Another side of Lesley Riddoch

Wigtown - this Saturday

This Saturday afternoon, I will be at the Wigtown Book Festival and you can book tickets...follow this link and I am half way doon the page.  See you there.

The jolliest 4 days

I'm still recovering from the jolliest four days I’ve had since the last time I was on the Southern Isles of the Outer Hebrides. I have posted some photos in an album to accompany this account of a wonderful book tour...there are on the left. But here goes..

I tottered onto the plane at Glasgow Airport with a bag right at the weight limit – packed with books. It was dreadful, windy equinox weather but the feisty wee Twin Otter skimmed the sea and finally plonked firmly down onto the Cockle Strand. Eoin MacNeil proved how multi-tasking an employee of the Crofters Commission can be –weight-lifter, taxi-driver, and finally the MC at the Barra Produce Sale, installing me and the books somewhere between the cabbages and lettuces. In half an hour a box of books disappeared – with one elderly woman grabbing my hand, looking deep into my eyes and asking how it felt to be surrounded by stones on Harris. Had I felt their energy? Actually – yes.

Whodunnit coming back to Dundee

Yes, it's true. Back by popular demand...Whodunnit will be screening again at the DCA Dundee on Tuesday 16 and Wednesday 17 October at 6pm on both dates.

Achins Book Store, Lochinver and Faclan Book Festival, Stornoway

What a hoot this little tour proved to be. I was determined to use public transport to get from Perth to Lochinver and found I could take the train right up to Lairg (get out the maps folks) and then a postbus across to Lochinver which not only connected with the train (gasp!) but also waited for it when the train was late (applause please!)

In stark contrast the Citylink service to Ullapool leaves three minutes before the train arrives at Inverness. Walter MacKenzie (pictured) was my personal guide to everything en route – gamely answering questions on everything from the state of the salmon season (very good) to the state of the postbus service (very dodgy) In fact since the council pulled the subsidy on passenger places, this is perhaps the only postbus service left around the far north-west. What a shame. I was dropped at Irene’s coffee shop in Lochinver, where Colin (pictured) offered to give me a lift the six miles or so to Inverkirkaig and surely one of the most remote bookshops and cafes in Britain. About 20 folk packed in for a very jolly session – and I’m told a new book club’s been set up as a result and my book’s first up for dissection. Rip it to pieces!

Book of the Month

I was pleased and surprised to find out that I am now a Book of the Month over at Books from Scotland. Click here to visit their site.