Books News: Neu! Reekie! in NYC; CoastWord Literary Festival returns

NEU! REEKIE! IN NYC
Edinburgh-based multi-arts and spoken word cabaret Neu! Reekie! took a trip to New York City recently. Taking with them a good store of their own-brand whisky, hosts Michael Pedersen and Kevin Williamson decamped to the Big Apple for two showcase gigs with the likes of King Creosote and Withered Hand, hung out with punk legend Richard Hell, and went searching for signs of Robert Burns in Manhattan's Central Park.

You can read exclusive tour diaries from Michael Pedersen, Ziggy Campbell of FOUND and writer Emer Martin on The Skinny's website to find out what the Neu! Reekie! crew got up to – and watch the video below for a slideshow featuring some of their literary antics.

COASTWORD LITERARY FESTIVAL RETURNS TO DUNBAR
Launched last year as the much smaller Wee Fest, newly re-named literary festival CoastWord (20-22 Jun) returns with an expanded programme. Dunbar's very own bespoke festival of the written word will be welcoming authors, poets, publishers, musicians and readers to the coastal town for three days of events, concerts, workshops, readings and discussions, with some of Scotland's leading lights from the worlds of poetry and prose in attendance. 

Poet, author and Canongate Prize winner Dilys Rose will lead a writing workshop on 20 June for aspiring novelists and poets; on the same day, BAFTA-winning screenwriter Bernard MacLaverty will lead a script workshop, accompanied by a screening of his short film Bye-Child. On 22 June, poets Liz Lochhead and Sheree Mack will be in conversation, reading from their work and discussing their careers. The Scottish Book Trust will be showcasing some of the recipients of their New Writers Awards, while other events feature poets such as Kevin Cadwallender, Colin Will and Brian Johnstone reading their poems to jazz accompaniments, and a range of activities, workshops and events for young children. 

Taking place at various venues throughout Dunbar, tickets for the festival are available through the CoastWord website. The organisers promise 'the stories of mothers and grandmothers, of local poets and singers, from the young to the old, from the new residents to the ones who have seen our town through a lifetime and through the lifetimes before them. CoastWord is a festival that looks out and then back in – like the waves that shaped us.'

EVENT: MICHAEL CANNON – 'ARTICLES OF FAITH' LAUNCH @ RIO CAFE, GLASGOW
Hailing from the West of Scotland, author Michael Cannon is preparing to publish his fifth novel, Articles of Faith, via Freight Books. The novel examines 'the impact of faith and fanaticism on a shipbuilding community beleaguered by war.' The novel will be launched at Glasgow's Rio Cafe on 30 May, with Cannon reading from his new novel, discussing its themes and setting during the Clydebank Blitz, and signing copies. Below, you can watch Cannon reading an extract from a previous novel, Four New Words For Love.

EVENT: LAUNCH OF 'A BIRD IS NOT A STONE' @ TELL IT SLANT, GLASGOW
In a previous Books News, we told you about the Kickstarter campaign to support the publication of a collection of Palestinian poetry, featuring a selection of works by Palestinian poets translated from Arabic into English, Scots, Gaelic and Shetlandic by a range of Scottish poets.

The campaign was a success, reaching its funding target, and the people behind the project now plan to publish the volume with a foreword by Scotland's Makar Liz Lochhead and Palestinian poet Maya Abu al-Hayyat. There will be a launch for A Bird Is Not a Stone on 2 June at Glasgow's new Tell It Slant bookshop, with poems being read both in Arabic and in translation by some of the featured authors. Find out more about the event here, and read more about A Bird Is Not A Stone here.

EVENT: POETRY @ THE IVORY WITH JL WILLIAMS, GLASGOW
Today (14 May) at Glasgow's The Ivory, poet JL Williams will be reading from her latest collection, Condition of Fire, showcasing her sensual, intricately constructed verses, inspired by Ovid’s Metamorphoses and a journey to the Aeolian Islands. Support comes from blues guitarist Michael Simons, and there are open-mic slots available – email radiokate11@yahoo.com to book a slot. Poetry @ The Ivory is a regular event – visit their Facebook page for more details.

EVENT: RHYMING OPTIONAL'S POETRY ROYAL RUMBLE @ THE GLAD CAFE, GLASGOW
An unmissable opportunity for budding performance poets, aspiring spoken word artists and fans of the Slam style of poetry – Subcity radio's Rhyming Optional show, hosted by Kevin P. Gilday, are hosting a slam which they are billing as the 'Poetry Royal Rumble' – rumour has it that some of the competitors even plan to turn up in proper wrestling trunks.

'Who will beat their opponent into submission with their wicked rhymes?' ask the organisers. 'Who will come unstuck and be thrown over the literary top rope? Who will prove victorious in a battle for poetic supremacy?' There'll be a guest spots from poet Cat Hepburn, new talent Chido Sibanda is introduced, and confirmed participants include leading spoken word performers such as current Scottish Slam Champion Miko Berry of the Loud Poets, alongside the likes of Sam Small, Craig Scott and Leyla O'Reilly. Join in the fun at The Glad Cafe in Glasgow on 22 May. Find out more here.