BOOKMARK Book Festival

BOOKMARK 2026

Excellent programme both days. Role of interlocutor is vital in optimising each session stimulating mix of various genre and novel and poetry.  I find something interesting, fascinating, stimulating in each session. Come to every presentation! Pattern of each day very well thought out.  One point – the audience should be told not to use mobile phones during the talk………..

BOOKMARK 2026

Don Paterson event, fantastic! More poetry, please and Don again. 

And still on the subject of poetry...

Last year there were lovely poems up on the screen between talks.  Missed them this year.  Any chance of doing those again? 

and yet another comment on the poetry session:

Fabulous session with Don Paterson on Seamus Heaney!

BOOKMARK 2026

Enjoyed it! Well organised! Thought day ticket was a bit pricey though.

BOOKMARK 2026

Auditorium often a bit too warm/hot.  Very few young people as volunteers, in audience, in the programme.  But, still a wonderful 2 days, thank you.

BOOKMARK 2026

Really enjoyed this year’s sessions despite the unavoidable changes to the programme.  Particularly enjoyed the thoughtful, informative and entertaining sessions from Sue Lawrence, Marya Burgess and Shona MacLean, maybe because I enjoy historical fiction.  Philip Paris was also an engaging speaker.  Rosemary and Alan and the fascinating session of Mary, Queen of Scots also a hit.  The surprise success for me, (there is always at least one) was Bendor Grosvenor.  I must have been the only person in the audience who didn’t know who he was, hadn’t seen him on TV but really liked his style and listening to this theory. 

BOOKMARK 2026

What a fantastic celebration of books and reading (and we only saw half of it). We have, in the past, called by the Hay Festival and were once regulars at Dartington, but the organisation of Bookmark - venue, coffee van, cafe, bookshop, signings and the warm welcome from you, the speakers and your team of volunteers  - was just perfect. What a massively brilliant undertaking!...  I hope we shall pass your way again... I have, however, put next year's Bookmark dates on our calendar and wish you and the team yet another successful event.

BOOKMARK 2026

As a book lover, it is always a privilege to look out at a room full of fellow book lovers, readers and thinkers - and this weekend was a fantastic example of how the power of literature can bring people together. Every year we aim to bring books to life at the festival and this weekend we spent time in the worlds of history, art, poetry and fiction. We had an exceptional line-up of famous and soon-to-be famous writers and welcomed audience members from Perthshire and beyond. It was a joy from start to finish and we’re delighted to have had so much wonderful feedback. Thank you.

BOOKMARK 2026

Thank you so much to you and your wonderful team for making my Nethergate Writer colleagues and me feel very welcome at Bookmark.  We were able to sell 36 books and enjoyed the lovely atmosphere that your team created.I hope you are having a well-deserved rest and that you enjoy Are You Sitting Comfortably.

BOOKMARK 2026

On behalf of Perthshire Writers, I'm writing to thank you and the other organisers of Bookmark Blair for such a splendid event. I had never had the opportunity to attend the event before. I was so impressed by your flawless organisation and flair. The layout of the space where we had our stall was just right, and it was a pleasure to meet colleagues from Nethergate Writers. I admired the set up in the theatre too. It looked so cosy and friendly, with just the right vibes for authorial chats. The catering was excellent and I particularly enjoyed the lunchtime sweet treats from the Glenshee Cafe! We were able to sell a number of our anthologies and, just as importantly, some visitors to our stall expressed interest in finding out more about Perthshire Writers. I do hope that others enjoyed the book festival as much as I did. I'm already looking forward to next year. With our thanks and best wishes, 

BOOKMARK 2026

“It was a great privilege to back at the BOOKMARK festival this year, it is a lovely, bijou festival that is beautifully organised and beautifully staged with brilliant, loyal audiences.”

BOOKMARK 2026

“BOOKMARK is a lovely, friendly and inclusive festival - and they do fabulous cakes! It was great to be here, and the audience was brilliant with lots of intelligent - and fun – questions.”

BOOKMARK 2026

“I had a brilliant time at BOOKMARK 2026, it was so wonderfully organised. Well done to the volunteers for a great event and I wish it every success for the years to come.”

BOOKMARK 2026

“BOOKMARK is an incredibly well-organised festival, a really lovely event. The audience was great and had some scintillating and thought-provoking questions for us.”

BOOKMARK 2026

“It is always a pleasure to be at BOOKMARK, it is one of the nicest, best-run and friendliest book festivals in Scotland. Thank you and well done to all the volunteers for their kindness and endless patience.”

BOOKMARK 2026

“I had a beautiful day at BOOKMARK in a beautiful setting – it was just fabulous. I love coming to BOOKMARK, it’s really nice to come out and meet people and speak to them about books and writing.”

BOOKMARK 2026

“It’s been a real pleasure to come to BOOKMARK and meet so many readers who really engage with the authors and the books.”

