Word 05

The programme for the fifth Word Writers' Festival at the University of Aberdeen features an impressive line-up of some of the finest writers from Scotland, across the UK and beyond.

The writers will be participating in a packed programme of readings, lectures, debates, children's workshops, Gaelic events, panel discussions, visual arts exhibitions and film screenings.

This year the Word Festival, which is one of Scotland's most popular literary events, takes place over three days from 13-15 May 2005 at the University of Aberdeen, and at other key venues around the city.

Highlights include:

• Colm Tobin and David Mitchell who were both shortlisted for the 2004 Man Booker Prize
• Irvine Welsh, bestselling author whose debut novel Trainspotting became a worldwide phenomenon
• Writer and journalist Hari Kunzru whose first novel, The Impressionist, received one of the largest advances in publishing history
• Scottish writers - bestselling historian and Aberdeen academic Tom Devine; the first ever writer-in-residence to the Scottish Parliament, James Robertson; Andrew O'Hagan who was shortlisted for the Whitbread and the Man Booker Prizes; and Bill Duncan, the North East's bestselling satirical new voice and author of The Wee Book of Calvin
• Scottish poet and critic Robert Crawford, North East poet and Forward Prize winner Robin Robertson and Whitbread Prize winner John Burnside
• A debate on the topical 100 Best Scottish Books of All Time with panellists Anne Donovan, Professor Willy Maley and one of the brightest new talents in fiction, Rodge Glass
• Richard Jobson, former Skids member, introducing his semi-autobiographical film 16 Years of Alcohol and writer and director Bernard MacLaverty introducing his award-winning film Bye Child at The Belmont Cinema
• The first ever Gaelic Literary Festival on Saturday 14 May with writers Angus Peter Campbell, Anne Lorne Gillies and poet Aonghas MacNeacail.
• Over 50 local writers will be showcasing the true voice of the North East, including Doric favourite Sheena Blackhall and John Aberdein

Children's Word

The weekend will be jam-packed with events for children. Puffin Books will bring some of your favourite writers to the story tent on Kings Lawn, and in a second tent there is even more fun to be had at RAP workshops and nature and Dino fun sessions.

Events include readings from much-loved authors Frank Rodgers, Joan Lingard, Ian Whybrow and Cathy Cassidy and a schools programme with authors Katie Grant and Catherine MacPhail, author of Run Zan Run and Missing.

For a full listing of events for both children and adults please visit the Word website.