The second Festival to launch its programme this week, the Edinburgh International Book Festival has swung into action with a mammoth schedule of talks and seminars.  Coinciding with the second part of the Fringe, and running from 15th to 31st August this year, there's a lot to recommend the Book Festival; it's gentle, manageable, and the sheer variety of its programme means you're sure to find something which interests you there.

Courtesy Edinburgh International Book Festival

What's on this year

The programme's index of authors makes a serviceable Who's Who of the current literary scene; simply glancing over the list turns up names like Margaret Atwood, Will Self, Ian Rankin and the ever-present Alexander McCall Smith.  Non-fiction is also well represented, with a fascinating programme of talks on subjects as diverse as history, travel and science; and there's a welcome programme of family-friendly events for the younger readers, too.

As usual, there's a good smattering of figures in the public eye who have books out this year.  Shirley Williams is this year's choice for the prestigious Donald Dewar Memorial Lecture.  Among other A-listers, Paddy Ashdown talks about his long-awaited memoir, Sebastian Coe discusses The Winning Mind, and the multi-talented Griff Rhys Jones explores the nation's rivers.

The world of journalism is also represented, with such well-known figures as Polly Toynbee and Gavin Esler appearing this year.  And of course, no literary event would be complete this year without a nod to Robert Burns' 250th birthday; it's the jumping-off point for a Celebrating Scotland strand, which runs throughout the Book Festival's programme.

Browsing and booking

If you're familiar with arrangements from previous years, note that the box office is no longer at Waterstone's.  See below for details.

Ironically, perhaps, for this Festival of the printed word, the easiest way to browse the programme is online.  You can download the whole thing as a PDF file from the Book Festival's web site; if you're daunted by its size, just flip to the index of authors right at the back.  Or, if you know more or less what you're looking for, you could try out their online search engine.

You can also pick up the programme from many bookshops and libraries within Scotland.  Here in Edinburgh, The Hub - on the Royal Mile near the castle - is also sure to have copies, alongside other Festival brochures.

Either way, you have a little over a week to make your picks if you want to be sure of your seats.  Popular tickets for the Book Festival go very quickly, and it's not unusual for a well-known author to sell out on the day the box office opens.

Booking starts at 8:30am on Monday 22 June, when you should be able to get your tickets through the Book Festival's website.  It usually struggles to cope with opening-day demand, so be prepared to have to keep trying.

Phone lines open at the same time - call 0845 373 5888.  They'll also be very busy for the first few days.

If you prefer to go in person, you'll need to note some complex arrangements.  On Monday 22 June only, the Book Festival box office will be temporarily housed at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre, who have the facilities to cope with the expected crowds.  After that, it moves to the International Festival's Hub booing office near the Castle, open from 10am to 5pm from Monday to Saturday.  Finally, it's all change again on 15th August - when the operation decamps to the festival proper at Charlotte Square.

Remember - this is one Festival where it really does pay to book early.  We can remind you when tickets are about to go on sale.  Sign up to get Ticket Alerts in your Inbox.