BOOKMARK 2026

“It was really wonderful to be at BOOKMARK as a guest writer this year, it is one of the loveliest book festivals, quite local but with a great selection of so many fantastic writers and so many genuine readers too. It is a really authentic event for readers, and provides a great opportunity for readers and writers to interact.” 

BOOKMARK 2026

“Once again the BOOKMARK festival has delighted it audiences. We’ve enjoyed two days of brilliant speakers and entertaining dialogue - and I think we have learned a lot too.” 

BOOKMARK 2026

“What a wonderful book festival BOOKMARK is! It is so warm and welcoming with lots of stimulating conversations. Blairgowrie is the perfect setting for this annual book festival, which provides a fantastic reason to visit this very special town.”

BOOKMARK 2026

“I love BOOKMARK, it’s just so friendly and the atmosphere is just fantastic. It’s always great to see so many familiar faces - both writers and audiences every time I come here.”

BOOKMARK 2026

“I was delighted to be asked to attend the Blairgowrie and Rattray Book Festival having first been at guest at one of the BOOKMARK meet the author events a couple of years ago. There was a great atmosphere at the main festival, and it’s wonderful to see that BOOKMARK has such a great following.”

BOOKMARK 2026

“BOOKMARK audiences are the friendliest you could hope for. The Blairgowrie and Rattray Book Festival is warm and welcoming with a hugely enjoyable atmosphere - there’s nowhere like it.”

BOOKMARK 2026

"Thank you for inviting me to what is certainly one of the friendliest, most enjoyable and brilliantly organised festivals anywhere. I thoroughly enjoyed my day. The Seamus Heaney event was superb. I only met the great man once, but his decency and quiet humour and kindness simply shone, quite apart from his genius. And poor Magnus Linklater - he did his utmost to get a straight answer from Tom Devine, who behaved like an evasive politician. I thought he was a little bit naughty. And I very much enjoyed Caro and Alex's event, too. So all in all it was an absolute treat for me.  BOOKMARK gives you the warmest welcome of any festival you could wish for - the passion the volunteers and the audiences have for the books and the authors is so strong it makes Blairgowrie an even more special place to visit. BOOKMARK is a joy to be part of and I look forward to coming back.”

BOOKMARK 2026

“When I come to the Blairgowrie and Rattray Book Festival it always feels as though I’m part of something special, it feels like you belong. The audiences are always both engaging and engaged which is lovely to see. I have a real sense of loyalty to this festival.”

BOOKMARK 2026

The BOOKMARK audience was one of the most wonderful, stimulating and responsive it has been my pleasure to address since I started speaking at book festivals some 50 years ago. Gail and the team have demonstrated remarkable professionalism once again.”

BOOKMARK 2026

“I was delighted to be back at BOOKMARK again, it is one of the most warm and welcoming book festivals, and it’s always a joy to be here.”

BOOKMARK 2025

 It was lovely to meet you again on another splendid day at BOOKMARK.  Please pass on my congratulations to all the team – the way we are welcomed and treated at BOOKMARK is exceptional.

BOOKMARK 2025

...thanks to  you and your excellent team for such a memorable event (Saturday).  You were all so kind and hugely helpful, which made my small contribution so much easier! [We]  all  enjoyed it and I am glad that everything went as planned. Magnus was of course brilliant… My warmest congratulations on such a successful event - long may it continue -  you all deserve an accolade!

BOOKMARK 2025

It was well worth the anxiety to get there. Lovely audience. Kate was great…  Blairgowrie BOOKMARK might not be the biggest in size of our national book festivals but it has the biggest heart. Welcoming, enthusiastic and ever glad to see you, it treats its participants - audience and presenters alike - with warmth and caring. 

BOOKMARK 2025

This has been an outstanding BOOKMARK Festival.  Saturday’s sessions were enthralling from start to finish.  I was particularly impressed by Sean Lusk and Jen Stout and with Magnus Linklater as an interviewer.  Billy Kay and Lin Anderson stood out on Sunday for me.   Alistair Moffat’s fluency was impressive.  Andrew Cotter was fantastic – so modest and self-effacing. I confess to having no interest in sport (or dogs) but this did not detract from my (unexpected) enjoyment.

BOOKMARK 2025

Wow - what an end to BOOKMARK!  … but wanted to say personally to you that it was an amazing hour + and lovely to see Sally McNair as well. They bounced off each other so naturally.  Congratulations to you, and your team, who are warm, welcoming and chatty.  I'll be back next year having been blown away by each session I attended!

I love this event and look forward to it.  Has introduced me to new authors as well as giving me the opportunity to listen to authors I already know.  My thanks to the organisers who do such a great job.

BOOKMARK 2025

Congratulations on another v successful BOOKMARK festival. 

