My all time favourite Cramps song. I taught my Mum to do the Chicken Strut to this one. Ah, my lost youth as part of the psychobilly wrecking crew... Talking of my mother, I am a tad worried she has discovered the internet (which she calls That Microwave). I received an e-mail today which said, in part: "Dear Ms Moore, I have just finished Old Dogs. It really made me laugh, apart from the bad language." Whoops, sorry 'C'.
Look at this smashing line-up for Bloody Scotland. Sign up for the newsletter for all the latest news.
Some Blasted Heath news, with signing of new author Anonymous 9 (aka Elaine Ash), a guest post from the recently signed H J Hampson. Oh, and Len Wanner's most excellent THE CRIME INTERVIEWS: VOLUME 1 is available for £1.99 in the UK and $3.16 in the US.
An audio review of Denise Mina's THE END OF THE WASP SEASON, a review of Catriona McPherson's AFTER THE ARMISTICE BALL. Publisher's Weekly reviews Philip Kerr's PRAGUE FATALE. And a few reviews for Doug Johnstone's new one, HIT AND RUN. I'm looking forward to it myself. As soon as I stop writing essays.
Ian Rankin chooses his New Elizabethan on BBC Radio 4's Front Row.
A wee rant about Ryanair from Quintin Jardine.
Helen Fitzgerald is looking for your thoughts on adaptations (and do check out the wee video promo for The Donor below the adaptations post - very funny).
Alexander McCall Smith on bringing people back to reading.
The Week talks about the various incarnations of Sherlock Holmes.
Irvine Welsh's ECSTASY premieres at the Glasgow Film Festival.
Savidge Reads blog gives Val McDermid a grilling.
Showing posts with label Irvine Welsh. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Irvine Welsh. Show all posts
Thursday, 1 March 2012
Thursday, 16 February 2012
"Wiggle your ears to get into the groove"
Have a wee Zombie Dance with The Cramps.
Panels for Crimefest are now up.
Alexander McCall Smith at the Oundle Literary Festival at the beginning of March, and in Buffalo, NY in April. Closer to home, Iain Banks is appearing in Edinburgh at the beginning of April. And Helen Fitzgerald is all over the place, the lucky minx. Sadly, I shall miss her Glasgow event by two days, and her Berlin event by two months. Luckily, I get to quiz her at Crimefest, along with Douglas Lindsay, Michael Malone and Damien Seaman. And Christopher Brookmyre, Stuart MacBride and Craig Robertson will be revealing their secrets in Aberdeen at the end of May. And Irvine Welsh will be appearing at Apple's Glasgow Buchanan Street store on Sunday to talk about ECSTACY. And here's the man himself as an extra in FILTH, which is currently filming in Edinburgh.
Lots of reviews today. Eurocrime reviews Craig Russell's THE DEEP DARK SLEEP, The Big Issue reviews Peter May's THE LEWIS MAN, Bestsellersworld on DEATH OF A KINGFISHER by M C Beaton, Norm at Crimescraps on Charles Cumming's THE TRINITY SIX, WildmooBooks reviews Val McDermid's REPORT FOR MURDER, Rikki's Teleidoscope reviews Alexander McCall Smith's THE COMFORTS OF A MUDDY SATURDAY.
The Indie Pedant looks forward to Irvine Welsh's SKAGBOYS.
Lovely Scottish publisher Blasted Heath buys a black comedy called THE VANITY GAME by H J Hampson. Excellent! I love black comedy and I love football. Result.
Popmatters reports that US crime overtakes British romance in British libraries. Luckily, Ian Rankin is holding up the side for the Brits.
Edinburgh's New Town to celebrate its literary history. And The Scotsman reports that Scottish arts would benefit from Scottish independence.
Jonny Lee Miller is to play Sherlock Holmes in a US TV version set in contemporary New York.
Denise Mina talks to Forbidden Planet about comics.
Finally, the Herald are looking for your help to come up with the rest of the list of the Top 100 Scottish novels. They already have 30 and there are plenty of familiar names in there.
Panels for Crimefest are now up.
