14:00 Challenging Expectations with Peter Cocks & Simon Mason RBS Corner Theatre, £4.50 Age 11 - 14 Peter Cocks is known for his fantasy series Triskellion written with Mark Billingham; Simon Mason is the creator of The Quigleys series about an eccentric family, but both tackle darker issues in their new novels. Peter's Long Reach is a gritty thriller set in the criminal underworld of London's East End whilst in Moon Pie, Simon features a family dealing with a lost mother and an alcoholic father. Why these subjects? And how does a writer tackle challenging issues in a sensitive yet realistic and engaging way?15:00 Victorian Edinburgh with Frances Jarvie & Gordon Jarvie RBS Imagination Lab, £4.50 Age 8 - 12 Come and explore Victorian Edinburgh from the crowded tenements to the Lord Provost's office. Using the true story of Greyfriars Bobby, Frances and Gordon take you on a fascinating tour that includes the opportunity to handle artefacts from the National Museum of Scotland's collection. Afterwards, you can head off to be an urban explorer and see all you've learned about. 15:30 Story Consequences with Steven Butler, Vivian French, Sally Gardner & Barry Hutchison RBS Corner Theatre, £4.50 Age 9+ Join our Guest Selector Vivian French to challenge three leading writers, Barry Hutchison, Steven Butler and Sally Gardner for Story Consequences. The idea is that you, the audience, suggest a starting point for a story and then each writer takes it in turns to move the story along, each picking up where the other has left off. Come along with your craziest ideas and take the opportunity to challenge your favourite writers! 16:30 Roodica and Friends with Margaret Ryan RBS Imagination Lab, £4.50 Age 7 - 10 Long, long ago, at a time when bears and wolves roamed Britain, there lived a young Celt called Roodica, daughter of famous Queen Goodica (you may have heard of her) but there was one problem, the Romans decided to invade. Join Margaret Ryan as she introduces Roodica and a cast of her other book characters. There will be stories, activities and lots of fun. 17:00 The Heart and History of the Dandy ScottishPower Studio Theatre, £4.50 Families & 10+ Join Mr Gum writer and comic book fan Andy Stanton as he introduces Morris Heggie, former editor of The Dandy and author of The Art and History of The Dandy. Explore all the brilliant characters, discover where the ideas came from and find out who inspired the character Beryl the Peril. A rare opportunity for fans of all ages to get a glimpse into the minds of the creators of the iconic comics. 18:30 Victoria Campbell's Viking Gold RBS Imagination Lab, £4.50 Age 11 - 14 When Victoria Campbell was asked to describe her debut novel Viking Gold in five words she chose 'historical, teen, action, adventure, quest'. All that's left to add is it is a thrilling, heroic story of a young Viking boy who survives an attack on his village, forcing him on a journey across the seas and far from the people and the lands he knows and loves. Come and hear about Victoria's own journey from great story to published book. 20.00 Coraline with Neil Gaiman & Chris Riddell RBS Main Theatre, £7 (£5) Families & 10+ To mark the 10th anniversary of Neil Gaiman's Coraline, Chris Riddell has created beautiful, atmospheric and unsettling illustrations for a new edition. The tale of the lonely girl who discovers an alternate world where her 'other mother and father' live has been turned into a graphic novel and a film. Neil and Chris talk about their inspiration for the words and the pictures and, of course, those button eyes... ILLUSTRATOR IN RESIDENCE: CHRIS RIDDELLGUEST SELECTOR: VIVIAN FRENCHRBS Story Box ActivitiesFree & Drop-in11:00 - 4:30pm DailyThe RBS Story Box is our new children's activity space (it's no longer in the RBS Children's Bookshop). It's open every day - simply pop in to get involved in all sorts of hands-on activities. Guests will join us at different times throughout the Festival to provide some extra special fun including the National Museums of Scotland, Ladybird Books, Click Academy and Edinburgh City Libraries for their Summer Reading Challenge.See page 83 for booking detailsBook now: www.edbookfest.co.uk 0845 373 588865runaways. Fugitives. step ahead. Popping popping up there.

