Apologies for the lateness of this posting- I’ve been a little pre-occupied for the past couple of days. The publication of the Edinburgh Book Festival programme is of insurmountable importance in this reader’s literary life and tends to push all other considerations and deadlines to one side. The EIBF is the biggest and the best, taking place in the heart of Scotland. So to celebrate, let’s stay there for the duration of this blog hop.
You may remember I attended the launch of Scotland’s Bookshelf back in March. Today I have a couple of those specially produced booklets to give you. Described as a primer for 100 year’s of Scotland’s books, you’ll find a more detailed description on my original post. I’m sure you’ll find plenty of books to add to your already out-of-control TBRs! Also useful as a reference tool for those participating in Subtle Melodrama’s Scottish Fiction Challenge. (Actually I’m sure she’ll allow you to count it as one of your titles.)
To enter, simply leave a comment and a Scottish thought – a memory (if you’ve ever visited – only don’t mention the rain. It’s lashing down as I type.), or a place you’d like to see, a book/a poem you’d recommend or one you’d like to read. You might even tell me about your favourite malt!
You already know my favourite place: Charlotte Square, Edinburgh. You’ll find me there from 11-27 August this year. 7 weeks and counting!
This giveaway is open to all countries. Winners will be notified on the 27th of June.
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Start blog-hopping now. Isn’t this list of other participants impressive?
Participating blogs:
In my one and sadly only visit to Scotland I tried haggis. And it wasn’t too bad!
One day I will attend the book festival — one day.
Thank you for this giveaway.
bibliosue(at)hotmail(dot)com
Good memory, Suzanne. I love haggis!
I would like to read all the books on this list:
http://www.list.co.uk/articles/100-best-scottish-books/
Thanks for the giveaway!
mishamary@gmail.com
Oooh, this giveaway’s a little different! Very intriguing… I had a short holiday in Edinburgh with my family a few years ago. I mostly remember sitting in the apartment window watching the street come to life every morning – there was a little bakery right opposite and an internet cafe next door, it was lovely. Unfortunately my mum had a really funny turn and fainted right after a ghost walk (coincidence? Ooooh!) and we had to go home a day or two early!
Thanks – and happy hopping!
Ellie @ Musings of a Bookshop Girl
emp501@hotmail.co.uk
Ooh, I would love a copy of this booklet. I love exploring Scotland and have been slowly introducing my boyfriend to my favourite places and discovering new ones with him over the last couple of years. Favourite moment from those trips is so hard to pick but I guess it has to be touring Bladnoch distillery with him last year and converting him, his parents and his sister to whisky in one afternoon. Worth it even if I have to share my bottles of single malt now.
I’ve never been to Scotland but I’ve always wanted to go to Loch Ness but not for the monster. On documentaries the area looks beautiful and I’d love to hike around there.
I’ve always wanted to go to Scotland! And to go there for a book festival would be the ultimate hop across the pond!! Love your giveaway idea…I’m always looking for great reads. I like your taste in books and am now a follower. Thanks for the giveaway~
Beth
At the risk of being cliche, I love Burns’ Tae a Mouse. I say a few lines each time I have to rid my house of one of the wee creatures, usually to with the demise of said creature.
Thanks for the chance to win this unique prize!
I spent a week on the tiny island of Scalpay, in the Outer Hebrides, many years ago. It really was idyllic, in a little crofter’s cottage right next to the sea, with use of our own rowing boat. We even caught a couple of lobsters, which I felt awful about killing for our lunch (they were delicious though!). Scotland is beautiful, I’d love to go back soon.
I visited Scotland when I was 10, we spent time at a holiday park near Aviemore. I remember visiting an Osprey sanctuary and Pitlochry. I have always wanted to return.
Now let me see, my Scottish thoughts,,, Aberlour A’bunadh, Ardbeg, Talisker, Laphroaig, Edradour. all raised to wish you a great bloghop.
ADAM – A. B. Jackson
Adam lay miraculous,
unconscious with drink.
In a dream, he named whiskies
by nose, palate, finish:
brine and limes, a delicate
peat-reek, Weetabix.
Plasticine, emulsion paint,
amyl nitrate. A warm horse.
Kippers, treacle toffee, grassy
with green grape . . .
the work was endless.
Jalapeno peppers, tobacco notes . . .
Adam rose with a rough tongue
and heartbroken.
I enjoy a drop of Jura myself, Parrish.
One of the most moving moments of our visit to the UK in 2001 was standing in the churchyard in the tiny village of Lochfoot surrounded by the graves of my ancestors. I’d love to go back!
