Well, the Wee Mac Children’s Book Festival was a great success. After a bit of stress with the Caledonian MacBrayne ferry issues I finally set off from Troon on a glorious afternoon. The sea was like a mill pond, not a ripple. I opted to sit out on deck in the best, most glorious sunshine of the summer. The ferry was busy but I managed to find a seat between a group of ‘thirty somethings’ on their way to a beer festival and two Geordie bikers who hoped to climb Goat Fell. We were joined by some frolicking dolphins en route! Between one thing and another, it was a most entertaining experience!
When we docked at Brodick, a courtesy bus was waiting to take people to the book festival and I hopped on board. I met up with Alison, the organiser exceptional, and was then taken to the nearby hall where delicious homemade soup and baking was on offer for participating authors. The very kind ‘Mary’ was assigned to transport me to and from my accommodation as she lived close by.
I had a ticket to hear Sally Magnasson talking about her latest novel, which was most interesting, then Mary took me to my friend Sheila’s house.
Next day Mary promptly arrived and took me down into Brodick where I browsed round the shops which were open before returning to the hall for more delicious soup, cake and shortbread. When it was time for my reading, I headed across to the museum where a marquee had been erected for the festival. I had a most enjoyable time reading Tartan Witch to the appreciative audience then the children solved a wordsearch of Scots words before making little witch finger puppets.
The whole experience was super, the event was so well organised, the hospitality superb and everyone involved was most welcoming.
As the ferry was delayed I had time to enjoy a fish supper from the chippy at the pier head before boarding and returning across the Clyde, no dolphins this time!
The Wee Mac Children’s Book Festival was a great success!
Greta Yorke Scotland - based children's author 