The programme for this year’s 10th Stirling Bloody Scotland crime writing festival was announced last week.
Organisers are set to welcome Sir Ian Rankin, Anthony Horowitz, Lisa Unger, Jeffrey Archer, Ann Cleeves and Frankie Boyle to the city in September.
There will also be prize-winning writer ‘Alex Gray’s New Crimes Panel’ plus debut authors appearing in various events throughout the programme and twenty new authors ‘In the Spotlight’ on stage ahead of established names.
Head of literature and publishing at Creative Scotland, who help to fund the event, Alan Bett said: ”Much has changed in the decade since Bloody Scotland launched their first festival, in terms of Scottish crime writing and literature festivals more generally.
“This 10th anniversary programme is not only the biggest, it also embraces a hybrid model that means a wider audience can engage with authors either on stage or on screen.
“Bloody Scotland continues to promote the highly popular genre of Scottish crime writing to the world, while also connecting Scottish readers to the work of both new and much loved authors.”
The festival’s dramatic torchlit procession through Stirling’s old town will resume this year for the first time since the pre-pandemic days of 2019. It will be led by the pipes and drums of the Royal Burgh of Stirling Pipe Band.
Scotland will tackle England in the crime writers’ football match at the new venue of King’s Park,
The Crime at the Coo cabaret featuring an array of crime writers showing off their musical talents will also resume.
And those who cannot make it to Stirling can buy digital passes for individual events or the whole weekend.
Val McDermid, David Baldacci, Sara Paretsky, Donna Leon and Irvine Welsh will all join the festival for digital sessions.
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James Crawford, Chair of Bloody Scotland said: “It’s fantastic to be able to mark the 10th anniversary of the festival with a full, four-day programme of in-person events - along with a brilliant selection of digital offerings - featuring the best that crime writing has to offer. Bloody Scotland was established a decade ago to shine a spotlight on crime writing and to help develop a whole new generation of writers.
“Debut authors have always been central to this, and to the vibrant community that has grown up around the festival. Along with the excitement of seeing familiar faces comes the thrill of finding your new favourite writer.
“Bloody Scotland 2022 is a festival full of possibilities and discovery.”
Stirling Council leader Chris Kane added: “The fact that Bloody Scotland is now enjoying its 10th Anniversary is a welcome plot development for a festival that has grown into one of Stirling’s most-loved events.”
More information about which events will be available to watch on-line can be found at bloodyscotland.com/digital-pass
