5 Questions with Chae Strathie

Tell us about your connection to Wigtown and the Book Festival

I’m slightly ashamed to admit the first time I came to Wigtown was when I was invited to the festival in 2012. It’s quite a drive from where I live in Fife, but well worth the effort! It’s such a beautiful part of the country and the fabulous festival is the icing on the cake.

Sum up your festival experience in 5 words

Fun, fascinating, enlightening, relaxing, welcoming

What's your favourite festival memory?

Seeing Alan Spence talk and read at an event last year. He was a hero of mine when I was a teenager – The Magic Flute was and is one of my favourite novels - so it was a joy to listen to him. Also having a bonnie wee lass from a local school introduce my event last year was a lovely idea.

Who would be your dream author to appear at the Festival?

I’m going to be slightly awkward and choose someone who is neither alive nor an author! So it’s a fair bet they won’t be appearing any time soon. But if I had a time machine I’d go back and bring Oliver Postgate to Wigtown to read his Bagpuss scripts at the festival. To hear that voice read those magical words live would be a dream come true.

Give our visitors one recommendation or top tip for Wigtown, the Festival or D&G

Go to as much as you can, ask questions at Q&A sessions, have a wander, keep an open mind and open ears, listen, laugh, learn. Wigtown is a great festival and the area – and Scotland – is very lucky to have it.