A COLLECTION of storytellers’ favourite stories is being released during the Scottish International Storytelling Festival.

Writers from throughout Edinburgh and the Lothians have come together to create From The Burgh And Beyond, which is launched on Monday.

Haddington storyteller Bob Mitchell felt that it was a fitting way to mark 2022 – Scotland’s Year of Stories.

Mr Mitchell – one of the contributors – is chairman of the Burgh Blatherers, an Edinburgh-based storytelling group, who are behind the book.

He said: “There are a variety of tales, all of them loosely based on Edinburgh and its surroundings.

“What I say in the introduction, I described it as being like a bride on her wedding day.

“There is something old, something new, something borrowed but nothing blue – you have got to look elsewhere for that!”

The storytelling group has more than 30 members, including from as far afield as New York, and it quickly emerged they were equally passionate about the idea as Mr Mitchell, a former Justice of the Peace.

The search then began to find a publisher and contact was made with Midlothian-based The Book Whisperers.

Mr Mitchell added: “We were impressed by The Book Whisperers’ empathic and professional approach from day one and thrilled to discover that one of their directors, Lea Taylor, was herself a professional storyteller and already well known to several group members. It seemed like the perfect recipe.”

Now, From The Burgh And Beyond will be unveiled at the Scottish Storytelling Centre during the Scottish International Storytelling Festival, which runs from tomorrow (Friday) to the end of the month.

An official launch takes place on Monday at 6.45pm.

Mr Mitchell was looking forward to the evening and confirmed that the book would also be for sale at Kesley’s in Haddington.

He said: “I’m very pleased with the book.

“I’ve held it, smelled it and looked at it and it is a nice thing to hold.”