Thank you and your wonderful staff, on behalf of Nethergate Writers, for hosting us at the BOOKMARK Festival.  It was a stimulating and delightful experience. Our members enjoyed the talks and the discussions thereafter.

BOOKMARK 2025

... thank you for inviting me back to BOOKMARK Blair. What a wonderfully welcoming and truly professional team you are. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with you (Saturday) and greatly appreciate your kindness and all the little touches that make us authors feel so appreciated. It makes you very special. 

BOOKMARK 2025

I just wanted to say thank you for the opportunity to be part of your lovely festival. The organisation, publicity, programme and author care was absolutely superb and a cut above many of the festivals I've been too.  Your whole team were lovely, as well as a great and engaged audience. Please pass on my thanks and the beautiful, personalised bookmark was a fabulous touch. Thank you so much and I shall be spreading the word to authors and readers for next year...

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BOOKMARK 2022 - It was lovely to be back in Blairgowrie and at the festival again, and great to have another opportunity to see Jock's Jocks.  Well done on another hugely successful festival to you and your brilliant team... all the best Caroline. P.s - I bought the new Andrew Greig from the festival bookshop and was pleased to see it came out top in your festival books.

BOOKMARK 2022 - Many thanks for inviting me back. Marisa and I had a lovely time, and the audience were gratifyingly warm and appreciative. Chris

BOOKMARK 2022 - Can I thank you and the Bookmark team for such an enjoyable afternoon with lovely hospitality and the delightful surprise of a goodie bag stuffed with such thoughtful thank yous. So, thank you all. Kind Regards Clare

BOOKMARK 2022 - Hi Ladies, I wanted to say a big thank you for a wonderful weekend. It's such a pleasure to take part. So wonderfully organised and friendly...a joy. As you heard from Chris...not all festivals are like this!!! Many thanks again. Lin

BOOKMARK 2022 - Thank you for a terrific Book Festival! All the sessions were brilliant, and it was incredible to have such variety. I didn't look in the goodie bag until I got home, and am stunned and delighted with all the wonderful contents, in particular the raspberry jam and the personalised bookmark!Hope Team BookmarkBlair manages to get some relaxation now, and we're looking forward to seeing you next year, Olga and Alistair

Message from Chris Whittaker - August 2022

It was only his second visit to Scotland and he loved his short time with us! 150 talks/chats about We Begin… and Gail, BOOKMARK Chair, managed to ask him a question he’d never been asked before!
'Thank you so much for having me, I’m already missing Blairgowrie!'

Thank you so much. I'm now back in London, which seems very grey in comparison — though it is evening, I suppose. I had a lovely day out and enjoyed it all. Thank you for persevering with me and for looking after me so well. - JR

Thank you ...  It was a pleasure to meet you today and take part in your event which I thought was excellent. - MB

Thanks to all who organised this excellent event! What a success! Insightful and engaging guest speaker and thoughtful introduction, interviewer and vote of thanks.  Quality food, stunning scenery, great company. 
Please can we have some more events like this - wonderful venue, meal, speakers and company.  Thank you.

I love the Blairgowrie Book Festival. So glad it's taking place this year.

Of Stone and Sky

An inspired move by this small but perfectly formed literary festival. 

https://twitter.com/merrynglover/status/1395467883661123586?s=11

Here are some of the wonderful remarks that attendees said at the end of the session:

Thank you to all those who have made this a lovely hour.

Thank you Richard for a great interpretation of your book and the modern meaning of pilgrimage.

Message from C J Schüler - October 2020

I have just received the beautiful bookmark, your lovely card and your kind words about the book. Many, many thanks. That feels like a win in itself.   Hope to see you in Blairgowrie next year...

Message received from Rachel - October 2020

'What a wonderful boost this award has been for me.'  
Read more: https://www.facebook.com/230422897014589/posts/3454929907897189/?extid=0&d=n

Message received, by postcard, from Ali 2020

BOOKMARK was my favourite Festival.

Interviewed in 2020

I always love coming to BOOKMARK as the atmosphere is so friendly and encouraging. I think Gail Wylie is an inspiration and what she and the committee have done here with BOOKMARK is fantastic. This is one of the best book festivals in the country and has really put Blairgowrie on the map.

Interviewed in 2019

I love the welcome that the excellent, professional BOOKMARK team of wonderful women gives to its authors and its ability to always bring together a terrific audience – really very special.

Interviewed in 2019

Very well done on the programming and organisation of the Festival. Most impressive again and getting Nicola Sturgeon to interview Ali Smith was a triumph. Proud to be associated with BOOKMARK.

Interviewed in 2019

I would like to thank you for inviting me and for making Pamela and I so welcome…We had a wonderful time…BOOKMARK is a wonderful festival and if you ever need someone to chair a session or help in any way, I’d be delighted.