10:00 Cressida Cowell RBS Main Theatre, £4.50 Age 7 - 12 This is a great year to be meeting Viking Hiccup, hero of Cressida Cowell's How to Train Your Dragon series of novels. For Hiccup was born on the 29th of February and since this is a leap year, it's a Hiccup birthday year! Cressida introduces her latest adventure, How to Steal a Dragon's Sword, and talks about all your favourite characters, stories and, of course, dragons! 10:00- Are You Sitting Comfortably? 10:30 RBS Story Box, Free: Book in Advance All Ages Join us for a quick, magical dip into the world of words with our free morning events for children of all ages. It might be a story, a poem, songs and rhymes or a reading with one of our Festival authors. Appearing today: Andy Stanton. 10:00- Curtains Up with Julia Donaldson, 12:00 Vivian French & Simon Puttock RBS Imagination Lab, £7.00 Age 9 - 12 There are many different ways to tell a story and one is to dramatise your favourite book. This event offers a unique opportunity to work with three leading picture book writers. Working in a group, you help devise a short play from a picture book. At the end, your parents and friends get the chance to watch the final performance. Break a leg! Tickets admit 1 participating child and 2 spectators. The final performance will commence at 11.30am. 10:30 Joseph Delaney ScottishPower Studio Theatre, £4.50 Age 9 - 12 Join Joseph Delaney to discover what happens in the tenth instalment of the hugely popular Wardstone Chronicles. Time is running out for Thomas Ward as his final battle with the fiend draws near. Come and hear all about the series, where Joseph got his ideas for this supernatural tale and the importance of the tutor-student relationship which is at the heart of each adventure. 10:30 James Mayhew RBS Corner Theatre, £4.50 Age 5 - 8 This is an exciting opportunity to meet one of today's leading picture book writers and illustrators. James Mayhew's popular Katie series was inspired by his love of art and galleries. The latest adventure sees Katie and the Loch Ness Monster embark on a tour of Scotland visiting some of the country's leading museums and galleries to discover beautiful paintings and portraits. Join James to hear more and to help make a big, bold picture. 12:00 Oodles of Poodles with Anna Wilson RBS Corner Theatre, £4.50 Age 7 - 10 Welcome to the Pooch Parlour where pampered pet salon meets canine detective agency. Anna Wilson is a rare breed because she loves both cats and dogs and she has written many books featuring one or the other. Join her as she introduces her new series, packed with poodle-tastic antics, a cast of eccentric and loveable characters and mysteries to be sniffed out. 13:30 Stage School Star with Lyn Gardner RBS Imagination Lab, £4.50 Age 7 - 10 Lyn Gardner is the theatre critic for the Guardian as well as the writer of the Olivia novels about a young girl at stage school. Join Lyn as she introduces Olivia's latest adventure, Olivia's Enchanted Summer, which sees the young heroine arrive in Edinburgh to spend August enjoying the Fringe. If you like the idea of one day being on the stage or just love a good story about friendship, families, finding yourself and theatre then this is for you. 14:00 How to Fly a Plane with Nick Barnard RBS Corner Theatre, £4.50 Age 9 - 10 Nick Barnard is a writer and a stunt pilot and the co-founder of the Yakovlevs display team. Now he's written a brilliant, accessible, fully illustrated guide on how to fly a plane - from exciting, modern light planes to lovingly restored vintage aircraft. If you love the idea of one day being a pilot or are intrigued by the engineering and aerodynamics then come along and have all your questions answered.15:00 Elaine Webster Talks Scots RBS Imagination Lab, £4.50 Age 5 - 10 This event is fur awbodie that wants tae enjoy an improve their Scots, and has the authority o Scottish Language Dictionaries ahint it. Elaine Webster, from Scots Language Dictionaries, leads an entertaining, interactive workshop to introduce you to the richness and diversity of the Scots language. Whether you know many words or no words come and enjoy the fun. Tickets admit 1 child and 1 accompanying adult. Adult supervision recommended. 15:30 Alexander McCall Smith ScottishPower Studio Theatre, £4.50 Families & 7+ Meet one of the world's most popular writers as he introduces his latest book for young readers, Precious and the Mystery of Meerkat Hill. The stories Alexander McCall Smith tells about his books are sprinkled with brilliant anecdotes about his remarkable life (and he is well known for slipping competitions with prizes into his events). Meet Precious Ramotswe when she was a school girl embarking on her very first case and perhaps get a chance to ask Alexander what he plans to write next. 15:30 Allan Burnett: Bringing History to Life RBS Corner Theatre, £4.50 Age 8 - 11 Allan Burnett is a historian and author and his And All That series takes you back through hundreds and thousands of years to distant places - some familiar - where you can join in some exciting real-life adventures. Along the way you get to learn fascinating facts, exercise your imagination, get splattered in a bit of gore and experience being a part of something so much bigger than yourself. 16:30- Vivian French: 18:00 Creating Story Through Song RBS Imagination Lab, £7 Age 10 - 14 Calling all budding singer-songwriters! This is a unique opportunity to write your own story in lyrics and have it put to music. Vivian will be on hand to help you with your words, whilst composer, musician and songwriter, M J McCarthy from indie Glasgow band Zoey Van Goey will help you with the melody. All you need is enthusiasm, no previous musical experience required. 17:00 Catherine Wilkins' Stand-Up Workshop RBS Story Box, £4.50 Age 10 - 14 Catherine Wilkins' debut novel, My Best Friend and Other Enemies, is a very funny look at the trials and traumas of adolescent life. It's humorous because Catherine is also a successful and edgy stand-up comedian (but for older people!). With her knack for creating laughter, Catherine leads a workshop on how to be a comedian. If you fancy yourself funny or find that others do, come along to find out if you've got what it takes to get the world giggling.Tues 14 August GUEST SELECTOR: VIVIAN FRENCHAnna Wilson, 12:0066