Scotland’s Year of Stories 2022

We have been supported by EventScotland as part of the Year of Stories 2022, and to mark this special year celebrating the power of storytelling, we introduced an exciting strand of events to spotlight the wealth of stories inspired by, written, or created in Scotland.

Scotland’s stories and is supported by the Year of Stories 2022, bringing Iconic Stories and Storytellers together with events including, Sir Jackie Stewart, Gavin Esler, Val McDermid, Alexander McCall Smith, Andrew Marr, Victoria Crowe with Christine De Luca.

Inimitable Scottish impressionists Rory Bremner, Ronni Ancona and Lewis MacLeod created an exclusive event: The Scottish Impressionists added new levels of joy to the Year of Stories celebrations with gales of laughter to rock the marquee and blow away the blues.

Focusing on the Romans in Scotland, the book festival partnered with the new Trimontium Museum in Melrose.  Bringing stories of Local Tales and Legends, events included Dr Fraser Hunter with Scotland’s Early Silver, and the Trimontium Family Fun Day on Saturday 18th June, with Roman-themed activities including a ballista workshop and mosaic making, the likes of which may have been seen at the Trimontium site nearby.

Stories were sprinkled throughout the programme, including Edinburgh-based writer Jenny Colgan with the Scottish launch of her latest feel-good novel, An Island Wedding, the final instalment of the beloved Mure series and part of the strand of events looking at stories of Scotland’s People and Places.

The Borders Book Festival programme is packed with more events celebrating the Year of Stories 2022, including new stories from the likes of award-winning journalist Chitra Ramaswamy whose moving story of her friendship with a Holocaust survivor is told in Homelands; and Ben West, who addresses through his own personal story of loss the crucial issue of mental health – and specifically the mental health of young men.

In addition, Festival Director Alistair Moffat will be giving his insight into Sir Walter Scott’s writing, which was Inspired by Nature in the Borders, with the Writer’s Walk event taking place in September. Walkers will immerse themselves in the life of Scotland’s greatest storyteller, this unique interpretation helping to bring to life how this countryside profoundly inspired Scott and made him a writer of such enduring influence.

These events were woven throughout the four-days, involving some of Scotland’s finest writers, thinkers, and performers. Find out more about these exciting Year of Stories 2022 events below.