O'Hagan headlines EIBF Business of Books strand

The Business of Books series returns to Edinburgh International Book Festival this year, featuring a poetry slam prize for spoken word performers and a discussion with Booker-shortlisted author Andrew O’Hagan.

The event will run from 15th to 26th August at the Edinburgh College of Art and will comprise five events this year, slightly down on the six events run last year.

In November Edinburgh International Book Festival announced it had taken the “difficult but necessary decision” to scale down due to “the unpredictable nature of the external environment” and changing audience behaviours precipitated by the cost of living crisis. Festival director Nick Barley also announced he would be stepping down in September.

Most tickets will be offered on a pay-what-you-can basis, with tickets going on sale with the rest of the Edinburgh International Book Festival’s public programme on Thursday 29th June.

This year’s line up will see events in collaboration with partners including Edinburgh TV Festival, Publishing Scotland, The Society of Authors and I Am Loud Productions. Events include "A Beginner’s Guide to Performance Poetry" (15th August); "From Page to Screen: Mayflies" (22nd August); "Building a Writing Career" (23rd August); "The Accessibility of Books" (24th August) and "Loud Poets Grand Slam Final" (26th August).

Fans of author O’Hagan and his acclaimed novel Mayflies (Faber & Faber) will get first-hand insight into the creative journey of adapting the novel for screen. Run in partnership with Publishing Scotland and Edinburgh TV Festival and supported by Edinburgh Napier University, the "From Page to Screen" event will see O’Hagan joined by two members of the production team responsible for the successful TV adaptation starring Martin Compston: screenwriter Andrea Gibb and executive producer of Synchronicity Films, Claire Mundell.

Together they will discuss the opportunities and challenges of adapting a novel for screen in a conversation chaired by former publisher at Faber, now head of literary acquisitions at All3Media, Hannah Griffiths.

Writers and burgeoning poetry performers can benefit from two pay-what-you-can events run in partnership with The Society Authors. The first, "A Beginner’s Guide to Performance Poetry" will see stand-up comedian and World Poetry Slam Champion, Harry Baker together with acclaimed Scottish-Caribbean poet and performer, Courtney Stoddart in a practical workshop offering advice on performer and author rights as well as tips and exercises to hone performance skills.

The second, "Building a Writing Career", offers another opportunity for writers, at various stages of their career, to gain insights into what it takes to develop a writing career that makes you a living. In this panel, Society of Authors’ senior policy and liaison manager for Scotland, Heather Parry will question four authors on the highs and lows of their careers and explore how they developed the resilience and skills needed to sustain them financially and creatively. Featuring authors Helen Sedgwick, Jenny Colgan, Nadine Aisha Jassat and Nikesh Shukla.

Following on from last year’s panel event to launch the Inklusion Guide, the Book Festival continues the topic of accessibility with "The Accessibility of Books". This event will investigate the steps being taken for those who face barriers in accessing books, or whose stories are underrepresented in mainstream publishing.

Chaired by author and co-founder of the Good Literary Agency, Nikesh Shukla, the panel will showcase examples of how books are being adapted for a range of audiences and explores pioneering initiatives that are encouraging inclusivity in books from the outset with the creators themselves.

The Business of Books series will culminate with the "Loud Poets Grand Slam Final". Run in partnership with I Am Loud Productions and championing the strength and diversity of Scotland’s Spoken word scene, this event will see one spoken word poet crowned winner of the inaugural Loud Poets Slam Prize. Having qualified through a series of Scotland-wide Slams, 12 poets will perform in front of a live audience to compete for the £3,000 prize. It will be hosted by Scottish spoken word poet Kevin Mclean with musical accompaniment from Jack Hinks, plus special performances from winner of over 10 slam titles, Vanessa Kisuule.