A L Kennedy (2010 event)

At the 2010 Book Festival award-winning author A L Kennedy read exclusive extracts from her forthcoming 2011 novel before opening the floor to the audience, which turned out to be an amusing Q & A. Her funny, wry sense of humour is very much in evidence in this live recording as she chats to the audience and tells all about her imaginary childhood 'hand' friend. You can see A L Kennedy's new short story on the theme of 'Elsewhere' (commissioned by the Book Festival) exclusively here: Because it’s a Wednesday.

Loading the player... if your browser supports audio and video it should appear in a few moments.

Book Festival News

Book Festival reveals first author events for 2024 Book Festival reveals first author events for 2024
Sunday 14 April

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

Donate

Share

Watch more

Alicia Garza: Building Moments Into Movements Alicia Garza: Building Moments Into Movements If the past eighteen months have taught us anything, it is that activism is alive, kicking and more needed than ever. But how can we create protests that are meaningful and lasting, rather than hollow or performative acts? How can we go beyond hashtags an… Interview - David Reynolds (2015) Interview - David Reynolds (2015) We had a quick chat with the brilliant writer David Reynolds about his fascinating journey down Highway 83 before his event in Charlotte Square Gardens. Find out from some audience members to see what they thought about the event. You can see David's … Jeanne Marie Laskas talks to DeRay Mckesson at the Edinburgh International Book Festival Jeanne Marie Laskas talks to DeRay Mckesson at the Edinburgh International Book Festival Every day, President Obama received 10,000 letters from ordinary Americans; every night he read ten, and he wrote back. In To Obama, Jeanne Marie Laskas describes this unique correspondence, interviewing the letter-writers, White House staff and the Presi… Howard W French: Why Africa is at the Centre of History Howard W French: Why Africa is at the Centre of History The world history you thought you knew is wrong. Howard W French’s Born in Blackness presents a new perspective on modern civilisation – from the point of view of Africa and its people. The impetus for the ‘Age of Discovery’ was not Europe’s yea… David Crystal (2015 Event) David Crystal (2015 Event) A linguist and an expert on the development of the English language, David Crystal presents two books that tell us a great deal about English as it is spoken in the 21st century. You Say Potato looks at accents and our different ideas about ‘correct… Helena Attlee with Lev Atlas & Greg Lawson: Fiddler on the Don Helena Attlee with Lev Atlas & Greg Lawson: Fiddler on the Don Objects passed down the generations can provide a rich source of stories. Travel writer Helen Attlee hit on a particularly interesting example of this when, at a folk concert in Wales, she was struck by the gorgeous tone of a violin being played by someon… Paul Auster (2017 Event) Paul Auster (2017 Event) The great American novelist makes his first ever appearance at the Book Festival. In 4 3 2 1, Paul Auster gives Archibald Isaac Ferguson, an only child, four different stories. Four Fergusons made of the same genetic material, four boys who are the same b… Chelsea Clinton (2018 Event) Chelsea Clinton (2018 Event) From Harriet Tubman to Oprah Winfrey, plenty of tenacious women have fought for freedom in America. Chelsea Clinton saluted them in her children’s book, She Persisted. Now, with She Persisted Around the World, Clinton celebrates women shaping global hum… David Vann & Willy Vlautin (2010 event) David Vann & Willy Vlautin (2010 event) Two of Amercia's most captivating voices in fiction and their riveting new novels… Claire Askew & Kate Foster: Tales of Two Edinburghs Claire Askew & Kate Foster: Tales of Two Edinburghs What is it about the Scottish capital that makes it such fertile ground for fictionalised mystery? Claire Askew’s The Dead Don’t Speak sees DI Helen Birch drawn back into action when an anonymous vigilante starts stalking the streets of Edinburgh. Kat…