Fringe Fantastic was inspired by the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

Each August, swarms of buskers, street performers, actors, actresses, journalists, reviewers, media-folk and hangers-on descend on the Scottish capital in their hundreds.

Theatres, pub back-rooms, halls and bus-stops are fully booked out for four weeks as the performers entertain the huge numbers of audiences who come out to experience the thrill of the Fringe.

As a writer, I just couldn’t resist writing about it. The transformation that Edinburgh goes through each August is a remarkable one. One minute you are trudging along Princes Street in the rain, then next you are captivated by all the colour, action and spectacles on display.

The people are what it’s all about. Without the people there would be no Fringe, both on the street and in the theatres and behind the scenes too. Inspiration is everywhere, whether it be for a new fictional novel, an essay or article, a poem or perhaps a photographic study.

It’s these last two genres that interested me. I wanted to try and capture the essence of the Fringe as someone who is not originally from Edinburgh, but who lives and works here. I wanted to publish a chapbook that people could read on the train or the bus, and be transported to summertime in the Capital and the fun of the Fringe.

I wanted to capture the Fringe in prose and photography, while keeping true to my own experience.

The result was Fringe Fantastic, and I hope you enjoy it.

Printed: 91 pages, 5.9 x 8.9 in., Perfect-bound, 60# cream interior paper, black and white interior ink, 100# white exterior paper, full-color (CMYK) exterior
ISBN: 1-4116-5441-2
Publisher: Smashing Press
License: Standard Copyright License
Copyright: © 2005 Colin Galbraith
Language: English
Edition: Second Edition
Price: £10