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Wild Words and Spooky Happenstance: A Festival Diary

Poster reads "WILD WORDS! A Festival of Reading at the Library of Innerpeffray, by Crieff"; image of an octopus and five authors

From Thursday 7th to Sunday 10th September 2023, Innerpeffray Library hosted its third annual Festival of Reading, celebrating the theme of Wild Words. Authors, poets, storytellers, musicians, artists, and readers met in and around the historic location of Scotland’s first free lending library.

Image shows seven people wearing black, standing in front of a stage, holding script books.
Singer: Naomi Harvey; Crieff Drama Group: Tom Inglis, Helen Day, Mike Owens, Ann MorrisonJohn Cummings Jane Drysdale

On Thursday evening, the Festival of Reading kicked off with a new production by the Crieff Drama Group, featuring traditional Scots and Gaelic songs performed by Innerpeffray’s very own Library Assistant Naomi Harvey. Hosted by Strathearn Arts in Crieff, Heroic Strife Famed Afar treated the audience to a new perspective on the 1745 Jacobite Uprising, the Battle of Culloden, and its aftermath. The performance included dramatic reading of archival material put together by the late Tony Murray of Dollerie House in a collection of his ancestor’s letters entitled, ‘A Young Man’s Path to Culloden’. The show was entertaining and illuminating, and Naomi’s singing was beautiful.

The performance of 'Heroic Strife Famed Afar' by Crieff Drama Group, taken from behind the audience during the show.
Heroic Strife Famed Afar, Strathearn Arts’ Auditorium, Crieff

On Friday afternoon, library volunteer and expert craftsperson Gillean Ford hosted The Art of the Book: Printing from Nature, a hands-on workshop inspired by the natural world and the area surrounding Innerpeffray. Participants made beautiful prints using all sorts of local flora, including seed heads, leaves, firs, and moss.

Collage of five images of hand printed artwork on a purple tablecloth.
The Art of the Book: Printing From Nature

A Festival of Reading favourite, Perthshire poet Jim C. Mackintosh hosted a sold-out spectacular on Friday evening. Joined by violinist Karys Watt, guitarist Dave Macfarlane, poet Julie McNeill and legendary writer and storyteller Dolina MacLennan, the library rang with music and laughter throughout the night. An absolute highlight was the unexpected audience participation, which had various sections of the audience loudly impersonating lambs and calves separated from their families – all in the name of attracting the attention of an invading mythical beast set on destroying the Scots Pines of Perthshire. Say it with me now: it had the head of a woman, the body of a whale, and the wings of an eagle!

Collage of five images of performers at 'Wild Words, Read Aloud': Jim C. Mackintosh, Karys Watt, Dave Macfarlane, Julie McNeill and Dolina MacLennan
Wild Words, Read Aloud: Jim C. Mackintosh, Karys Watt, Dave Macfarlane, Julie McNeill and Dolina MacLennan

Jim also treated audience members to a special gift: a handwritten piece of his poetry, with everyone getting a unique extract (some previously unpublished!). In addition to leaving the night with unforgettable stories and wild words, we also took home love, peace and poetry.

Collage of two images, left showing the cover of a booklet which reads 'Love, Peace, Poetry' and has the Innerpeffray crest embossed. Right shows handwritten poetry extract which reads:"and then we can restwith folded hearts ignoring the past,the stumbled startsto count the days with nothing but love"
Love, Peace, Poetry booklet with extract from poem by Jim C. Mackintosh

Over the weekend, Innerpeffray was visited by four acclaimed writers based in Scotland. Picture book author and illustrator Natalie Russell led a group of children in an arts and crafts workshop inspired by Hamish the Highland Cow, and journalist, author and poet Merryn Glover told us what Scotland means to her and discussed her latest book, The Hidden Fires: A Cairngorms Journey with Nan Shepherd.

Author Merryn Glover standing in front of her powerpoint presentation.
Merryn Glover

Nature writer Keith Broomfield presented some amazing photos of the wildlife and locations that have inspired him to write books including A Scottish Wildlife Odyssey.

Author Keith Broomfield with Governor Steph Haxton, in front of Keith Broomfield's powerpoint presentation.
Keith Broomfield in conversation with Steph Haxton

Fiona Valpy took us on a journey throughout the inspired settings of her bestselling works of fiction, including her upcoming novel The Sky Beneath Us – the title of which was revealed as an Innerpeffray exclusive!

