My belated thank you to Liz Lochhead
One day in the early 80s, the poet Liz Lochhead got a blank reception from a bunch of young students. David Barnett was one of them – and says she inspired him to be a writer
The real Michael Frayn hits Edinburgh book festival – or does he?
The Noises Off author on hoaxes, identities – and the hidden joke in his new book
Scent of a kitten: the 20 irrefutable theories of book cover design
Jen Bowden: Do you judge a book by its cover? Designers Jon Gray and Jamie Keenan shared their theories on attracting readers – from cute cats to alluring perfume – at the Edinburgh book festival
Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy on the Pendle witches
Here are the first three tercets of a new poem which will be engraved on iron waymarkers, every five miles along the new Lancashire Witches Walk
Scottish people’s DNA study could ‘rewrite nation’s history’
Evidence of African, Arabian, south-east Asian and Siberian ancestry in Scotland, says author of book tracing genetic journey
Ang Lee’s Life of Pi to open New York film festival
Big-screen adaptation of Yann Martel's prize-winning novel will become the first 3D film to open the festival next month
Edinburgh international book festival: day four bulletin
What to expect, which events still have tickets available and what's coming up on the site
Camille O’Sullivan: From cabaret to chaos
Camille O'Sullivan made her name singing sultry songs in fishnets. Now she's playing a rapist and his victim in a musical version of Shakespeare's Rape of Lucrece, says Charlotte Higgins
Mira Nair’s 9/11 drama to open Venice film festival
The Reluctant Fundamentalist, based on Mohsin Hamid's novel and starring Riz Ahmed and Kiefer Sutherland, will screen out of competition at the 69th Venice film festival next month
Tears in a tent: rediscovering Tony Harrison’s poetry
Alison Flood: He's one of our best-loved political poets, and now that I've had a taste of his personal writing I'm desperate for more
Somaliland’s Hargeisa book festival celebrates fifth year
Horn of Africa's answer to Hay-on-Wye fills cultural void for young in country where 70% of population are under 30
Peter Jackson in talks for third Hobbit film
Director tells Comic-Con audience he is considering splitting the second Hobbit film into two parts
Coldplay to launch Mylo Xyloto comics
The world of Coldplay's album will be explored in a six-part series to be unveiled at Comic-Con this week
Climate change is not science fiction, Jeremy Clarkson
Bill McGuire: Scientifically illiterate celebrity deniers are hiding behind their pulpits in the national press
Iris Origo: the author honoured by a music festival
Origo was an aristocratic Italian writer who dreamed of creating a new society. Selma Dabbagh visits the magnificent Tuscan estate where her grandson has set up a yearly celebration