There is always a lot going on here at North House Press and we try our best to keep this page up to date, but are not always great at remembering to constantly update this part of our website. If this page is looking a bit old and tired, then do email us at the addresses listed in our contacts page and we’ll be sure to get back to you.
Upcoming Events...
Wednesday 28th October
North House Press / Royal Society of Edinburgh Young People Signature Event
Secondary students from Tain Academy, Dornoch Academy and Lochaber High School in Fort William have been taking part in creative reading and writing classes based around Neil Gunn’s, “The Grey Coast". Their own stories and poems and memoir pieces will be published in a special literary anthology called “Living Writing” and available online and in print editions. We’ve been working with the fantastic Royal Society of Edinburgh to bring this initiative to fruition.
Lochaber High School Camaghael, Fort William PH33 7ND
This is a private, invitation only event.
Thursday 29th October
The Power of Cold Water: An Evening with Brigid Lowe and Beth McDonough
Join us for a special evening celebrating the power of cold water!
Brigid Lowe’s Shiver charts her challenge to swim in 1,000 Scottish lochs, while Beth McDonough’s A Year in Water brings together poetry, prose, recipes and tips inspired by a year of cold water swimming.
Hear from both Brigid and Beth throughout the evening at this joint event organised with Far From The Madding Crowd, Linlithgow.
Purchase tickets for this event here.
St Peter's Scottish Episcopal Church, 153 High St, Linlithgow EH49 7AB
7:00pm
Friday 13th November
A Year in Water: Reading and Discussion
Come and join Beth McDonough for a reading from her new book A year in Water and a discussion about the joys of all year round swimming
More details to come with Topping & Company Booksellers
Topping & Company Booksellers of St Andrews, 7 Greyfriars Garden, St Andrews KY16 9HG
7:30pm
Saturday 14th November
Neil Gunn: His influence and Inspiration
Two Highland based writers Shona McLean (The Bookseller of Inverness, The Cromarty Library Circle) and Kirsty Gunn (The Big Music) will be in conversation with Dr Paul Shanks, who teaches Literature, Drama and Creative Writing at Inverness UHI, discussing Gunn's novels and how they inspire them in their own writing.
Full details of this fascinating event to follow!
Waterstones, Eastgate Shopping Centre, Inverness
2:00pm
Friday 20th November
Lunch with the Author: Beth McDonough – Celebrating the Launch of A Year in Water
To celebrate the launch of A Year in Water, join author Beth McDonough for a fabulous lunch at Andiamo, perfect for those who enjoy cold water swimming, or those looking for a little inspiration to start! Organised by Daydreams Bookshop.
Tickets include a two-course lunch, a welcome drink (alcoholic or soft), tea & coffee, an author interview, Q&A and book signing.
There’s also the option to add a signed hardback copy of A Year in Water for just £10 (RRP £15), which will be available to collect at the event.
Tickets from £29.99 and can be purchased here.
Andiamo, 1 Glasgow Rd, Milngavie, Glasgow G62 6AQ
12:30pm - 3:00pm
Saturday 28th November
Platform Sessions with Nikki Robson and Beth McDonough
More details to follow.
Larick Centre, Shanwell Rd, Tayport DD6 9EA
North House Press News...
Thursday 17th September
A Year in Water by Beth McDonough - Book Launch Event organised by The Bookhouse, Broughty Ferry
A huge thank you to Peter and Alison at The Bookhouse for organising such a wonderful event to celebrate the launch of Beth McDonough’s A Year in Water.
More than 100 people came along for a fantastic evening of poetry and music, joining us to celebrate Beth’s new book alongside fellow swimmer and poet Karen Macfarlane, and talented musicians Mo Millar and Mary Veal.
A brilliant evening and a wonderful way to celebrate A Year in Water. Thank you to everyone who came along and made it so special!
Thursday 10th September
St Duthac Book & Arts Festival
Another fantastic Neil Gunn-inspired creative writing workshop, this time exploring the theme Where Land and Sea Meet and drawing inspiration from landscape, place and Gunn’s writing.