Author Fiona Valpy sitting with library volunteer Gillean Ford, in front of powerpoint presentation showing covers of Valpy's books.
Fiona Valpy in conversation with Gillean Ford

On Sunday afternoon, the 2023 Festival of Reading came to a close with Pop-up Poetry by the River, hosted by local poet Jennie Turnbull in Innerpeffray’s stone storytelling circle. Listeners and readers came together in this very special location to hear poems on the theme of Wild Words. Thank you to Lesley Buchan Donald, Alastair Donald, Tom Langlands, Ian Ledward and Karen Macfarlane for reading their poems – it is a brave thing to stand up and read your own writing to a group of strangers and we really appreciate the poets sharing their words with us.

Sixteen people sitting inside a stone storytelling circle, with grass atop and in the middle.
Poetry in the Innerpeffray Stone Circle

The 2023 Festival of Reading was filled with serendipity – a reminder of what a special place the Library of Innerpeffray is. Our poetry circle was almost put off by a lightning storm but instead, the first drops of rain fell just as we said our goodbyes; the threat of thunder in the air gave an appropriate atmosphere to the proceedings. On Saturday, we heard the story of how Gillean Ford picked up a novel by chance one day in the Innerpeffray second-hand book stall and decided to get in touch with the author to share how much she loved it – leading to Fiona Valpy coming to talk at the Festival.

Also during the week, two separate groups visited the library looking for names in our archive of historical visitors’ books. We were able to successfully find their own signatures or those of their families and Innerpeffray played host to an unexpected reunion between old neighbours who had not seen each other for twenty years. You would be surprised by how often this kind of spooky happenstance occurs in the library!

As Governor Steph Haxton reminded us on Friday evening, Innerpeffray is a place where words matter and magic is created. To all who read, sang, made art, and came along to listen and enjoy, thank you for being a part of the 2023 Festival of Reading.

Library of Innerpeffray logo with 'Wild Words!' below.

Isla Macfarlane, PhD Candidate

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Innerpeffray’s 2022 Festival of Reading

We are only two weeks away from our 2022 Festival of Reading!

Collage of author and book images from the Innerpeffray Festival of Reading programme.

From Wednesday 7th to Sunday 11th September 2022, the Library of Innerpeffray will be buzzing with writers, readers, and booklovers. From poetry to prose and picture books to plays, there is an event for everyone.

Image taken from The Scots Magazine, entitled Fowls of a Feather Flock together.

On the evening of Wednesday 7th September, we open with a cornucopia of news, views, and gossip from the Scottish Enlightenment – a dramatic reading inspired by The Scots Magazine, written by John Cummings and performed by Crieff Drama Group.

Image of food writer and historical novelist Sue Lawrence.

On Thursday 8th September the Friends of Innerpeffray Library welcome acclaimed food writer and historical novelist Sue Lawrence for a special conversation at Morrison’s Academy Memorial Hall.

Image of author and researcher Caroline Copeland.

On Friday 9th September, join us in the afternoon for a discussion with author and researcher Caroline Copeland about writing some of the most glamorous characters from the early 20th century.

Jim C Mackintosh reading during the 2021 Festival of Reading event, Reading Aloud.

In the evening on Friday 9th September, we are delighted to be bringing back Jim C Mackintosh and friends for an unmissable night of music, poetry, and storytelling.

Book cover for Oscar the Ferry Cat by Molly Arbuthnott.

On Saturday 10th September we have fun for all the family, starting with a children’s writing workshop with Molly Arbuthnott and Oscar the Ferry Cat.

Author Kenneth Steven with his poetry collection 'Iona'

At 12.30pm on Saturday, we will be welcoming author Kenneth Steven and his Poems from Perthshire to the Innerpeffray Stone Circle (sensible shoes recommended!).

Author Mark Bridgeman.

At 2pm on Saturday 10th, Perthshire-based author Mark Bridgeman will welcome you to a trial by jury, or rather, audience. Find out more about yourself and your fellows in this afternoon to remember.

Historians David and Ian Robertson.

Later in the afternoon, historians David and Ian Robertson will look back on the Lost Country Houses of Perthshire, focusing on the local Strathearn area.

Storyteller Erin Farley.

On Sunday 11th September, storyteller Erin Farley will explore how innovation and tradition have been linked throughout Scottish history.

Historians and authors Andrew Pettegree and Arthur du Weduwen.

Finally, join renowned historians and authors Andrew Pettegree and Arthur du Weduwen for a whirlwind tour of libraries past, present, and future.


You can find out more about our scheduled events on the Innerpeffray website and book tickets here. If you would like to attend multiple events, don’t miss out on our Festival Talk Ticket that gets you in to six talks for the price of five!


Throughout the week we will also have drinks and biscuits available in the Innerpeffray Schoolroom, as well as a free book swap.