Nevertheless: Sparkian tales in Bulawayo

Author Shane Strachan writes:
I will be launching my short fiction collection Nevertheless: Sparkian Tales in Bulawayo (Zimbabwe: amaBooks) in the Suttie Arts Space at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary. The collection has been funded by Creative Scotland in celebration of Muriel Spark's centenary in 2018. The launch will coincide with Buladeen, an exhibition of new work by Bulawayo-based artist collective BUKA who I previously worked with on an arts-in-health project in Zimbabwe. Non-ticketed; all welcome

Memento Muriel

Poet Theresa Munoz explores the use of archives in poetry at the Scottish Poetry Library on 6 October 2018. She has been exploring fan letters to Muriel in the Spark Archive in the National Library of Scotland, and is writing a poetry sequence on them entitled, Why We Love You.

Danz on Muriel Spark ...

Performer and composer Jessica Danz is creating a new work for violin and string quartet inspired by a selection of Muriel Spark’s poetry, which will be performed at the Scottish Poetry Library in Edinburgh on the 14 November 2018.  Jessica will appear as a solo violinist alongside the Brodick Quartet, an ensemble comprised of four of Scotland’s most outstanding young string players.
For more information: https://www.jessicadanz.com/  @jessicadanzmusic
@Jessica_Danz

BookMark Festival celebrates 100 years of Muriel Spark

The BookMark Festival in Blairgowrie celebrates Dame Muriel’s centenary with a full day of events on Sunday 7 October. Participants include Alan Taylor, Rosemary Goring and Gerda Stevenson. Our former Chair Gail Wylie and Committee member Olga Wojtas will help steer the day.
£15 for a day pass. Tickets available from Horsecross: www.horsecross.co.uk.

Appointment in Wigtown...

Alan Taylor will discuss his memoir of Spark, Appointment in Arezzo, at the Wigtown Book Festival on Friday 21 September at 15.30.
£7

Muriel Spark’s Women at Wigtown Book Festival

A event on Spark’s women will take place at Wigtown on Sunday 23 September at 4.30pm.
On the panel is our former Chair, Gail Wylie.
£7
www.wigtownbookfestival.com

Nicola Sturgeon: a life in books

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon will discuss her love of books at the Wigtown Book Festival next month. Going on the evidence of her recent interest in all things Sparkian, there is an excellent possibility that Muriel Spark will figure large. Ms Sturgeon will appear on the first day.

Review of EIBF EVENT from The Scotsman

Earlier on, in the Charlotte Square Sparkathon, we had been tackling the Big One: The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie. Teasing out the reasons for its enduring appeal, Candia ­McWilliam was joined by joined by writer and editor Alan Taylor and chairwoman Gail Wylie, the last two both former chairs of the Muriel Spark Society and therefore, for these purposes, very much la crème de la crème.

Shane Strachan on Muriel Spark

Writer Shane Strachan (Creative Scotland Spark 100 Writer) will be reading from a colllection of short stories commissioned  to celebrate Spark’s links with Aberdeen’s twin city, Bulawayo.


The Barn Salon, Banchory
Tuesday 28 August 7.30pm
£5 (£3)
www.thebarnarts.co uk

01330 825431

Muriel Spark at EIBF

There has been a feast of Spark at the Book Festival this centenary year, and five more events are planned from today until Friday. Of particular note is Ali Smith reprising her brilliant Spark and Time, first presented last November as the Muriel Spark Society Lecture. This lecture was recently published by Polygon. Visit the Book Festival site for more details.

Doctors of Philosophy at Edinburgh International Book Festival

The rehearsed reading of Muriel Spark’s play was a triumph last night, with particular praise for Maureen Beattie and Elaine C Smith. The full Spiegeltent resounded with laughter as the mordant satire progressed. I was delighted to see our Patron Penelope Jardine in attendance, as well as the First Minister! Let’s hope we are able to see a fully staged version at the Lyceum in the near future.

Welcome Olga Wojtas!

We are delighted to welcome novelist Olga Wojtas to the Committee of the Muriel Spark Society. Her recent novel, Miss Blaine’s Prefect and the Golden Samovar, has a former pupil of Marcia Blaine as the main character. Olga is herself a former Gillespie’s girl. Very much looking forward to working with her.
Eric Dickson, Chairman

Spark at Glasgow Women’s Library

Narrative Experiments 25 August 2pm Free, but please book

An event looking at Muriel Spark and her contempories.

0141 550 2267

info@womenslibrary.org.uk