AiB Book Blether – first Wednesday of each month, 7pm, in the bookshop

An informal gathering at the bookshop, where all are welcome to chat about our experiences of a particular book and swap recommendations for others. Promise, no exam questions, just friendly blether over a cup of tea.

We’ll be reading and blethering about the following books over the next few months:

• 4th June: Theme evening: a blether about books that evoke an era
• 2nd July: For Thy Great Pain Have Mercy On My Little Pain by Victoria Mackenzie
• 6th August: The Paris Peacemakers by Flora Johnston
• 3rd September: Night Train to Odesa by Jen Stout
• 8th October: Persuasion by Jane Austen
• 5th November: The Glassmaker by Tracy Chevalier
• 3rd December: Theme Evening: books about siblings

We have copies of these books in the bookshop or click on the titles to order from our Bookshop.org page.

Some of our previous books have included: A Town Called Solace by Mary Lawson; O Caledonia by Elspeth Barker, A Single Rose by Muriel Barbery, The Five:the untold lives of the women killed by Jack the Ripper by Hallie Rubenhold, The Bookseller of Inverness by SG Maclean, Paper Cup by Karen Campbell and Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus, The Wager by David Grann, Clear by Carys Davies and James by Percival Everett.

All fascinating reads for very different reasons. Needless to say, not everyone liked all of them, but they all lent themselves to lively discussion.

We also source books for other bookclubs and have hosted bookclub gatherings. If you would like to meet in the bookshop, just get in touch.

Book Launch: Skirly Crag

11 June, 7pm

Kinclune Victorian Courtyard Steading, Kinclune House and Estate, Kirriemuir, DD8 5HX

We’re delighted to support the launch of Helen Percy’s new book, Skirly Crag.

Dr Alan Weir will chair the discussion of this captivating memoir, which plunges readers into the raw beauty and challenges of life on rugged moorland. From caring for eccentric animals to tackling a stubborn bull, it offers a heartfelt and often humorous exploration of rural solitude and determination.

You can buy copies of the books from us at the event (and of course in the bookshop). All are welcome and tickets are free: get in touch with us to book your place.

BOOKMARK Meet the Author – Alastair Chisholm

Saturday, 21st June 2025, 1.30pm, Blairgowrie Library, PH10 6AW

Follow award-winning author Alastair Chisholm to the land of Draconis for an event based on his fantasy adventure series DRAGON STORM! Learn about the weird and wonderful dragon myths from around our world, how to draw dragons, and how to give them dragon names. Then help Alastair create a brand new dragon – and choose its special dragon powers!

This event is structured around children in P3-P5 and numbers are limited to 10, so please contact BOOKMARK  to book your place(s).

BOOKMARK 2025 Festival Launch with Carys Davies 

19th July 2025, 2pm, St Catharine’s Community Centre, PH10 6EY

BOOKMARK will be hosting author Carys Davies at the launch of this year’s festival. Carys’ atmospheric and profoundly human book Clear won the 2024 BOOKMARK Book of the Year Award, and has been the centre of much discussion in many of the town’s book groups (including the Adventure into Books Book Blether).

After tea, BOOKMARK chair Gail Wylie will reveal this year’s Festival programme and the Box Office will open.

Tickets for this event are available from Adventure into Books.

BOOKMARK Festival: 4-5th October 2025

The line up for 2025 Festival is still shrouded in suspenseful mystery but if it is anything like the 2024 festival, it will be fabulous, with something of interest for everyone! Keep an eye on BOOKMARK’s website for more details, and to hear of author events during the year.

Tickets for events are available from Adventure into Books.

Some of our recent favourite AiB events

A big thank you to everyone who helped us to put them on and came to join in the fun.

In June last year, we welcomed Pauline Tait for an entertaining evening exploring her romantic suspense novels: A Life of Their Own, Abigail Returns and Anna’s Promise. Pauline’s reading of Anna’s scare at Brother’s Point in North-East Skye had us all leaning forward on our seats. Just get in touch if you would like to order one of Pauline’s books – we’re eagerly waiting for the next Skye adventure!

In August, Keith Broomfield visited to share some of his journeys through nature, expanding out from the River Devon in If Rivers Could Sing, to A Scottish Wildlife Odyssey and Wild Quest Britain. It was a fascinating evening – including tales of some of the weird and wonderful flora and fauna on own doorstep.

In September, our thoughts turned to the poems of Scots Writer o the Year, Jim Mackintosh, with his new collection, We Are Migrant, with the conversation very ably chaired by local SMP and First Minister John Swinney. The poems examine the constant shift of humanity across the generations – some forced by the need to find work, some by the clearance of land, some fleeing unrelenting persecution. Moving, powerful and personal stories.

Over the past few years, we’ve also loved hosting Merryn Glove, talking about The Hidden Fires of the Cairngorms, and Iain Maloney sharing his quest in search of th The Japan Lights. We’ve also welcomed our local, award-winning children’s authors: David MacPhail (of Thorfinn and Velda fame),  and Molly Arbuthnott (tales of Oscar the Cat and other animals), and the Newhill Primary School Reading Club, who particularly liked our joke books.

of the Cairngorms, and Iain Maloney sharing his quest in search of The Japan Lights. We’ve also welcomed our local, award-winning children’s authors: David MacPhail (of Thorfinn and Velda fame),  and Molly Arbuthnott (tales of Oscar the Cat and other animals), and the Newhill Primary School Reading Club, who particularly liked our joke books.