11.30am: Echoes of Galloway: a presentation of readings by the Stewartry Writers

Venue: EcoArt, 1 Castle St, Kirkcudbright DG6 4JA

Come and join the Stewartry Writers and Friends, back by popular demand, as they introduce and read from a selection of their recent writings celebrating glorious Galloway, near and far, past and present.  A journey through time and tides, terrain and travels.

1.00pm: Telling Stories a Different Way: Elon Musk and the modern world

Venue: Dark Art Distillery, The Johnston, St Mary St, Kirkcudbright DG6 4EG

Elon Musk casts a shadow over the age we live with his pronouncements on X, interventions in UK and international politics, and Tesla and space projects. But who is Elon Musk as a person? Where did he come from, what motivates him, and what impact might it have on the rest of us? Darryl Cunningham talks about his new book on the life and times of Musk.

Darryl Cunningham is a writer/cartoonist known for his non-fiction graphic books on an array of diverse subjects that include mental health, economics, science, and politics. His most recent two books are Putin’s Russia: The Rise of a Dictator, and Elon Musk: American Oligarch. He lives in Yorkshire.

2.30pm: From the revival of folk music to the new music of Martyn Bennett

Venue: Dark Art Distillery, The Johnston, St Mary St, Kirkcudbright DG6 4EG

Folk music has long been part of Scotland’s music traditions and in recent decades has had a contemporary renaissance which says much about how people want to see the past and understand the present. Musical pioneers such as Martyn Bennett made connections between folk, dance and traditional sounds creating a new music which made people sit up. Gary West has written widely on folk music and an acclaimed biography of Bennett: Brave New Music.

Gary West is a writer, musician and broadcaster who has spent his professional life performing and promoting the cultural and musical traditions of Scotland. A former academic he has published widely on music, heritage and folklore. He presented the music programme Pipeline on BBC Radio Scotland for two decades before developing his own podcast, Enjoy Your Piping, and in 2020 was inducted into the Scottish Traditional Music Hall of Fame.

4.00pm: New Voices on Crime and Modern Life

Venue: Feast Cafe, 32 St Cuthbert St, Kirkcudbright DG6 4HZ

Join two emerging and award-winning writers talk about their latest books. Samantha Dooey-Miles’s first novel Under the Hammer explores the housing crisis, murdering landlords and female rage with Hamilton as the backdrop; she is a winner of the Scottish Book Trust New Writer Award. Irene Paterson, a crime writer based in Dumfries, first novel Liar Thief is a psychological suspense thriller; she is the winner of the Black Spring Press New Crime Writer Award.

Samantha Dooey-Miles writes fiction that explores the significance seemingly small moments can have and how characters react in times of high emotion. She is particularly interested in shame, embarrassment and female rage. Her stories have been published in New Writing Scotland, Gutter and Postbox; she is also a performer and Under the Hammer is her first novel.

Irene Paterson is a crime writer based in Dumfries and Galloway. She is involved in several writer networks and was one of the organisers of the inaugural Moffat Crime Writing Festival in 2025. Liar Thief is her first novel.

5.30pm: Fiona Gibson: The Woman Who Needed a Break

Venue: Feast Cafe, 32 St Cuthbert St, Kirkcudbright DG6 4HZ

Fiona Gibson – ‘the queen of relatable comedies’ - started working on teen magazine Jackie aged 17, followed by Just Seventeen and More! Her romantic comedy novels - 20 published so far - have sold over 1.5 million copies. Marriage wobbles, maddening teenagers and second-chance love - they’re all there in her hilarious, sympathetic stories.

Fiona Gibson started her writing life working on beloved teen magazines Jackie and Just Seventeen. As Editor of More! magazine, she invented the infamous ‘Position of the Fortnight’ (it remains a career highlight). Her romantic comedy novels published so far - have sold over 1.5 million copies. Marriage wobbles, maddening teenagers and second-chance love - they’re all there in her hilariously relatable stories.

7.00pm: Book Festival Closing Party

Venue: Kirkcudbright Pipe Band Hall, Daar Road, Kirkcudbright DG6 4LG

Join musicians Susi Briggs and Adam Blake in our concluding event after all those book discussions. Kick back your shoes, let your hair down, and have a good time. Susi Briggs was born in Dumfries in 1978 just 13 minutes after her twin brother Stewart. She grew up surrounded by a family who were natural storytellers.  They inspired the melody and the love of story that she carries and shares today. Susi has long been an advocate for Scots language literacy and has dedicated most of  her career to encouraging children to enjoy reading, writing and performing in Scots. 

Adam Blake is a guitarist and singer-songwriter who moved to Scotland in 2019 – escaping London after 57 years. He played with Errol Linton’s band for 26 years, played sitar and guitar for Cornershop in the noughties, played bass for Natacha Atlas in the 90s and ran his own band The Hipshakers before that. Another blues devotee, Adam is also a regular busker in Dumfries and Castle Douglas.

Susi and Adam regularly collaborate together musically in a number of forms: and in particular blues and folk, informed by their passion for storytelling and people having a good time.