GMB on the BBC

Yesterday we alerted you to a book launch and today we have a radio program we think you should know about. For tomorrow (Sunday 28th April) at 7.45pm on BBC Radio Four you can hear Claire Knight read George Mackay Brown's story 'The Wireless Set'.

This will be the first of three stories to be broadcast over the coming weeks from GMB's second volume of short stories A Time to Keep which has recently been reprinted by Birlinn - the other stories to be broadcast are 'The Five of Spades' and 'The Masked Fisherman'.

As part of the BBC publicity around the series our very own Reader in Residence Alison Miller was asked to write a blog post for the BBC Radio 4 blog, and you can read more about the broadcasts  and Alison's BBC blogging on her Reader in Residence blog.

So tune in tomorrow to hear 'The Wireless Set' and listen out for the opening music which will be "Shapinsay Polka" by Jennifer and Hazel Wrigley, taken from their album Mither O' The Sea. 

It goes without saying of course that copies of both A Time to Keep and Mither O' The Sea are available for loan from Stromness Library.

Street Shapes

Sorry for the late notice but if you are free this evening you might like to get along to Northlight Studio in Graham Place, Stromness, for the launch of a new book of poems, prints and paintings offering a

 journey through Stromness in time and space... full of childhood memories and well known places.

Street Shapes features poems by local author Morag MacInnes and prints and paintings by local artist Diana Leslie and the launch will include an exhibition of the original artwork and poems as well as readings by Morag.

If you can't make it along tonight then the exhibition will also be open tomorrow (Saturday 27th April) and the book, which is available in black and white or in colour will also be available from Stromness Books and Prints.

Somewhere Towards the End

A quick reminder that the Stromness Library Reading Group meet tomorrow evening, Wednesday 24th April at 7pm to discuss Diana Athill's biography Somewhere Towards the End. 
Described on the back cover as:

...a lively narrative of events, lovers and friendships: the people and experiences that have taught her to regret very little, to resist despondency and to question the beliefs and customs of her own generation.

We are hoping for an equally lively discussion from the group - so if you feel like joining us to tackle those longstanding taboos 'sex, religion and death' over a cup of tea or coffee then we will be very pleased to see you!

A Week of Words

We hope you had a restful weekend because this week is full of exciting literary events for your enjoyment.

On Wednesday 10th April, Reader in Residence Alison Miller will lead The Poem's the Thing - an informal poetry reading group open to all who want to discover new poems and share old favourites - there will be a session in Kirkwall Library between 1pm-2pm and here in Stromness Library from 6pm- 7pm.

Then on Thursday 11th April the Orkney Book Festival 2013 begins with a Film night hosted by West Side Cinema at 7.30pm when they will be showing That Now by Sarah Forrest, who was the first Margaret Tait resident in 2012. This will be followed by a showing of Blue Black Permanent by Margaret Tait.

A full list of events during the four day festival can be found on the George Mackay Brown Fellowship website , or pick up a programme from the library, but we would like to draw your attention to the events being held in Stromness on Sunday 14th April.

At 11am here at Stromness Library, Bryce Wilson will give a talk on 'Stromness and John Rae'; then in the afternoon from 2-4pm Ian Macpherson will be running a Workshop on comedy writing - if you would like to sign up for this workshop please email pamela.beasant@virgin.net

Still in Stromness on Sunday evening starting at 7.30pm in the Stromness Hotel Ian Macpherson and Magi Gibson will host an evening of entertainment entitled 'Bemused'.

Entry to all events costs £5 (£4 concessions) at the door, with a Whole Festival Pass costing £20  available in advance from Orkney Library in Kirkwall, or on the door at events.

After all that excitement you may need a peedie sit down with a good book, so don't forget there will be a book sale running in Orkney Library, Kirkwall on Friday and Saturday, while here in Stromness we have our own small selection of sale books at the bargain price of 5p per title,  with the offer that, should you buy 5 books we will give you a 6th for free.

It's going to be a busy week!