The Fife Arms

Friday 29th September

Internationally renowned chef Rick Stein opens the festival with a specially curated dinner in the magical setting of the Clunie Dining Room, in the company of Braemar Literary Festival's illustrious speakers. The dinner will also feature a special reading of poetry by Scottish poet John Glenday.

SOLD OUT

Braemar Village Hall

Saturday 30th September

11:30am-12:30pm

Join photographer, filmmaker and author Mary McCartney and Sam Leith, Literary editor of The Spectator as they discuss Mary’s latest book Feeding Creativity, the idea and motivation behind fusing her two passions of portrait photography and meat-free cooking. Mary will be divulging her quick, easy and fuss-free cooking tips, whilst sharing some amusing stories behind the photographs in the book.

SOLD OUT

St Margaret’s

Saturday 30th September

10am-11am

British food writer and critic Tom Parker Bowles hosts award-winning chef and author Rick Stein and Grace Dent, a food critic, author and broadcaster for a panel discussion on the joy of comfort food and home cooking. Grace's new book Comfort Eating, inspired by her award-winning podcast, and Rick’s latest publication, Rick Stein's Simple Suppers will both be released in October 2023, with this event providing a first glimpse into the stories surrounding these two new books.

A book signing will follow the talk.

SOLD OUT

BraemarHighland Games Pavilion

Saturday 30th September

1pm-2pm

Historical biographer, Flora Fraser and former broadcaster and local historian Doreen Wood, discuss the life and infamy of Jacobite heroine Flora MacDonald, the subject of Flora Fraser’s latest book Pretty Young Rebel. With the village of Braemar holding strong associations with the Jacobite uprising of 1715, this talk promises to be a fascinating and relevant new look at this significant historical figure.

SOLD OUT

St Margaret’s

Saturday 30th September

2:30pm-3:30pm

William Boyd is the bestselling author behind one of Queen Camilla’s favourite books, Restless. A tale of espionage, truth, lies and betrayal, it explores Britain’s machinations to bring America into the Second World War. In this conversation with Her Majesty’s book club and charity, The Queen’s Reading Room, William will divulge some of the secrets behind the creation of this special spy story and will reflect on those books which have inspired him and his career the most.

SOLD OUT

St. Margaret’s

Saturday 30th September

5:30pm-6:30pm

Legendary actor Dame Judi Dench has entertained global audiences for over six decades, and perhaps is most lovingly revered for her work in Shakespearean productions. As the world celebrates the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s First Folio, Dame Judi, along with friend, actor and director Brendan O’Hea, will discuss her astonishing career and the Shakespearean characters she has brought so vividly to life. Dame Judi and Brendan are co-authors of a new book entitled Shakespeare – the Man who Pays the Rent which is released in October 2023.

SOLD OUT

St Margaret’s

Sunday 1st October

10am-11am

A literary phenomenon, David Walliams' books have captured the hearts and imaginations of children around the globe. This Braemar Literary Festival experience presents a unique opportunity to hear David talk about his incredible literary career including readings from his books and answering audience questions in his one-man show.

SOLD OUT

Braemar Village Hall

Sunday 1st October

11:45am-12:45pm

Delving into the significant field of published female writers and authors, Executive Director of the Women’s Prize Trust Claire Shanahan will lead a panel conversation with debut novelists Chịkọdịlị Emelụmadụ (Dazzling, 2023) and Lucy Barker (The Other Side of Mrs Woods, 2023) and literary agent Lucy Morris of Curtis Brown. The panel will explore the role of support structures for women writers and routes to publishing; discuss the Women’s Prize for Fiction, the Discoveries programme (and its precursor Curtis Brown First Novel Prize/CB120), the importance of informal peer networks and the role of the literary agent.  

Chịkọdịlị and Lucy will share their personal literary journeys and what helped them make the breakthrough into being published writers.

The Fife Arms Fog House

Sunday 1st October

1:15pm-2:15pm

Widely regarded as the creative force that launched the global phenomenon of the adult colouring book, Johanna Basford will host a one-off colouring workshop at the Fife Arms. With opportunities to chat with Johanna about her successful book career, participants will also get a sneak peek at some of the illustrations from Johanna’s new book Small Victories which will be published in November of this year.