The workshop was followed by a fascinating conversation between Kirsty and award-winning broadcaster, journalist and author Kirsty Wark, rounding off a wonderful day of writing and conversation.
Thursday 3rd September
Nairn Book & Arts Festival
A fantastic day at the Nairn Book & Arts Festival, beginning with a Creative Writing Workshop led by Kirsty on the theme of Landscape and Place, with 20 attendees coming together to explore writing inspired by the world around us.
This was followed by a fascinating panel discussion with Alan Riach and Alan Taylor, exploring Neil Gunn, his writing and his deep connection to the Highlands.
A great day of creativity, conversation and celebrating Highland literature.
Sunday 30th August
A Neil Gunn Talk from North House Press at Dingwall 800
We were delighted to take part in Dingwall 800, the year-long programme marking 800 years since Dingwall became a Royal Burgh and celebrating the town’s rich history, vibrant present and hopes for the future.
Our event brought some great conversations about Neil Gunn and his work, and it was wonderful to see so much interest and enthusiasm. Many thanks to Fiona Dalgetty for organising the event, as well as the wonderful In the Wake of Neil Gunn concert with Mike Vass that followed on Sunday afternoon.
Tuesday 25th August
Edinburgh International Book Festival
Wow, what an event! The venue was packed, and we were delighted to be joined by Alan Riach and James Robertson for a fascinating conversation revisiting the Scottish Renaissance through the work of Hugh MacDiarmid and Neil Gunn, alongside so many other under-sung voices.
Chaired by Linden Bicket, the discussion explored the remarkable stories and writers who helped reshape Scotland’s imaginative life.
A fantastic event and a real pleasure to see so many people come together to celebrate Scotland’s rich literary heritage.
Friday 14th August
Kyle of Sutherland Book Fair
Organised by Kyle of Sutherland Books & Arts as part of Kyle of Sutherland Gala Week, this fantastic event celebrated books, conversation and literary discovery.
With author readings, a pop-up café and plenty of shared passion for books and writing, we enjoyed some great conversations with both new and familiar faces.
It was a wonderful day celebrating books, authors and the joy of reading in the heart of the Kyle of Sutherland community.
Some kind Words on North House Press from Shona MacLean
At the Neil Gunn Writing Competition, we were delighted to meet the wonderful Shona MacLean, author of The Bookseller of Inverness, which was awarded Waterstones Scottish Book of the Year in 2023.
It was a pleasure to hear Shona speak so warmly about the work of North House Press and our mission to bring Highland stories to new audiences. She shared these generous words:
"One of the most exciting developments in Scottish publishing of recent times must be the establishment in Sutherland this year of North House Press, and I don’t think the founders could have picked a better time to re-introduce Gunn’s writing to a wider reading public."
The support we have received over these past few months means a great deal to us as we continue to celebrate and share the literary heritage of the Highlands.
Neil Gunn Writing Competition 2026
Thursday 18th June
Dingwall Town Hall
It was a delight to attend the Neil Gunn Writing Competition in Dingwall. This competition, organised by the Neil Gunn Trust in partnership with High Life Highland, is open to writers of all ages and abilities and provides a fantastic opportunity to showcase the wealth of literary talent across the Highlands.
It was a pleasure to meet so many passionate writers, hear about their ideas and ambitions, and celebrate the creativity that continues to thrive in our communities. We look forward to seeing where their writing journeys take them next.
Find out more about the competition and this year's winners, here.
North House Press stand and presentation at Rogart Gala
Saturday 6th June 2026
Corry Meadow, Rogart
We had a great afternoon at Rogart Gala, meeting so many new faces and sharing what we have been up to at North House Press. It was wonderful to see such enthusiasm for the history, heritage and stories of the North Highlands right here on our doorstep, and to see such a shared passion for the place we call home.
Official Launch of North House Press - Neil Gunn Celebration and Party!
Thursday 21st May 2026
Dornoch Bookshop
What an evening at the official launch event for North House Press! A huge thank you to everyone who joined us. It was a fantastic evening, filled with wonderful conversation, shared enthusiasm for Neil Gunn, and excitement for the future of NHP.
