The book festival will return to the north-east this weekend for the fifth year in the row.
The Portsoy Book Festival has previously attracted names including former First Minister Alex Salmond and this year will feature renowned crime author Stuart MacBride alongside Doric storyteller Marjory Nicholson.
Last night a spokeswoman for the event branded it an “exciting” weekend for families travelling to the picturesque port.
The celebrations kick off on Saturday, March 17, with a free storytelling event for children taking place in the Kirkies Woods at 10am.
Places for the children’s event need to be booked through portsoy.library@aberdeenshire.gov.uk or by calling 01261 843891.
The Lord-Lieutenant of Banffhsire, Clare Russell, will the officially launch the festival at 2pm at the Salmon Bothy.
“Author Lin Anderson will then host ‘Who’s behind the book?’ with fiction writers Stuart MacBride and Karen Campbell,” a spokeswoman added.
“Stuart has been tempted to Portsoy with the promise of a famous Portsoy ice cream and Alex Murray, the owner of the shop, assures us there will be some good flavours on offer that weekend.
“On Sunday morning we are delighted to welcome former prison officer turned author Bryan Glennie. His book is a unique and fascinating account of everyday life inside – stories of the prison’s only hanging, rooftop riots and prisoners brewing beer in a dung heap as well as many celebrity visits including Sir Alex Ferguson.”
Other guests include Mark Douglas-Home, a former newspaper editor turned crime author.
Tickets for the adult events are available from the Portsoy Ice Cream Shop.