Nick Barley, director of the Edinburgh International Book Festival, has criticised other literary festivals for prioritising celebrities over books. He singled out Cheltenham and Hay festivals as being too celebrity-driven, arguing that they allow speakers without new books and pay large sums for top names.
Barley insists that all speakers at the Edinburgh festival must have new books and are paid a flat rate of £150 per event, regardless of their fame. He acknowledged that this rate may need to rise in the future but emphasised the democratic nature of the policy, applying equally to Nobel laureates and debut novelists.
The festival, sponsored by the Guardian, will focus on internationalism and innovation for its 2012 programme. Barley highlighted the Word Alliance and a new international initiative that will start in Edinburgh and travel worldwide. Despite challenges such as tram roadworks and dreich weather, he believes Edinburgh can sell itself.
Barley also noted the festival's growth since its 1983 inception, when it was one of only three UK literary festivals. He praised competitors like Lennoxlove, the Borders book festival, and Bloody Scotland as 'brilliant threats'. The festival is in talks with e-book suppliers but remains cautious, as physical book sales are increasing.
