The Mallaig Book Festival
A Write Highland Hoolie!
7 - 9 November 2025
A Write Highland Hoolie Hoolets
The Hoolie Hoolets programme of author events and workshops in local schools, including those in the Small Isles and Knoydart, is an integral part of A Write Highland Hoolie. It caters for both primary and High School pupils and includes annual creative writing and artwork competitions.
Every year, the festival culminates in a children’s prize-giving tea party which is free to attend and is open to all. This includes an interactive session of song and dance with multi-award-winning Oban author and publisher Alan Windram, and Gaelic singing from pupils of Mallaig Primary School.
As Mallaig High School has a reputation for producing fine traditional musicians, we also run the Hoolie School of Music Sessions whereby the revered musicians who participate in the Hoolie hold a workshop for senior music pupils.
A Write Highland Hoolie is a magical and unique weekend of book adventure. The magic also extends to surrounding schools and as an illustrator, I've been lucky enough to do several workshops at both the local primary and high school. It's a joy to witness what these talented young folk can conjure up from their imaginations and within the context of budget cuts, I hope that these visits affirm the absolute necessity of the arts in our lives. A Write Highland Hoolie is truly a gem of a book festival! Kate Leiper, artist and illustrator.
Authors 2024
Alastair Chisholm
When Alastair Chisholm was a kid, he wanted to be a computer programmer, an author and an astronaut. So far, he’s managed two out of three, and he’s still hoping NASA will call soon . . . In the meantime, he writes books for children, including the sci-fi adventures Orion Lost, Adam-2 and The Consequence Girl, the Dragon Storm series of young fantasy novels and picture books such as The Prince and the Witch and the Thief and the Bears, amongst many others. Inch and Grub won the 2022 Queen’s Knickers Award and the 2022 Bookbug Children’s Picture Book Prize. He is also a puzzle creator who has written numerous books of puzzles, including the Kids’ Book of Sudoku and Kids’ Book of Kakuro series. As part of this year’s Hoolets programme, Alastair will be hosting two events in Mallaig Primary School, one for younger primary children, and one on his sci-fi books for older pupils.
Clare Mackie
The creator of the fabulous Write Highland Hoolie logo featuring a dancing stag and Highlander, Clare is a highly accomplished illustrator now living and working in Scotland. Her career spans over 30 years and features prestigious clients such as Harvey Nichols, Tatler, Chanel, The New Yorker and Country Life, to name just a few. Clare has illustrated over 20 books and was shortlisted for the Kate Greenaway Prize for her collaboration with Michael Rosen on his Book of Nonsense. She creates award-winning designs for a wide range of products including ceramics, cards and wrapping paper, and exhibits around the UK. She will be painting with and entertaining primary school pupils during the afternoon of Friday November 8 as part of this year’s fabulous Hoolie Hoolets’ programme.
Alan Windram
Hoolie favourite Alan is an integral part of our annual programme. He is a publisher and award-winning author whose books include the hugely successful Mac and Bob series and A Puppy’s Tale. His first One Button Benny book won the Bookbug Book Prize in 2019. Alan lives in Argyll & Bute with his wife and two cats, Sparkie and George, but he spends much of the year on the road, taking part in book festivals and school and library events. He loves meeting children, telling stories and singing songs and is also an accomplished singer-songwriter. In Alan’s new picture book, Kevin the Orange, Kevin is tired of being an orange, so he tries out lots of different colours with the help of his friend Brian the Pear, with hilarious consequences. Join Alan for sing-along songs, mixed fruit and veg dancing, stories, dressing up and fun with flying fluffy oranges.