anderson, best selling author of the Dr Rhona MacLeod series of forensic thrillers.
Lin regularly chairs events at literary and science festivals and conferences, and gives talks on Forensic Fact Meets Forensic Fiction entertaining audiences with amazing true-crime anecdotes, and giving unique insights into her world of story-telling.

Sunday 2nd November: A Blether O' Books with Gerda Stevenson
2.30pm
Gerda Stevenson, award-winning writer/actor/director/singer-songwriter, presents her wide-ranging work in Consider the Quines, including her celebrated book QUINES: Poems in tribute to Women of Scotland, as well as songs associated with these remarkable quines.

Where possible we will update our listings to notify of cancelled, postponed and rescheduled events, however we STRONGLY ADVISE that you check with the venue/organiser in the first instance for updates.

All information (whether in text or photographs) is supplied in good faith but should not be relied upon as being a statement of representation or fact.

GOT AN EVENT TO SHARE? It's free to post your events on What's On Lanarkshire, click here to find out more!

Want to be the first to hear about what's happening in Lanarkshire? Just hit 'Like' on our Facebook page, join the What's On Scotland Facebook Group and 'Follow' on our Twitter account and you're all set!

Similar events you might like...

Leadhills Miners Library

Selected dates between 3rd May 2025 - 28th September 2025

Leadhills Miners Library, Leadhills

Leadhills Miners Library is the oldest subscription library in the British Isles and is now a museum of literature and village life, open weekends May to September!

East Kilbride Comic Con

27th September 2025 - 28th September 2025

EK, East Kilbride, East Kilbride

East Kilbride Comic Con is back, with more traders, props and all of your favourite heroes and villains for two full days on Saturday 27th and Sunday 28th September!

An Evening With Peter McQueen and The Hebridean Baker

30th October 2025

The Town House Hamilton, Hamilton

South Lanarkshire Leisure and Culture presents a special evening of storytelling at The Town House Hamilton, on 30th October, featuring Peter MacQueen and Coinneach MacLeod (the Hebridean Baker)!

The State Of Water

7th November 2025

Biggar Corn Exchange, Biggar

Join British Indian storyteller Peter Chand and Scottish storyteller Kirsten Milliken at Biggar Corn Exchange as they discuss their new book, The State Of Water.