Let's Hear It For The Hoolie!

Warning! We are about to indulge in some serious blowing-of-our-own trumpet in this blog post. We hope you’ll excuse us . . .

A time-consuming and sometimes frustrating, but nevertheless essential, part of running a small book festival is trying to secure sufficient funding. Without it, the Hoolie would be unable to continue, and we are grateful to everyone who supports us financially.

We leave no stone unturned in our efforts to secure donations. And we’re not above a spot of name-dropping! Endorsements from internationally acclaimed authors and musicians help the cause enormously.

To that end, we recently asked some favourite Hoolie authors and musicians to each write a testimonial for us to use in funding applications. They duly obliged, and we were blown away by their kind words! They were too good not to share . . .

"A Write Highland Hoolie is one of the most vibrant and enjoyable festivals I've attended. The calibre of guests was exceptional and every event was packed to the rafters by tremendously engaged audiences. The weekend format also provides numerous opportunities for authors to meet and chat to attendees beyond the signing table. The organisation of the events was flawless and I can't praise Polly Pullar and her team highly enough. Polly works tirelessly to make this event happen and is a charming and welcoming host. All in all, The Hoolie is a model of how a boutique literary festival should be run. Five stars!” Graeme Macrae Burnett, author.

“If we could make a map of Scotland’s cultural gems with notes on it of the fusion of our cultures through music, stories, poetry and song, the exchange of laughter and wisdom, the lifeblood of our seasons, our landscapes and our shared horizons, we couldn’t help but notice the glowing light over Mallaig where the unbreakable spirit of A Write Highland Hoolie unites all those who have gathered there to be amongst friends, and sometimes friends you never knew you had but will never know how much you have missed them. May that light never be dimmed.” Jim Mackintosh, poet. 

“Having spoken at book festivals the length and breadth of Britain, I can report that A Write Highland Hoolie in Mallaig is magical, unique and precious. Nowhere else do writers meet and celebrate so gladly with readers all of the glories of the written word. Stories are how we understand the world, and in the midst and the warmth of a Highland ceilidh, unforgettable stories are told, links made and remade, and at the end of a memorable weekend, the world seems somehow better.”  Alistair Moffat, author. 

“So many festivals, even very good ones, can blend into one another in the memory, but A Write Highland Hoolie is a truly unique undertaking in a striking location. It creates a compelling sense of shared creative endeavour as writers, musicians, artists and readers gather not merely to discuss books, but to throw their lot in with one another in a common space for 72 hours. I can’t think of any other festival that offers a comparable experience, and with it drawing consistently large crowds and commensurate book sales, it remains one of the highlights of the Scottish festival calendar.” Chris Brookmyre, author.

“I have been honoured and lucky enough to have been involved as a guest musician at A Write Highland Hoolie on two occasions now. My first appearance at the festival involved a concert and a chat where I went through my inspiration and the process behind my writing with author Paul Murton. My second visit to A Write Highland Hoolie was with a multi-media performance of “Beyond the Swelkie” which was a tribute to the life and works of the great Orcadian poet George Mackay Brown. On both weekends I also had the privilege of explaining my compositional techniques to pupils of Mallaig High School during a special event for the Hoolie School of Music Sessions. Together with multi-instrumentalist Hamish Napier, we wrote tunes with these talented young people. My experience of sharing my music and inspiration at this wonderful event with audiences and fellow creatives alike has been both enriching and inspirational to me. A Write Highland Hoolie is a friendly, community driven event which entices some of Scotland’s finest writers to the west coast of the Highlands. It is a jewel in the calendar for everyone who supports it.” Duncan Chisholm, musician.