@ Aye Write! Festival, Glasgow, Sat 12 Mar 2016

Aye Write! is back at the Mitchell Library with a full programme of exciting events for book and literature lovers. The first Saturday of the Festival serves up a full day of performances, with many stand out shows for the eager audiences to enjoy. One writer who always pulls a large literature festival crowd is the versatile and entertaining Christopher Brookmyre. To call Brookmyre prolific is an understatement. He seems to release novels so often it is surprising that he has any time to stop and talk about his practice. Luckily the author is making a welcome return to Aye Write! this year and the event on Saturday 12 March marks the first of two events featuring the well loved author. On Sunday 13 March Brookmyre returns to the festival with Kirsty Strain and Rab Florence to discuss his novel Bedlam, which was recently  adapted into a video game. The author’s first event marks the publication of Black Widow, a psychological thriller featuring his regular character Jack Parlabane.

The early evening event does not take the familiar book festival structure of the writer discussing their work with an informed chairperson. Instead, Brookmyre takes to the stage by himself and the hilarious performance would fit perfectly in the Glasgow Comedy Festival. The writer is filled with fun and laugh out loud anecdotes about previous Aye Write! Festivals and his opinions on literary writers and book signings. The author also reads from the first chapter of his new book Black Widow and concludes the reading on a gripping cliff hanger and that no doubt will send many of the audience members to the book shop when event draws to a close.

Brookmyre is relaxed on stage and definitely feels at home as he fields questions from the audience. This leads to the conclusion of the performance where the writer reads from a short story that was commissioned for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and was authored to be read at Kelvingrove Bandstand. The laughs continue as a comedy short story called “Pucknose” is read with humour, drama and a touch of horror. A satisfying ending to a satisfying literary event.

Aye Write! is @ The Mitchell Library, Glasgow from Thu 10 Mar to Sun 20 Mar 2016