Three George Mackay Brown Stories

GMB on the street in Stromness

BBC Radio Four will broadcast three stories of George Mackay Brown on the following three Sundays.       The first one, The Wireless Set will go out this Sunday at 7.45 pm.

Produced and directed by Kirsteen Cameron, the story is described on the website: 

... set in 1939, a couple are bemused by their son's gift of a wireless set, but when he leaves the small island community for service in the Navy, they and their neighbours keep a close ear upon the news it brings of the war's progress. 

Kirsteen Cameron BBC

The full list and dates of stories to be broadcast on 
BBC Radio Four are:

The Wireless Set - Sunday 28 April 7.45pm

The Five of Spades - Sunday 5 May 7.45pm

The Masked Fisherman - Sunday 12 May 7.45pm

There is something very satisfying about having a story read to you and it must be many years since George Mackay Brown's stories have been broadcast. So it is to Kirsteen Cameron's credit that she has decided to bring these three stories to life on the airwaves.

At the heart of Orkney's literary community, George Mackay Brown lives on in the work of the George Mackay Brown Fellowship which was set up to promote writing in Orkney and bring new authors to the attention of the Orkney reading public.

Orkney Book Festival 11-14 April 2013

I've had a great time being involved in the planning for Orkney Book Festival with the George Mackay Brown Fellowship.

Orkney Book Festival 

11-14 April 

I mentioned all the Margaret Tait events in yesterday's blog. Today I'll tell you about some of the other stars of the festival.

Magi Gibson

Magi Gibson, as well as presenting Glasgow Women's Library's film, Margaret Tait: Film Poet, will be playing several other roles in the festival. She will be reading her work, running a workshop for school children, judging the finalists and presenting the prize to the winner of the Children's Writing Competition. She will also be appearing with me, her fellow Reader in Residence, in a joint session, yet to be devised!

In 2009, Magi became Stirling's first Makar for 500 years. Her poetry collection, Wild Women of a Certain Age, attracted critical acclaim and enthusiastic reader appreciation, a magical combination not always enjoyed by poets.

With another hat on - and another 'g' in her name - Mag(g)i Gibson has written a successful series of children's books featuring Sassy Wilde - her name says it all - called Seriously Sassy. Check it out by clicking the link left.

Like me, since October last year, Magi has been one of Scotland's five Readers in Residence. While I am based in Orkney, Magi's residency is at Glasgow Women's Library. Also like me, she has been writing a regular blog. Have a look, but remember to come back here!

Ian McPherson

Ian MacPherson is a writer and comedian of note - who nevertheless didn't buy himself a goat! Instead he's written several funny books and has been awarded the Robert Louis Stevenson Fellowship which allowed him to be flaneur-in-residence in Grez-sur-Loing in France - lucky fella!

He is currently dining out on the stories from The Autobiography of Ireland's Greatest Living Genius which may or may not be about himself.

In the Orkney Book Festival he will be reading from his own work and teaching local writers how to coax a chuckle out of their writing in a Comedy Writing Workshop. He will also be playing host to a cabaret style event where he and the budding comics - and maybe some others - will have a chance to read their work.

And rumour has it that Magi and Ian are an item. If this photo's anything to go by, I think the rumour may be true!

Poetry, Film, Stories, Music, Comedy

an Extravaganza of Delights 

at the Orkney Book Festival

11-14 April 

Don't miss it!

More about the Festival anon. Next time - the John Rae connection.