As AL Kennedy publishes The Blue Book, a novel with a pair of mediums at its heart, she walks the line between truth and deception and talks about the grandfather who taught her how to put assailants in an armlock. She tells us about her investigations into the spirit world and how a stormy ocean voyage provided the perfect setting for this examination of death, love and trauma.
With the world's biggest conversation about literature launching this weekend, we look into our crystal ball to pick out the highlights of the Edinburgh international book festival. Nick Barley, the festival director, tells us about some of the 797 authors due to come to Charlotte Square, and reveals how internationalism and innovation are at the heart of this year's proceedings. Meanwhile Lisa Allardice and Michelle Pauli give us their tips for the unmissable events over the next few weeks.
Reading list
The Blue Book by AL Kennedy
