Scottish Books Events: March 2023

Scotland's international poetry festival StAnza returns, Loud Poets are back, and not one but two members of The Skinny books team launch new work

Feature by Nasim Rebecca Asl | 28 Feb 2023
  • Mikaela Loach

Those celebrating poetry at StAnza, Scotland’s international poetry festival, in St Andrews and those watching at home have real treats in store under the umbrella of this year’s theme, ‘Wild: Forms of Resistance’. Friday 10 March will include readings from Claire Askew, Jo Clement, Kathleen Jamie, Harry Josephine Giles, Zaffar Kunial and Helen Mort. There’s a round table reading with Don Paterson on the Saturday (11 Mar) and Scotland’s Young Makars will perform alongside Hollie McNish and Marjorie Lotfi. Anthony Anaxagorou joins the line up on Sunday (12 Mar), along with Linda France, L Kiew and Victoria Adukwei Bulley. That’s all barely scratching the surface.


Anthony Anaxagorou, c: Hayley Madden

If you’re in Edinburgh instead on 10 March and want to catch some spoken word then head along to Loud Poets at the Scottish Storytelling Centre – on the bill this month is TS Eliot Prize winner Joelle Taylor, along with Themo H. Peel, Angie Strachan and Michael Mullen. Loud Poets are also organising poetry slams across Scotland this year – their next is 11 March in Dumfries. Sign up or head along to cheer your favourites to the national final.

Lady Red Ego’s debut poetry collection Your Turn to Speak will be published at the end of the month – head along to launches in Glasgow (31 Mar, Category Is Books) or Edinburgh (28 Mar, Lighthouse Books). Lighthouse have another exciting event two days later – climate activist Mikaela Loach will be in discussion with Jessica Gaitán Johannesson on 30 March, chatting about her debut book It’s Not That Radical. Leila Aboulela will be in Aberdeen (14 Mar) and at The Portobello Bookshop in Edinburgh (2 Mar) to launch her latest novel River Spirit.


Anahit Behrooz, c: Ella Kemp

It's a big month too for The Skinny’s own books team! Non-fiction fans should head to Edinburgh’s Assembly Roxy (22 Mar) or Glasgow Zine Library (18 Mar) where Anahit Behrooz will be celebrating her book BFFs: The Radical Potential of Female Friendship, while Roshni Gallagher, Tim Tim Cheng and Nasim Rebecca Asl (yours truly) will be launching their debut poetry pamphlets at the CCA (7 Mar) and StAnza (11 Mar).