Greetings all,

We creep towards Samhain, the time when the veil is thin between this world and the next, witches and bogles abound, and in Scotland we have a storytelling festival.

I'm delighted to have been invited to host the Open Hearth event on the opening night of the festival (13th October). I love the informality and diversity of these nights and I'll be joined by two of my favourite Scottish Storytellers, Tim Porteous and Fiona Herbert, who each have a cracking sense of humour and 'gift of the gab', plus accomplished musician Rachel Newton.

The event will be live streamed so you can join us from around the world via this link:

https://sisf.online.red61.co.uk/event/913:5016/913:21620/

You can get a sense of Tim's telling style via the Map of Stories resource, an online video archive of professional storytellers from around Scotland. I love this one!

https://mapofstories.scot/the-story-of-the-tatty-bogle/

After a trip to the Hebrides for more story events I'll be back in Edinburgh telling tales with a basket weaver called Katie Warner. She's a delight to work with and we'll be chatting, storytelling and crafting baskets with a small group on Sat 28th and Sunday 29th. My friend and storyteller Tad Hargrove will be joining us too, so we're anticipating a special event.

Spaces will be limited so please book in advance if you'd like to join. the baskets made will be gifted to Scottish Storytelling elders and the project is in response to a "story blanket' gifted to us by first nation Canadian storyteller, Louise Profeit Le Blanc in 2019.

Book your place via:

https://sisf.online.red61.co.uk/event/913:5054/913:21608/ (Saturday)

or https://sisf.online.red61.co.uk/event/913:5055/913:21609/ (Sunday)

Ahead of the festival, I'm recording podcast episodes before the next wave of inspiration strikes. Find the latest episode featuring the story of Ogalusa the Hunter here:

https://www.buzzsprout.com/1892058/13716445

And finally, sticking with the podcast theme, I was recently interview for the Wild Sacred Journey podcast. Listening back on it I'm actually quite impressed!

We had a roving conversation covering all kinds of topics relating to home, travel, belonging, culture and stories. If you're curious then give it a listen:

https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kate-powell-wsjp/episodes/Ep-29--Rediscovering-Home-Travel--Stories--and-Cultures-Rich-in-Connection-w-Dougie-Mackay-e29rtiq

.........

That's it for now.

Wishing you an excellent October with a myriad of fine tales to light up the darkening nights.

Dougie