The life and work of the great Gaelic poet, Sorley MacLean, will be celebrated on Skye this summer, marking one hundred years since the poet’s birth.

Young Writers is a hands-on course of advice, mentoring and practical workshops running throughout Scotland in 2011 for young people aged 15 – 25. Closing date to apply is Monday 16th May 2011.

Sounding the Stones with International Musician and Storyteller Bob Pegg is taking place on the 14th & 15th May 2011 at Kilmartin House Museum in Argyll.

Reading at Pier Arts Centre, Saturday 30th April, in memory of Paul Violi, 1944-2011.

The artist, author, publisher and curator Peter Hill will give a talk and reading from his book ‘Stargazing’ at the Pier Arts Centre on Saturday 30th April at 6pm.

Simon Hall, Orkney Library, 16 April 2011 / Kevin MacNeil, Lynnfield Hotel, Kirkwall, 17 April 2011.

Ron Ferguson GMB Memorial Lecture, Pier Arts Centre, Stromness / Ragnhild Ljosland, Orkney Library, 15 April 2011.

Nineteen authors are in the running to win £30,000 as part of this year’s Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust 2011 Book Awards, in partnership with Creative Scotland. Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust has been proud sponsor of the award for the last three years.

Meet Alec Finlay and Ken Cockburn, who have been travelling through Scotland guided by the Japanese poet Basho, at the Empty Shop in Huntly for an evening of stories and readings from The Road North on the 28th April 2011 at 7pm.

The Stables, Cromarty, 15 – 16 April 2011.