Always one of the most popular Book Festival authors and an international bestselling phenomenon to boot, Scottish-born Ian Rankin is interrogated by fellow crime writer Denise Mina in this revealing 2006 Book Festival event.

Denise Mina reading her story We Are All Waiting. Part of an engaging series of podcasts of leading authors reading their stories, poems or essays on the theme of ‘Elsewhere’ – each one exclusively available online, commissioned by Edinburgh International Book Festival and supported by the Scottish Government’s Edinburgh Festivals Expo Fund. Read or download the Elsewhere stories, listen to more Elsewhere podcasts or watch the videos of events filmed live at the Book Festival.

Scotland is seeking to become a world leader in renewable energy, while the arguments continue to rage about oil, 'cleaner coal' and nuclear power. How do we provide fuel for the world without destroying it in the process, and can Scotland really be a key player? In this event - part our popular debates and environment strand in 2010 - our panel discuss the options. Featuring former MSP and Professor of Social Change at Queen Margaret University, Susan Deacon; Dr Benny Peiser, Director of The Global Warming Policy Foundation; Duncan McLaren and chair Ruth Wishart.

In this event for 5-8 year olds, sensational Scottish children's author Mairi Hedderwick - and a firm favourite with youngsters - brings her stories about Katie Morag and her magical Hebridean home to life. What can you expect? A few tales of mischievous behaviour and cheeky happenings of course!

So what exactly did twelve years of undiluted New Labour achieve? Polly Toynbee and David Walker, co-authors of two previous books on the subject, returned to the Book Festival in 2010 with the definitive assessment of the Blair-Brown years. From gleeful consumerism to economic bust, and from Cool Britannia to Make Poverty History, Toynbee and Walker chart the rise and fall of New Labour. Chaired by Susan  Deacon.

Learn about the importance of visual literacy with a master creator of picture books. Children’s Laureate Anthony Browne led this 2010 CPD event as part of our 2010 RBS Schools Programme - it's an engaging session for educators or anyone interested in children's learning; an inspirational look at picture books and his extensive range of work as author and illustrator, where he shares his experiences of using his books to enthuse and encourage children.

Listen to two unique writers as they look at love and trauma through a child’s eyes. Emma Donogue’s Room and Fiona Shaw’s Tell it to the Bees are two remarkable works, discussed in depth in this event chaired by Pru Rowlandson.

To celebrate the 60th anniversary of Tove Jansson’s wonderful Moomin series, Sophia Jansson, the author’s niece, and an artist in her own right, talked with chair Julia Eccleshare about her aunt’s work and life, revealing what it was like to grow up surrounded by her extraordinary characters.

Another chance to listen to two writers who have produced riveting, heartbreaking and sometimes shocking accounts of father-son relationships. An interesting, intelligent and compelling event, chaired by Hannah McGill, well worth revisiting.

Canadian author Lisa Moore and Commonwealth Prize-winner Marina Endicott delivered with chair Luke Brown a captivating Book Festival event in 2010 to discuss their affecting explorations of life after death.