Blackwell’s Book Group: join the Blackwell’s Book Group for lively, friendly book chatter – no previous experience required! The group meets monthly to discuss a wide range of books – fiction and non-fiction, classic and contemporary, prizewinners and cult heroes—in short, whatever you fancy! Currently reading: The Dharma Bums by Jack Kerouac. May’s book will be Icelandic crime thriller Snowblind by Ragnar Jonasson. 6pm, Monday 18th April, Blackwell’s, South Bridge. To join the group email your name and address to events.edinburgh@blackwell.co.uk.
Between Memory and Museum: Arun Wolf of South Indian publishers Tara Books launches this new and pioneering dialogue with 38 extraordinary folk and tribal artists from across India. 
The event will open with a 20 minute film screening set in the Manav Sangrahalaya, an anthropological museum in Bhopal where the conversation developed in the book was initiated; it will be followed by an illustrated presentation and talk. ‘..an important, thoughtful, and sensitive book… It makes you reconsider the multiple ways of thinking about art, its role, and its relationships; it presents quite beautifully many imaginative and eloquent images; it introduces to those of us outside India some of the riches of different community art traditions; and most importantly it shows us the artists speaking for themselves. A wonderful resource on many levels’. (Christopher Hudson, Publisher, The Museum of Modern Art, New York). 6pm, Monday 18th April, Nomad’s Tent, St Leonard’s Lane.
Cassandra Clare: Lady Midnight. The internationally bestselling author of The Mortal Instruments series will be signing copies of her new novel, the first in The Dark Artifices series. In this new trilogy Cassandra makes a highly anticipated return to the world of the Shadowhunters, this time set in Los Angeles; she will be meeting fans and signing copies of Lady Midnight and her other books (maximum 3). 3pm, Tuesday 19th April, Waterstones West End, 128 Princes Street. Free and unticketed: for further information please call 0131 226 2666.
Artist’s Book Event: The Cloth of the Mother Goddess. An illustrated talk and film screening by publisher Gita Wolf and filmmaker Arun Wolf about Tara Press’s latest hand block-printed textile book, telling the story of the origins of Mata-Ni-Pachedi, the ritual ‘Cloth of the Mother Goddess’. 
Traditionally created by artisans from the nomadic Vaghari community in Gujarat, these votive cloths offer a painted image of the goddess to herself. Gifting a piece of creation to the creator is considered the highest form of worship. Hand block-printed on textile, this limited-edition artists’ book is in the form of a cloth shrine, and pays tribute not only to a sublime conception of the power of art, but also to the labour involved in creating it. 7-9pm, Tuesday 19th April, The Fruitmarket Gallery, Market Street. Free: please book via eventbrite here.
Tiger Tales: a new weekly story and craft session for ages 4-8. 3.30pm 20th April and then every Wednesday, Oxgangs Library, 343 Oxgangs Road North. All welcome!
An Evening with Sue Lawrence: the author discusses her latest, meticulously researched, historical mystery The Night He Left, set in Dundee in both 1879 and the present day. ‘I found this book enthralling. It’s a cracking story, beautifully told’ (Lorraine Kelly). 6.30pm, Wednesday 20th April, Waterstones, 83 George Street. Free tickets are available from the shop. For further information please call 0131 225 3436.
Blackwells Edinburgh Presents A Celebration of Shakespeare: 
an enthralling evening of suspense and seduction with the multi talented Benet Brandreth, who’ll put you through your paces with an entertaining quiz on Shakespeare whilst talking about his debut novel The Spy of Venice; A William Shakespeare Novel. Prizes are at stake! Described as ‘C J Sansom meets Shakespeare in Love’, The Spy of Venice is a rollicking, swashbuckling adventure that tracks the progress of a young Will as he flees Stratford for Venice, the greatest of Europe’s cities. 6pm, Wednesday 20th April, Blackwell’s, South Bridge. Free tickets from the shop – or call 0131 622 8222, email events.edinburgh@blackwell.co.uk or book on eventbrite here.
Lesley Kelly: A Fine House in Trinity. Joseph Staines has done some very bad things…and now someone has left him a house. Can he claim his inheritance and get out of Edinburgh before his past catches up with him? The Edinburgh author launches her debut thriller. 6pm, Thursday 21st April, Waterstones West End, 128 Princes Street. Free tickets are available from the shop. For further information please call 0131 226 2666.
Blackwell’s Edinburgh Presents Rob Ewing: The Last of Us: on a remote Scottish island, five children are the only ones left… With no adults to rebel against, squabbles threaten the fragile family they have formed. And when brothers Calum, Ian and Duncan attempt to thwart Elizabeth’s leadership, they prompt a chain of events that will endanger the youngest child, Alex’s, life and test them all in unimaginable ways. Rob Ewing is a GP living in Edinburgh. His short stories and poetry have been published widely. ‘Reminiscent of The Lord of the Flies and The Cement Garden, The Last of Us is a powerful and heartbreaking novel of aftershock, courage and survival’. 6.30pm, Thursday 21st April, Blackwell’s, South Bridge. Free tickets from the shop – or call 0131 622 8222, email events.edinburgh@blackwell.co.uk or book on eventbrite here.
Shakespeare’s Legacy: a special Shakespeare storytelling session to celebrate the bard’s 400th birthday, with themed craft activities, a play writing workshop for children – and Shakespearean cake! 11am, Saturday 23rd April, The Bothy, Far From The Madding Crowd, 20 High Street, Linlithgow.
Don Quixote Marathon Reading: this year is the 400 anniversary of the death of Miguel de Cervantes, author of the best known book of Spanish literature in the world. Don Quixote was the first modern novel and is one of the most translated books ever. What do you know about this beloved and misunderstood hero, who still inspires all generations today? Drop in at any point during Vamos Scotland’s four hour celebratory public reading of the English translation of the novel, which will be hosted by contemporary Spanish writer Carlos Castán. 6-10pm, Saturday 23rd April, Summerhall, 1 Summerhall.
Amanda Leask and Miracle the dog: come and meet the winners of the prestigious Friends for Life Award at Crufts 2015. Miracle was rescued from a Thai street market and has become the best friend of Kyle, Amanda Leask’s young son, who suffers from cerebral palsy and autism. Amanda will be signing copies of Miracle: The Extraordinary Dog That Refused to Die. 1pm, Saturday 23rd April, Waterstones West End, 128 Princes Street.
