Alex Salmond Edinburgh International Book Festival 2011

It was a thrill for me as a lifelong supporter of Scottish Independance to shake hands with Big Al and take his photo! 
Alex Salmond MSP is a Scottish politician and First Minister of Scotland. He became Scotland's fourth First Minister in May 2007. He is the Leader of the Scottish National party (SNP), having served as Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for Gordon. Salmond was re-elected SNP leader in 2004.  In 2006 he stood for the 2007 Scottish Parliament in which the SNP emerged as the largest single party. Salmond was voted First Minister by the Scottish Parliament on 16 May 2007. 

Neil Gaiman Edinburgh International Book Festival 2011

--> --> Neil Gaiman is an English author of short fiction, novels, comic books, graphic novels, and films. Including the comic book series The Sandman.  Gaiman's writing has many awards, including Hugo, Nebula, Bram Stoker, Newberry meal and 2010 Carnegie Medal in Literature. He gave a talk at the Einburgh Book Festival 2011.

John Byrne Edinburgh International Book Festival 2011

Byrne was certainly a character! 

John Byrne was born in Paisley and attended Glasgow School of Art. He is a Scottish playwright and artist.  Byrne is best known as the writer of  Tutti Frutti, a 1987 television series starring Robbie Coltrane, Emma Thompson and Richard Wilson, which he later turned into a play. He also wrote the six-part series Your Cheatin' Heart in 1990.  From 1964 until 1966 he designed jackets for Penquin Books. Byrne has also designed record covers for The Humblebums with Gerry Rafferty and Billy Connelly, Donavan, and the Beatles.  His work is held in major collections in Scotland and abroad. Several of his paintings hang in The  Scottish National Portrait Gallery.

John Hartson Edinburgh International Book festival 2011

 
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I was impressed with footballer John Hartson's during his photo shoot in Edinburgh. 
John Hartson gave a talk at the Edinburgh International Book festival 2011 on his memoirs and discussed his story with broadcaster Stuart Cosgrove. He is a former Welsh international footballer who played as a striker, best known for his spells with West Ham and Celtic. Hartson also featured prominently for Wales, earning 51 caps until his international retirement in 2006. He retired from professional football after being released by West Bromwich Albion in January 2008, ending a career also spent at Luton town, Arsenal, Wimbledon, Coventry City and Norwich City. In July 2009 Hartson received chemotherapy after being diagnosed with testicular cancer which had spread to his brain. It was later reported the cancer had spread to his lungs and that he remained in a "critical condition" following emergency surgery. The treatment was successful and by December of that year it was reported that the cancer had been virtually eradicated from Hartson's body although he would have more surgery and treatment to come.

Leo

--> LEO performed by Tobias Wegner and directed by Daniel Briere, has won the Carol Tambor Best of Edinburgh Award, and will receive a full NYC production at Theatre Row in January. The award is the Edinburgh Festival Fringe's highest honour, and was presented at the festival's closing ceremonies on August 26.
The production is from the acclaimed German company Circle of Eleven, and considers what happens if the laws of gravity suddenly change. Leo combines stage design and video projections, to create an unexpected environment in which our hero is forced to adapt to this surprising situation. The Carol Tambor Theatrical Foundation was established to bring excellent dramatic work to the New York audience by funding the New York run. The mission to support artists in their desire to be seen and produced is carried out with no financial or commercial involvement in their future success. 

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Edinburgh

A few Edinburgh scenes, my hometown. I now live north of Glasgow.

Edinburgh Festival 2011

This is the Big Event for me each summer. Millions descend on Edinburgh and this is one of the oldest and biggest world festivals, started after world war. I have less time on the High street and at the shows, and I now spend most of my time there at the Book Festival Charlotte Square.   
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2,500 shows at 250 venues over 3 to 4 weeks, over one million visitors.