SOLD OUT

The Fife Arms Drawing Room

Sunday 1st October

1:15pm-2:15pm

Join author, scholar and specialised curator of modern and contemporary art Sophie Berrebi in conversation with Vicky Allan, friend, author and environment editor for the Herald as they explore Sophie’s first novel The Sharing Economy.

St Margaret’s

Sunday 1st October

2:45pm-3:45pm

Bestselling author Anthony Horowitz is one of the kings of adventure fiction: from spy stories to detective dramas and murder mysteries, he’s thrilled millions of readers on the page and screen with his original novels and follow-ons of James Bond and Sherlock Holmes. A favourite writer of Her Majesty The Queen, Anthony joins us for a special, career-spanning conversation with The Queen’s Reading Room, exploring a key theme from Alex Rider to Magpie Murders: the secrets of suspense.

SOLD OUT

Braemar Village Hall

Sunday 1st October

4:30pm-5:30pm

Poet, musician and author Don Paterson is widely regarded as one of Scotland’s greatest living writers. In conversation with critic and broadcaster Alistair Braidwood, Don will discuss his award-winning career and literary style, focusing on his new memoir published earlier this year, Toy Fights: A Boyhood, which recounts in gritty, occasionally hilarious and always uncompromising detail Paterson’s early life and upbringing on a Dundee council estate.

Highland Games Pavilion

Friday 29th September

2pm-3pm

Aberdeenshire- based author and illustrator team Sabine and Agnieszka are the creative team behind four children’s picture books with a fifth in the making. Their books are created with an educational, humorous slant for children under six, featuring bees, spiders, marine creatures, and misbehaving seagulls. Their latest publication, called We Don’t Want Your Rubbish, is about sea creatures dealing with plastic pollution of the ocean. Join Sabine and Agnieska as they chat about their approach to writing and illustrating their stories.

This is a free event, bookable in advance.

Tor Workshop

Friday 29th September

4:30pm-5:30pm

Join Scottish nature poet John Glenday for an informal reading of his poems, surrounded by the beautiful woodwork of the TOR workshop.

This is a free event - all guests welcome.

Castleton Hall

Saturday 30th September and Sunday 1st October

11am-4pm

Drop in throughout the Literary Festival weekend and share your creativity and colouring skills with specially selected images from Johanna's colouring books.

This is a free drop in event – no booking required. All welcome.

Braemar Gallery

Saturday 30th September

4pm-5pm

Rebecca Smith’s new book Rural: The Lives of the Working Class Countryside offers a personal glimpse into another side of Britain’s perceived rural idyll. Join Rebecca in conversation with critic and broadcaster Alistair Braidwood in the intimate setting of Braemar Gallery, as she discusses her own experience of country life and the many social and economic structures that impact the lives of many in a rural environment.

Highland Games Pavilion

Saturday 30th September

7:15pm-8:15pm

Scottish historian and author Maureen Kelly will share a fascinating insight into her recent work Historical Guide to Braemar Castle, an important local landmark with a rich history that touches on Clan heritage, the Royal Family and political uprisings. Braemar Castle reopens to the public in Summer 2023 after a significant refurbishment.

Free event, donations are welcomed.

Braemar Book Club

Friday, 29th September

Braemar Village Hall

Local authors Suzie Edge and Maureen Kelly will entertain members of Braemar village’s three Book Groups with stories of the writing of their latest publications and their experiences as published writers. This private Braemar Book Group event is hosted by Marilyn Baker and Braemar Creative Arts Festival.

Braemar Local History Group

Sunday 1st October

11:30am-12:30pm

Meet the colourful literary characters of Braemar on this costumed literary tour, presented by the Braemar Local History Group. The group will meet at the Mews, across from the Fife Arms Hotel.

Free event, donations are welcomed.

Farquharson’s Bar and Kitchen

Saturday 30th September

8:30pm-10:30pm

Weekly pub quiz, themed for the literary festival.

Please contact Farquharson's directly to book a table.

Opening the Braemar Literary Festival is this exclusive talk with Sam Leith, literary Editor of The Spectator and James Cahill, art critic and author as they explore Art and Literary criticism - how they align, how they differ; the role of criticism versus that of the market; the commerce of art and fiction; critics as characters in fiction; humour - or the lack of it - in art and literary criticism; and much, much more.