What a pleasure it was to be invited to the inaugural Aberfoyle and Strathard Book Festival. The day began with Q&A sessions with renowned outdoor enthusiast and writer Cameron McNeish and television presenter and author Sally Magnusson, and rounded off with a story-time session from me.

This was the first community book festival in the area and it was great to see it so well attended. The venue and staff at Aberfoyle’s VisitScotland iCentre were ideal, and hopefully this will be the first book festival of many.

And, for me, what better setting to read Ruan the Little Red Squirrel than at the foot of the very forest park that inspired the story in the first place!

We also had time for a fun rendition of The Kilted Coo, which is always my favourite story to read to an audience. All the wee ones who came to listen were fantastic, and it was a joy to meet everyone.

Thanks to Phil Crowder for the photographs!

Rachel