Thanks for the giveaway – it sounds very interesting.
catsplace31(at)yahoo(dot)co(dot)nz
I have Scottish heritage, but have never been to Scotland. I have visited Dunedin in New Zealand and a lot of the locals say things like ‘och’ and ‘wee’ which was cool! One of my workmates is Scottish and made Scotch tablet for us once – SO GOOD!
I’m an ex-pat Scot, brought up in Edinburgh, but dragged away at the age of 6 as we needed to follow my Dad’s work down south. I miss it still and feel the call whenever I hear a Scottish accent or see pictures of footage. One of my strongest memories is of standing on a bridge in Princes Street gardens watching the steam trains going underneath and being engulfed in the steam. The booklets sound fascinating (as I love Scottish literature) and so thanks for the change of winning one!
karen(dot)langley2(at)btinternet(dot)com
Ohh, Scotland! I had one *very* brief visit to Glasgow nine years ago…the record stores were amazing, I hope they’re still there. So many wonderful Scottish bands (Teenage Fanclub!), actors (Ewan McGregor! Denis Lawson! Billy Connolly!), and authors, of course. Sigh…
I’m an English woman, married to a Scots man, lived in various places in Scotland for 16 years before moving to Canada – so lots of memories
+JMJ+
I play a game called “Word & Question” with some of my blog readers each month. Everyone gets a word prompt and a question prompt, and then has to write a poem that uses the word and answers the question. This month, I got “Scotland” and “What is par?”–which one friend thought was a perfect pairing. And I did agree . . . except that I couldn’t decide which I knew less of: golf or Scotland! =P
If you’re interested, here’s the link to the poem I managed to cobble together: W&Q 22.
Thanks for the giveaway! =)
My people, the Milbys, were Scottish. Beautiful skin. Fabulous white hair in old age.
And I work at R. L. Stevenson Primary School.
Talk about a Scottish connection!
debnance at gmail dot com
Here’s my
Literary Blog Hop Giveaway. I hope you will stop by!
I’ve always wanted to visit Scotland! I think of beautiful green rolling hills…and kilts!
Thanks for the giveaway!
darlenesbooknook at gmail dot com
Great giveaway
I have never been to Scotland but don’t worry I can’t say anything about the rain seeing as I live in Wales! I’d love to visit though. My family and I love walking and we climbed Snowdon last year and always joke about going up Ben Nevis but I don’t think I could do it seeing as we actually caught the train up Snowdon and walked down haha! We’ve actually searched to see how much it would be to stay in a log cabin there (out of our price range!) but it would just be lovely to wander across Scotland’s gorgeous countryside and visit the famous Loch Ness!
e-mail: rharris1991@hotmail.co.uk
I have never been to Scotland, but since becoming a literature major with a focus on that region it has quickly become one of my goals! I already know I’ll love it when I visit.
Thank you so much for your giveaway!
kimie142002(at)hotmail(dot)com
Hello !
My one and only souvenir of Scotland goes back to the 90′s when I was a flight attendant for AirFrance and having a very, very short stopover in Aberdeen and being awfully frustrated to be there just for a few nightime hours…A hotel room, an airport…that’s it.
It is one of my precious travel dreams to go up there with husband and kids.
Thanks for the giveaway and many friendly greetings from France, Virginie
I’ve never been to scotland but I would love to! I enjoy the novels of Irvine Welsh! Thanks for the giveaway.
I’m considering whether to go the the Ed Book Fest. Not sure yet. Would love a Scottish bookshelf-book!
Thanks for joining the blog hop.
Great giveaway! I’ve never been, but would love to visit.
ainfingerATcomcastDOTnet
I’ve never been to Scotland, but I would love to visit and see a man in kilt. Thanks for the giveaway!
dl(dot)love(dot)freedom(at)gmail(dot)com
Great giveaway, would love to win! Many fond memories of Scotland as my Mum is from Aberdeen so we spent a lot holidays up there and I then went to university in Edinburgh. Unfortunately living south of the border again but my aim is to move back as soon as possible
Thank you for this opportunity! My boyfriend is Scottish, and I once had a fish that I named Haggis. maevalentine39 [at] gmail [dot] com
Scotland is one of my absolute favorite places! It’s the only foreign country I’ve visited by myself and I loved it, especially Glasgow, Skye, and Inverness. I even married a Scot — my husband is a Fraser and he wore a kilt at our wedding. We hope to go back to Scotland together one of these days. Thanks for the giveaway!
Giveaway closed. WInners announced later today.
So much Scottishness – thanks for all your thoughts and memories. I really enjoyed that. And now it’s time to reveal the winners. What does random.org have to say?:
Here are your random numbers:
14 6
Timestamp: 2012-06-29 06:20:44 UTC
Cue bagpipes and a drumroll! The winners are: Debbie Rodgers and Vesper! Congratulations! Please send snail mail details to lizzysiddal at yahoo dot com.