Jenn Ashworth and Peggy Riley (2013 event)

Brought up as a Mormon, Jenn Ashworth has since become a powerful voice in British fiction. She returned to Edinburgh with her third novel, The Friday Gospels, the story of a Mormon family that is by turns tragic and hilarious. Debut novelist Peggy Riley has written Amity and Sorrow, an astonishing, moving book about a woman and her children who flee from a religious cult. In this event, chaired by Serena Field and recorded live at the 2013 Edinburgh International Book Festival, the two novelists discuss their work and background.

Download MP3

Book Festival News

Communities Programme participants celebrate success of 2024 Communities Programme participants celebrate success of 2024
Friday 13 December

Enjoying this event? You can help us produce more like it.

Donate

Share

Listen to more

Harriet Harman (2017 Event) Harriet Harman (2017 Event) When Harriet Harman was elected in 1982, she notes in her memoir A Woman’s Work, the House of Commons was 97% male. Since then, she has led the way on all-women shortlists, introduced laws on equality and domestic violence and has twice become… Emmanuel Jal Emmanuel Jal Forced to become a child soldier for the rebel army in Sudan's bloody civil war, Emmanuel Jal was put into battle in Ethiopia. He finally escaped, told his story in War Child (an incredible and moving memoir-cum-story) and now spreads messages of peace… Alan Warner reading Sullivan's Ashes Alan Warner reading Sullivan's Ashes Man Booker longlister and Morvern Callar author reading his new story on the theme of Elsewhere… Kirstin Innes (2015 Event) Kirstin Innes (2015 Event) Winner of the Guardian’s Not the Booker prize, Kirstin Innes’ bittersweet debut, Fishnet takes us deep into the world of sex workers, tracing one woman’s obsessive quest for answers following her sister’s mysterious disappearance… Lucy Hawking Lucy Hawking Lucy Hawking talks about teaming up with her father Professor Stephen Hawking to create George?s Cosmic Treasure Hunt, the second in a trilogy of books designed to explain physics to children in a fun way… Tom Parker Bowles Tom Parker Bowles The popular food critic and writer Tom Parker Bowles traveled the country meeting the weird and wonderful people and dishes which make up our culinary heritage and in this event he talks about his discoveries with his customary blend humour and wisdom… Louise Welsh reading Vanishing Point Louise Welsh reading Vanishing Point The popular Scottish novelist reads her exclusive short story as part of our Elsewhere series of podcasts… John Burnside John Burnside The finest contemporary Scottish writing commissioned especially by the festival. We asked four of our most highly acclaimed writers (John Burnside, Janice Galloway, A L Kennedy and Don Paterson) to create new work - poetry and prose - for this 2008 event… Henning Mankell Henning Mankell The Swedish literary all-rounder chats about his varied writing career after his sold-out 2009 Book Festival event. Find out how living half the year in Africa and the other half in Sweden has affected his outlook on life… Harry Baker (2017 Event) Harry Baker (2017 Event) Meet the man who is a World Poetry Slam Champion turned full-time poet via a maths degree. Following on from his debut collection, The Sunshine Kid, Harry Baker brings a selection of old favourites and brand new poems to this event recorded live at the 201…