A special thank you to Dornoch Bookshop for their warm hospitality, and to David from The Carnegie Whisky Cellars for keeping everyone’s glasses topped up throughout the evening.
We’re so grateful to everyone who came along to celebrate this exciting new chapter with us.
Coming Home to the Highlands: Bringing back the Legacy and Heritage of Neil Gunn
Saturday 2nd May 2026
Timespan, Helmsdale
A fantastic event at Timespan, Helmsdale celebrating the launch of the Neil Gunn titles The Grey Coast, The Serpent, and Blood Hunt. The event was followed by a creative writing workshop led by Kirsty, exploring how the incredible northern coastal landscapes of the Highlands can inspire storytelling, just as they did in Neil Gunn’s work.
A huge thank you to everyone who joined us and shared such thoughtful and inspiring ideas throughout the day.
Where Did We Come From?
Wednesday 29th April 2026
The Nucleus Centre, Wick
Thank you to everyone who joined us at the Nucleus Centre in Wick for this fascinating evening exploring themes of evolution, ancestry, landscape and storytelling. Featuring author readings, music, and a Q&A with Cynthia Rogerson, Kirsty Gunn, David Graham and Alpha Munro, the event brought together history, literature and conversation in a truly memorable way.
The evening also included Common Ground - The Shared Literary Landscapes of Neil Gunn and Kirsty Gunn, exploring how, although not related by family, Neil and Kirsty share a deep connection to the landscapes of the Northern Highlands, which is something powerfully reflected throughout their writing.
A superb evening of history, music and literature.
"How to Get Published”: An Evening of Creative Writing, Publishing Discussion, and more
Thursday 23rd April 2026
The Ceilidh Place, Ullapool
We had a fantastic evening at our first Creative Writing Workshop at the Ceilidh Place in Ullapool, exploring the creativity behind Neil Gunn’s work and following in his Highland-inspired footsteps. It was wonderful to see everyone getting involved in creating poetry, stories and non-fiction pieces inspired by the landscapes and surroundings around us.
The evening also offered guidance on how writers can begin developing their work for publication, with discussion around preparing pieces for publishers, literary agents and other literary opportunities.
What a brilliant showcase of creativity, storytelling and inspiration.
Creative Conversations
Monday 20th April 2026
University of Glasgow
It was fantastic to be joined by Professor Alan Riach, poet Rory Watson and Imagined Spaces Editor and Writer Gail Low for a panel presentation as part of Creative Conversations at the University of Glasgow.
The presentation included a consideration of Neil Gunn’s novels, a poetry reading and discussion of the importance of independent publishing and small presses.
North House Press in association with poet Rory Watson
Wednesday 8th April 2026
Central Library, Stirling
A superb evening of readings and conversation about independent publishing, writing local and celebrating Scottish literature. We were delighted to be joined by poet Rory Watson at this event in Stirling.
North House Press Guest Lecture at The University of Dundee
Wednesday 25th March 2026
University of Dundee
An engaging guest lecture delivered by David at the University of Dundee exploring the founding and development of North House Press. The session offered insight into the process of establishing an independent publishing company, from shaping a vision to bringing books to publication.
It was incredibly rewarding to share guidance, experience and inspiration with students and aspiring professionals interested in working within the publishing industry.
Thursday 29th January
“Local Voices, Local Lives” An Evening of Poetry and Publishing
Thursday 29th January 2026
Lairg Library
We’d like to say a huge thank you to everyone who joined us at our Local Voices, Local Lives event in Lairg, our first North House Press event! It was a wonderful evening full of community spirit and a shared appreciation of how special the North Highlands and its people are, and how this can inspire such fantastic art.
A massive thanks to Cáit O’Neill McCullagh for sharing her beautiful poetry, and to Lairg Library for hosting us. Events like this really highlight how deeply literature is woven into our culture, and how it can be used to share our unique heritage with the wider world.
We’re looking forward to an exciting year ahead with more events like this.
