An unassuming side-street in Edinburgh led to an unassuming bar where the upper floor held a quaint event called the Edinburgh Literary Salon.
This monthly event sees a gathering of writers, readers and literary enthusiasts who come together to discuss books, exchange ideas and perhaps indulge in a spot of intellectual conversation.
So why I was there? To understand this, it is important to know what the Salon is and ultimately what it stands for.
Ran by volunteers, the event takes place on the last Tuesday of every month and plays hosts to guest speakers, booksellers and industry professionals all in the name of supporting Edinburgh’s wider literary community.
Every session has a theme: and this particular theme was dedicated to the students who recently joined the MSc Publishing course at Napier University.
So, I would love to say that I found this niche event through my numerous literary connections dotted around Edinburgh, but alas I cannot. As part of my course, it was suggested that we mosey on down as a class and take part in what can only be described as a lesson in networking.
The event itself sat in a dark room. On one half sat the Salon’s regulars and on the other sat the Salon’s newcomers. Being a newcomer, I was unsure what to expect, but I went in with an opened mind and a willingness to embrace the world that I was eager to become a part of.
The night started with an introduction from the host. There was a tension in the room that can only be described as palpable as it was clear that more than 50% of the room also did not know what to expect from then night. However, the host kicked things off with a humorous introduction that alleviated the tension and sat everyone at ease.
There were then two speakers: the first was Annie Rutherford who passionately talked about the Push the Boat Out poetry festival that was taking place later in the year. Then we heard from the owner of Lighthouse Books in Edinburgh who informed us about all the exciting events that will be taking place during the Radical Book Fair.
It was not lost on me the importance of the Salon here. Sure, Edinburgh is not short of festival goers, however it is still important to give these kinds of events a platform so to increase awareness.
After presenting was finished, so started the mingling. There was a pressure of the event to make use of this time and make new connections while learning about the Salon. If I am to be honest – I am not a natural networker. The room was dark and crowded with the noise of conversation making chit-chat hard to materialise.
If I am to take anything away from the night, it would that there was an energy there that showed to me what this event was all about. Conversations with strangers who all share a common interest – that being the love of storytelling.
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