Extraordinary Events

Extraordinary Events

Looking for something different?

First Edition

Begin each weekday with a leading journalist as they delve into the morning papers at 10am in the Spiegeltent. Hear their take on the day’s headlines and explore where in the Festival programme you can find out more. Some sessions will include emerging journalists in collaboration with the John Schofield Trust. Supported by Claire and Mark Urquhart.

Inside Out – Earth, Sky, and Water

Endurance cyclist and author Emily Chappell is back with our popular Inside Out series. Hear Emily chatting (Inside) to a host of authors, and join a small group (Outside) on a foray to some iconic local locations, including Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. Tickets for Outside events are limited and booked separately to Inside events. See listings for more information.

Think Tank

Think Tank invites you to take part in small group conversations where experts share their thoughts on topics at the forefront of the global agenda, with lots of space for questions and discussion. Over 90-minutes (and a glass of wine, if you like), these intimate events get you up close and personal. In this series dig into US foreign policy with presidential advisor: Harold Hongju Koh joins with years of experience in diplomacy; Ingrid Robeyns unpacks the ethics of extreme wealth; Ken Costa discusses intergenerational wealth transfer; and Suzy Glass and Georgina Voss tackle systems-thinking.

(Lunch) Box Fresh

Come along at lunchtime to hear readings from new and vibrant talent and discover brilliant new work being created every day. Who knows, you could be the first to see the next Irvine Welsh or Jenni Fagan. These are 45-minute lunchtime sessions with Scottish Book Trust, Glasgow Women’s Library, Scottish Poetry Library, and Jenny Brown Associates. Pay what you can and show your support for the next constellation of Scottish literary stars.

Industry Days & Global Ink

Meet and connect with editors, publishers, festival organisers, translators, and other experts across three days of panels, showcases, and receptions specifically aimed at those working within the publishing industry (both Scottish and international). Expect discussions on AI, sustainability, audiobooks, pitching sessions, and accessibility.

A one-day Industry Pass is £40 [concessions £25]. Spaces are limited so check edbookfest.co.uk/industry for details on how to register. Some events will take place online too.

Wednesday 14 August: Global Ink: International Working

Monday 19 August: Industry Day 1

Wednesday 21 August: Industry Day 2

 

Close Read: Open Book on the Poetry of Motion

Thursday 22 August 10:15 - 11:45

  • Attend in person
Marjorie Lotfi and Claire Urquhart from Open Book, a charity which organises shared reading and creative writing groups, introduce us to some of the brilliant poets appearing at this year’s Festival, including Seán Hewitt, Jackie Kay, and K Patrick....
 

Spirit Case Tour

Thursday 22 August 11:00 - 11:30

  • Attend in person
Members of the Recycling a Hospital Project Team from the University of Edinburgh will take you on a mini-tour to see The Spirit Case, an object created by artisans out of slates and floorboards from the original Royal Infirmary building, and inscribed...
 

Rita Bullwinkel: Building Radical Worlds

Thursday 22 August 12:30 - 14:00

  • Attend in person
How is our reality reflected in the worlds we cultivate in fiction? In this practical workshop, Headshot writer Rita Bullwinkel will lead you through a series of radical world-building techniques from a range of creative masters. Look through the lens...
 

First Edition

Friday 23 August 10:00 - 11:00

  • Attend in person
Quality journalism is indispensable. The model of ‘breaking the news’ has changed enormously in recent years, but we’re here to sing the praises of essential stories, well told. In an age of diminishing local resources, global conglomerates, and...
 

Shared Reading with Open Book

Friday 23 August 10:30 - 11:30

  • Attend in person
Join Open Book Lead Readers for an informal and relaxed shared reading session. Each session will explore a chapter from a debut book from this year’s Festival programme. No experience necessary, all reading materials will be provided on the day. Meet...
 

Inside Out: Water

Saturday 24 August 10:00 - 11:00

  • Attend in person
Water holds our memories. It retains our history as it moves in, out, and around us. Today, endurance cyclist Emily Chappell interviews authors who have investigated water and its impact on our past and future. Fiona Stafford’s Time and Tide uncovers...
 

Merve Emre: The Critic and Her Publics – Live

Saturday 24 August 13:30 - 14:30

  • Attend in person
Merve Emre is a scholar, editor, critic, and professor. She also hosts The Critic and Her Publics, a podcast which brings critics together and asks them to perform criticism there and then, on an object they’ve never seen before. Join us today for a...