St Duthac Book and Arts Festival Time Again!

By Catherine Williams

How can it be a year since the last highly successful St Duthac Book and Arts Festival?  Here we go again with a diverse and eclectic mixture of Authors from near and far: Music for every taste: Crafters to the rafters: Art for art’s sake and children’s events at schools and around the town. So here’s a taster (or a dram) of what is on offer.   

Want to hear about Malt Whisky Murders? How about hearing about Malt Whisky Murders while sitting in a Whisky Distillery?  Ah, that got your interest! What about hearing about Malt Whisky Murders, in a Whisky Distillery with a whisky in your hand? Well, you can, with author Natalie Jayne Clark on Thursday, 10^th September from 11.00 am to 12.00 noon at Toulvaddie Distillery on Fearn Drome. Tickets cost just £5.

Note - If you have booked the Jason Ubych talk at noon in nearby John Ross Centre in Balintore, fear not, Jason won’t start until you have arrived from Toulvaddie.

My next taster is Gerda Stevenson, offering a nip of poems in Scots from her books. “Quines” is a tribute to the forgotten Women of Scotland. Did you know there was a whole women’s football team in 1881? No? Me neither.  For lots of stories of women who should be remembered, see Gerda at Mansefield Castle Hotel on Thursday, 10^th September at 7.30 pm. Come early for live music and the hotel bar will be open. Tickets cost just £5

Saturday 12^th sees Masterchef winner Sue Lawrence in conversation with Catherine Williams (that’s me, so excited!) about Sue’s new cookbook “New Scottish Baking” and about branching out into writing historical crime novels. That’s happening at 2.00 pm in the Duthac Centre, Tain and tickets are going like hot cakes! Loved the Hebridean Baker last year? You will love Sue Lawrence! Don’t delay, Cook today, oops no - Book today! Tickets cost just £5

Stay for a cup of tea and home baking because following on in the same venue is Jenny Q and Myshkin with a deeply personal programme of stories of Jenny’s life celebrated in story and music. Would you cope with a life-changing illness and resulting disability? Could you go forward with positivity and resilience as Jenny has? Hear her journey spoken and sung by very talented musicians Jenny Q and her partner Myshkin. Tickets cost just £5

The St Duthac Book and Arts Festival runs from Tuesday 8^th September to Sunday 13^th September, with events and workshops across the area. Pick up a brochure now or go to stduthacbookfest.com to view the whole programme and to book so you won’t miss a drop.