News released: 9th Jan

Winter Words is eight years old in 2012! Now firmly established as Scotland's leading festival of the written and spoken word, Winter Words brings thirty seven wonderful minds (authors, broadcasters, adventurers and wordsmiths) together in the stimulating environment of Pitlochry Festival Theatre, set in the stunning Highland Perthshire landscape from 27th January to 5th February, 2012.

This year's programme features a huge variety of authors, wordsmiths, adventurers and broadcasters including: Neil Oliver who returns to Winter Words to discuss his latest book and TV series - A History of Ancient Britain; mountaineer, writer, photographer and lecturer Sir Chris Bonington; and Alistair Darling who appears at Winter Words to talk about Back From The Brink his story of 1,000 days in No.11 Downing Street; Queen of Scottish cuisine Sue Lawrence; and TV presenter Simon Watt who will take you behind the scenes of the hit TV show - Inside Nature's Giants.

The glittering lineup also includes prize-wining author Janice Galloway, Scotland's current Makar, Liz Lochhead who will be reading and talking about her stunning new collection of selected works; professor Sue Black will also be making an appearing - she's a the well kent face from the gripping TV series Cold Case Histories, alongside crime writers Alex Gray and Caro Ramsay, G.J Moffat and Craig Robertson. Then there's the irrepressible Adam Hart-Davis, imminent historian Tom Devine, best selling female historian author Alison Weir and the best nature writer working in the UK today, Jim Crumley, amongst many others.

The ever-popular 1.00pm Literary Lunch slot features an all star cast. Try a superb three course lunch with acclaimed author Mariri Hedderwick who will take you on a beautifully illustrated ramble around Shetland, enjoy a close up encounter, over a plate of slow cooked belly of pork, with the lively and much admired politician Dennis Canavan or get together with Janice Galloway to enjoy Dunkeld Salmon and Wild Game Pie whilst she takes you back to her teenage years, living with her stoical mother and domineering older sister, plus mouth-watering engagements with leading Lost Perthshire author Ann Lindsay and the dynamic duo of actor Dougal Lee and local historian and PFT Trustee Colin Liddell who will recount the fascinating history of Scotland's ‘Theatre in the Hills'. What better way to spend a winter lunchtime that with gifted authors, great speakers, fantastic minds not to mention tasty food?

Once again, there's a great selection of child-friendly entertainment for this year's Festival. From the irrepressible Adam Hart-Davis to Lilian Ross's Yokie Tonsils - A Puckle a Sangs an' Rhymes for Bairns, there's something to suit every age. The Festival is rounded off in style with a great family event, as the hiper Youth Theatre lead you through the twists and turns of a comical whodunit mystery.

In addition, we have short writing workshops offering opportunities for would-be writers to develop and expand their creative writing skills, with inspiring sessions from Zoe Venditozzi as well as Bloodlines, our three day crime writing course with tutor Caro Ramsay. Songlines - a new 2 day lyric writing workshop - makes its debut this year's Festival.

If you're a budding author of tales of the mysterious and macabre, then you will be delighted to hear that the Fearie Tales Writing Competition returns, daring you to submit your best spooky story, with the winning entries read aloud each evening by some familiar faces from the Pitlochry stage.

A Book Fair will take over the Foyer every day of the Festival, with a wide range of both new and second hand books, covering both specialist and general topics.

Tickets, brochures and further information are available from Pitlochry Festival Theatre Box Office on 01796 484626, online at www.PitlochryFestivalTheatre.com, or via email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it