With this year's WORD Festival now over, organisers are celebrating record audience figures. Over the course of the three days more than 11,000 visitors attended – making it the most successful Word Festival yet.
Famed for welcoming some of today's top UK writers and international talent to the North-East of Scotland, this year's festival did not disappoint. The diverse line-up of over 60 authors included literary greats David Lodge, A L Kennedy, Lionel Shriver, William McIllvanney, Iain Banks, Louis de Bernieres and Deborah Moggach. Also appearing were top Scottish comedian Rhona Cameron and Idlewild front-man Roddy Woomble.
The Children's Festival was packed full of author events keeping the younger book lovers entertained. With authors including Janey Jones, Jeremy Strong, Jule Hegarty and Frank Rodgers and a brilliant Bookstart rhyme time session for babies - there was something for every age group.
The family-focused programme of events at the third Gaelic Festival featured an 'in conversation' with Canadian writer, Alistair MacLeod, and readings from Angus Peter Campbell and Christopher Whyte.
Alan Spence, Artistic Director of Word, said: "The Word Festival seems to defy the laws of physics. Every time we say we couldn't possibly pack anymore into three days, but every year it swells and we somehow find a way of fitting it all in - more world class writers, greater range of events - it's incredible!
"The feedback we've had from authors and audiences alike has been fantastic this year and reinforces just how special an event Word has become in the cultural calendar. We've said it before, but there really isn't anything like anywhere else. Yet again, it's been another wonderful Word weekend."
Having become annual in 2004, the Word Festival saw free tickets for many of the headline events snapped up long before the start of the festival.