For the latest Scots Whay Hae! podcast Ali spoke to writer Martin MacIntyre to talk about his novel A Summer Like No Other which is published by Luath Press. Martin begins with a reading before he gives an overview to the novel, which is a translation from the original Gaelic version, Samhradh '78. The two then discuss the central characters, the key role the Gaelic language plays in terms of character and plot, (even in this translated adaptation), the use of footnotes, the

Zoe Alba Farrugia For the latest Scots Whay Hae! podcast Ali spoke to Zoe Alba Farrugia, who is the Head of Programme for this year's Solas Festival, which is at Errol Park, 19th–21st June. Zoe gives some background and history to the festival, stressing that it is so much more than a music festival. She then talks about the different strands, which include Wellbeing & Spirituality, Literature, Poetry & Spoken Word, Children & Families, and much more. The two then discuss the

For the latest Scots Whay Hae! podcast Ali spoke once again to Jess Orr, the Associate Programmer for the Paisley Book Festival, to learn all about this year's programme - and what a programme it is! Jess explains this year's theme 'Everyday Heroes, Everlasting Icons' as well as breaking down the various strands of the festival which include Reclaiming History's Heroines and What Nature Does For Us before the two go into details about just some of the individual events across

For the latest Scots Whay Hae! podcast, Ali spoke to writer and broadcaster Billy Kay to hear about his memoir Born In Kyle: A Love Letter tae an Ayrshire Childhood , but the conversation turns to so much more. Billy talks about his lifelong passion for Scots language and culture, and explains that the roots of this are to be found in that Ayrshire childhood, which he sets out in detail. The two then talk about Billy being the public face, and voice, of the Scots leid for so

For the latest Scots Whay Hae! podcast Ali headed to Stirling to talk to writer Donald S. Murray about his new novel The Loch Of The Bees , which is published with Saraband Books . The two met at the lauded venue the Tolbooth as Donald is a member of the Metagama Ensemble who are behind Metagama: An Atlantic Odyssey , a piece of theatre which mixes music, song, and spoken word, and which was playing the venue on the last night of its current tour. Donald tells us all about

📸 - credit Christopher Bowen For the latest Scots Whay Hae! podcast Ali spoke to Lesley Davidson, who is the co-director of the Beacon Arts Centre , to talk about the inaugural Beacon Book Festival which runs from Friday 20th - Sunday 22nd February. Lesley tells us why now is the right time for the Beacon Arts Centre to host a book festival, and what the challenges were in programming, before talking about that programme - who is on, and when, and taking us through the vari

As is traditional, the first of our Best of 2025 podcasts is all about books, when once again Ali is joined by Publishing Scotland 's Vikki Reilly (right) to talk about just a few of the standouts of the year, and to give a heads up as to what's coming in 2026. The two talk fantastic fiction, non-fiction, plenty of prose, and even a little poetry. There are debuts to Last Words , complicated families, celebrations of friendships, love, loss, what it means to be alive, examina

Moving from Spring to Autumn - running from 6th to 16th November - Glasgow’s Book Festival Aye Write offers something for everyone. Lovers of fact, fiction, poetry, prose, autobiography, biography, crime (real and fictional), memoir, music, food, and any other form of writing that takes your fancy, are all well catered for. The festival is mostly split between the Mitchell Library and Glasgow's Royal Concert Hall with plenty of guests from home and abroad, perfectly suiting

For the latest Scots Whay Hae! podcast Ali caught up with Donald Smith , the director and founder of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival , to hear all about this year's programme , which features over 120 events and which will take place in Edinburgh and all across Scotland from 22nd October - 1st November. Donald breaks down the title Lights Of The North and how that relates to the international aspect of the festival, before going through the themes and stran

This year's Edinburgh International Book Festival returns to Edinburgh Futures Institute (EFI) for the second year, and once again it...

For the latest Scots Whay Hae! podcast Ali caught up with writer and academic Liam McIlvanney to talk about his superb new novel The...

For the latest Scots Whay Hae! podcast Ali spoke to poet Gordon Meade to hear all about his new collection of selected poems Beyond The...

📸 - credit Shaun Murawski For the latest Scots Whay Hae! podast Ali spoke to writer and poet Michael Pedersen , in the splendid...

Jess Orr For the latest Scots Whay Hae! podcast Ali spoke once again to Jess Orr, the Associate Programmer for the Paisley Book Festival...

For the latest Scots Whay Hae! Show Ali spoke to writer and academic Esa Aldegheri to talk about There She Goes: New Travel Writing by...

Once again Montgomery Scott raises a glass to see out the old year and ring in the new, and that means it’s time for Scots Whay Hae!’s...

As is traditional, the first of our Best of 2024 podcasts is all about books, when once again Ali is joined by Publishing Scotland 's...

For the latest Scots Whay Hae! podcast Ali spoke to artist Pat Law to hear all about GAFFER: Impressions from a Loch Fyne Skiff , a...

For the latest podcast Ali caught up with writer and academic Dr Rodge Glass to learn about his extraordinary new book, Joshua In The...

For the latest Scots Whay Hae! podcast Ali catches up with previous guest, the writer and poet Andrés N. Ordorica to hear all about his...