Getting ready for some author improvisation at the Edinburgh International Book Festival

Tomorrow morning I will stumble bleary-eyed onto the milk train and head north for the start of three days at the Edinburgh International Book Festival.

My Tuesday evening event with fellow Edge author Sara Grant kicks off at the RBS Imagination Lab at 6:30. 

A double act to rival Morecambe & Wise?
French & Saunders? Wallace & Gromit?

As well as talking about our books – 15 Days Without a Head and Dark Parties – we'll be attempting a bit of live story generation with help from the audience and … well, you'll find out if you're there. (Those who can't make it will have to wait for the video.) We're calling this Author Improvisation, or – How to set yourself up to fail majestically in front of a room full of people … I'll let you know how it goes.

Then on Thursday morning, I'm looking forward to a trip to Haddington to do some writing with students from Knox Academy, as part of the festival schools outreach programme.

Should be a fun few days – hope to see some of you there.

Don't forget, both 15 Days Without a Head and Dark Parties have been nominated for the Anobii First Book Award at this year's festival. See what else is on the list and cast your vote here. Thanks.

Tickets for the Tuesday evening event can be purchased here.

15 Days at the Edinburgh International Book Festival

I'm delighted to announce that I'll be appearing at this year's Edinburgh International Book Festival. 

My event on Tuesday 21 August (6:30pm in the RBS Imagination Lab) will be with fellow Edge author Sara Grant, and part of the Anobii First Book Award series of events.

Here is what it says on the festival website:

Sara Grant’s novel Dark Parties is set in a future where the last of humanity live in a domed world and are fed lies to keep them docile. In 15 Days Without a Head, Dave Cousins tackles the thorny issue of family breakdown. Both authors are part of The Edge, a group of writers creating cutting edge fiction for teens. Come and hear them talk about their work and influences.

Tickets will be on sale from 29 June 2012. 

Hope to see you there!