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Edinburgh book festival chief wants authors, not celebrities Edinburgh book festival chief wants authors, not celebrities
(about 3 hours later)
A book festival is about books, and should not be driven by stars and celebrities, Scotland's leading literary festival director has said.A book festival is about books, and should not be driven by stars and celebrities, Scotland's leading literary festival director has said.
Nick Barley, the director of the Edinburgh international book festival, chided the Cheltenham and Hay festivals, saying they're too celebrity-driven, allowing people to appear that don't have new books out and paying large sums for top names.Nick Barley, the director of the Edinburgh international book festival, chided the Cheltenham and Hay festivals, saying they're too celebrity-driven, allowing people to appear that don't have new books out and paying large sums for top names.
He won't go down that line: he has no intention of offering inflated rates for star authors or celebrities. He insists that all Edinburgh's speakers must have new books and that each is paid the same flat rate, £150 per event, though he admits that rate may need to rise in future.He won't go down that line: he has no intention of offering inflated rates for star authors or celebrities. He insists that all Edinburgh's speakers must have new books and that each is paid the same flat rate, £150 per event, though he admits that rate may need to rise in future.
Despite the inevitably damp summer days – the city's residents know them as "dreich" - and the sprawling tram roadworks which have caused chaos around the festival's New Town home in Charlotte Square, Barley insists Edinburgh is strong enough to sell itself.Despite the inevitably damp summer days – the city's residents know them as "dreich" - and the sprawling tram roadworks which have caused chaos around the festival's New Town home in Charlotte Square, Barley insists Edinburgh is strong enough to sell itself.
Last week he unveiled some broad themes for the 2012 book festival programme, which is sponsored by the Guardian, to a class of business students at Edinburgh Napier University, where he is a visiting professor.Last week he unveiled some broad themes for the 2012 book festival programme, which is sponsored by the Guardian, to a class of business students at Edinburgh Napier University, where he is a visiting professor.
He also took the opportunity to point out what he won't be doing:He also took the opportunity to point out what he won't be doing:
Cheltenham has put on headliners who are not even there to talk about books. Celebrities may have interesting things to say and I applaud them for coming but there's something different going on there. This is not so much a literary festival as a festival of ideas, famous people and celebrity. Cheltenham has put on headliners who are not even there to talk about books. Celebrities may have interesting things to say and I applaud them for coming but there's something different going on there. This is not so much a literary festival as a festival of ideas, famous people and celebrity ... We have celebrities too, but only if they have really good books to talk about.
Similarly Hay. You've got Chris Evans, Ben Fogle - I'm not convinced either of those wrote their own book but at least they had a book. I love Hay, it's absolutely brilliant, but this is not a literary festival any more. We have celebrities too, but only if they have really good books to talk about.
Looking after authors is a tricky subject, as organisers of the Dartington book festival found out when Amanda Craig revealed they paid her a packet of shortbread.Looking after authors is a tricky subject, as organisers of the Dartington book festival found out when Amanda Craig revealed they paid her a packet of shortbread.
Barley, who took over from Catherine Lockerbie as director in 2009, admits £150 plus a night in an Edinburgh hotel is a small amount to pay.Barley, who took over from Catherine Lockerbie as director in 2009, admits £150 plus a night in an Edinburgh hotel is a small amount to pay.
But it's the same whether they're a Nobel laureate or a debut novelist. We're incredibly democratic. Are we paying enough? That's a threat we have to think about. We have to be aware that authors are fragile beasts and Edinburgh is not immune to the risks of that.But it's the same whether they're a Nobel laureate or a debut novelist. We're incredibly democratic. Are we paying enough? That's a threat we have to think about. We have to be aware that authors are fragile beasts and Edinburgh is not immune to the risks of that.
Edinburgh was one of just three literary festivals in the UK when it began in 1983. Now there are more than 350. He rates much of the competition highly, singling out Lennoxlove, the Borders book festival and Bloody Scotland as "brilliant threats".Edinburgh was one of just three literary festivals in the UK when it began in 1983. Now there are more than 350. He rates much of the competition highly, singling out Lennoxlove, the Borders book festival and Bloody Scotland as "brilliant threats".
He points to that first book festival 29 years ago as "pretty amazing" - Raymond Briggs, William McIlvanney, Sorley MacLean and Magnus Magnusson took part. "By god it was a brilliant line up."He points to that first book festival 29 years ago as "pretty amazing" - Raymond Briggs, William McIlvanney, Sorley MacLean and Magnus Magnusson took part. "By god it was a brilliant line up."
Internationalism, via the Word Alliance, and innovation will be key themes of Barley's future events. It will be:Internationalism, via the Word Alliance, and innovation will be key themes of Barley's future events. It will be:
Internationalism while observing a sense of Scottishness. For 2012 we have come up with the perfect epitome of internationalism in a literary festival; something which will start in Edinburgh and which will travel around the world for the following year.Internationalism while observing a sense of Scottishness. For 2012 we have come up with the perfect epitome of internationalism in a literary festival; something which will start in Edinburgh and which will travel around the world for the following year.
Although the festival is in talks with three e-book suppliers to become official partners, Barley remains undecided, as physical book sales at the festival are increasing.Although the festival is in talks with three e-book suppliers to become official partners, Barley remains undecided, as physical book sales at the festival are increasing.
Other festivals decided innovation means growth. Our biggest theatre is 570 seats. That's big enough for me. Innovation doesn't mean losing what's special about our festival.Other festivals decided innovation means growth. Our biggest theatre is 570 seats. That's big enough for me. Innovation doesn't mean losing what's special about our festival.