Dr Valentina Bold is a writer, researcher and presenter: an internationally recognised expert on Scottish culture and heritage. Her books include ‘James Hogg: A Bard of Nature’s Making’, ‘Smeddum: A Lewis Grassic Gibbon Anthology’, ‘Robert Burns’ Merry Muses of Caledonia’, ‘The Kinmont Willie Sword and other Tales of Mettle’ and, with Andrew Nash, ‘Gateway to the Modern: Re-assessing J.M.Barrie’. She edits ‘Review of Scottish Culture’ and the series ‘History and Culture of Scotland’ and is Convenor of the Scots Language Centre. She is currently working on a biography of Florence Dixie, and a critical edition of James Hogg’s Brownie of Bodsbeck.