Top five literary events outside the Edinburgh Intl Book Fest

James Kelman, Ross Sutherland, Alan Bissett and more venture beyond Charlotte Square

James Kelman / Photo: Angus Bremner

There’s plenty of events for lit lovers in Edinburgh this month, with festival staple Edinburgh Book Fringe back for another year, plus the more indie stylings of Inky Fingers Minifest. The Book Fringe will have talks and readings by comedian Russell Kane, Syrian journalist Samar Yazbek, James Kelman and Tom Leonard, while the Minifest has workshops and discussion panels with poet Ross Sutherland and spoken-word artist James McKay to name but a few. Visit the Book Fringe and Inky Fingers websites for more details.

James Kelman

The Glasgow-born Booker Prize-shortlisted author opens the Edinburgh Book Fringe by launching his latest novel, Mo Said She Was Quirky.
Word Power Bookshop, Edinburgh, Fri 10 Aug, 7pm.

Ross Sutherland: Emergency Window Book Launch

For an indie alternative to the Edinburgh International Book Festival, head to the launch of a collection of poems as part of Inky Fingers Minifest. Topics covered include the behemoth that is Google and modern takes on classic fairy tales.
Pulp Fiction, Edinburgh, Fri 10 Aug.

Alan Bissett

Special reading from the Glenfiddich Scottish Writer of the Year, whose latest play The Red Hourglass is also on at the Fringe (National Library of Scotland, 15--25 Aug).
Word Power Bookshop, Edinburgh, Sat 11 Aug.

Are We Asking For It?

A guerrilla spoken word event looking at language and protest movements. To find out the venue, keep an eye on inkyfingersedinburgh.wordpress.com.
Secret location, Edinburgh, Sat 11 Aug.

The Berlin Review of Books @ Summerhall

A series of lectures by academics, with the lecture on Georgina Colmache and her daughter Pauline Vaneri Filippi (Women in the Shadow of Revolutions, 12 Aug) looking particularly interesting.
Summerhall, Edinburgh, Fri 10 & Sun 12 Aug.