Hundreds of free events celebrating the written word are to take place as part of Book Week Scotland this year.
Writers such as Liz Lochhead, Will Self, Jodi Picoult and Alexander McCall Smith will take place in the events which will be staged between November 21 and 27.
As part of the events, more than half a million free books will also be given away, and a survey will be engaged to find Scotland's favourite book-to-screen adaptation, which is likely to include Irvine Welsh's Trainspotting as well as the cartoon version of The Gruffalo, among others.
The events are organised by the Scottish Book Trust and it is the fifth time it has been run.
Author events will include appearances by Will Self, Lisa McInerney, Jenni Fagan, Jill Mansell, Simon Scarrow, Isabel Greenberg, Clare Mackintosh, Jodi Picoult, Alexander McCall Smith, whose event is programmed by East Lothian Libraries, and Liz Lochhead and Christopher Brookmyre, whose events are programmed by Cove and Kilgreggan Book Festival.
The actor Alan Cumming, Nick Crane and Tony Robinson will also make appearances in locations across the country.
Twenty local and national organisations will also be involved in an outreach programme, including Dyslexia Scotland, Scottish Prison Service, five local authority Community and Learning Development teams and organisations like Fare Scotland, Sunny Govan FM, the Maker’s Bistro, Open Book and others.
In an initiative to promote new writing talent, 150,000 free copies of a short story and poem collection, Secrets and Confessions, will be handed out during the week via libraries, bookshops and other outlets.
School pupils will receive three free picture books for Primary 1 pupils, and also books and writing materials for Primaru 2 and 3 pupils.
Marc Lambert, chief executive of the Scottish Book Trust, said: "It’s a fantastically positive endorsement of Scotland’s thriving literary scene that Book Week Scotland is now entering its fifth year, bigger, better and bolder than ever before.
"Authors, booksellers, libraries, readers and partners too numerous to mention have really taken this national festival to heart and made it what it is – a joyful, democratic and inclusive celebration of reading’s unique capacity for empowerment, enrichment, education, solace, pleasure and growth. The 2016 programme is our best yet, with world-class authors and more programmed events than ever before."
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