Alexander McCall Smith at the Oundle Literary Festival at the beginning of March, and in Buffalo, NY in April. Closer to home, Iain Banks is appearing in Edinburgh at the beginning of April. And Helen Fitzgerald is all over the place, the lucky minx. Sadly, I shall miss her Glasgow event by two days, and her Berlin event by two months. Luckily, I get to quiz her at Crimefest, along with Douglas Lindsay, Michael Malone and Damien Seaman. And Christopher Brookmyre, Stuart MacBride and Craig Robertson will be revealing their secrets in Aberdeen at the end of May. And Irvine Welsh will be appearing at Apple's Glasgow Buchanan Street store on Sunday to talk about ECSTACY. And here's the man himself as an extra in FILTH, which is currently filming in Edinburgh.
Lots of reviews today. Eurocrime reviews Craig Russell's THE DEEP DARK SLEEP, The Big Issue reviews Peter May's THE LEWIS MAN, Bestsellersworld on DEATH OF A KINGFISHER by M C Beaton, Norm at Crimescraps on Charles Cumming's THE TRINITY SIX, WildmooBooks reviews Val McDermid's REPORT FOR MURDER, Rikki's Teleidoscope reviews Alexander McCall Smith's THE COMFORTS OF A MUDDY SATURDAY.
The Indie Pedant looks forward to Irvine Welsh's SKAGBOYS.
Lovely Scottish publisher Blasted Heath buys a black comedy called THE VANITY GAME by H J Hampson. Excellent! I love black comedy and I love football. Result.
Popmatters reports that US crime overtakes British romance in British libraries. Luckily, Ian Rankin is holding up the side for the Brits.
Edinburgh's New Town to celebrate its literary history. And The Scotsman reports that Scottish arts would benefit from Scottish independence.
Jonny Lee Miller is to play Sherlock Holmes in a US TV version set in contemporary New York.
Denise Mina talks to Forbidden Planet about comics.
Finally, the Herald are looking for your help to come up with the rest of the list of the Top 100 Scottish novels. They already have 30 and there are plenty of familiar names in there.
Sunday, 29 January 2012
Kill The Poor
I thought this track from The Dead Kennedys was apt, since I believe it is Her Maj's favourite punk song. I appear to have been invited to a Royal Garden Party. Thinking fast, I said I would only go if my Mum wanted to go. Since, apparently "Scotland's too far to come and visit you now I'm 80, our Donna", I thought I would be safe. How wrong I was. Apparently, Scotland is now a mere sparrow's fart away. Her only worry is that she now has to find a fascinator. And now I, too, am left with the terrible dilemma of finding a fascinator that matches my Docs.
My Mum now has the other residents of the retirement community curtseying to her when they meet in the hallways. And then there's my poor Dad...I said to Mum that she needed photographic ID to get into the Palace, and no, that her pension book wasn't enough. "What about your passport?" I said.
"I think my passport's out of date since my ankles are too big to fly, these days," (don't ask).
I heard my Dad in the background "My passport's in the kitchen drawer."
"We don't care about your passport, Patrick," came the scathing response. "Who is it that's going to the Royal Garden Party?" Silence. "Who, Patrick, who?"
"You, dear."
"That's right. So, what don't we care about?"
"My passport, dear."
"Exactly."
I have created a monster. A monster who is now on the hunt for a fascinator.
Irvine Welsh's ECSTASY is screened in London on February 9th.
A review of Val McDermid's THE RETRIBUTION.
Ian Rankin's THE IMPOSSIBLE DEAD on ABC Radio National. And Mr Rankin himself on his best story ever.
Gordon Ferris' THE HANGING SHED has, apparently, sold 150,000 e-copies.
Alexander McCall Smith to appear at Scotland's most remote literary festival.
An interview with Michael Malone.
A set of first editions by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is discovered in a charity shop.
Denise Mina wonders if sentiment is the new taboo.
For my latest blog post over at Blasted Heath, the talented Smudge doctors a poster for Nightmare Alley to make me look almost attractive. Well, from the neck down, anyway.
Tomorrow, it's the last proper day of lectures on my course before I start on my placement, and then I'm off to Allan Guthrie's event at Strathclyde University before going out to dinner with lovely pals Tony Black, Michael Malone and Kieran G. I'm planning to get them drunk so they will tell me all their secrets. I will, of course, share those secrets with you, dear Reader.
My Mum now has the other residents of the retirement community curtseying to her when they meet in the hallways. And then there's my poor Dad...I said to Mum that she needed photographic ID to get into the Palace, and no, that her pension book wasn't enough. "What about your passport?" I said.
"I think my passport's out of date since my ankles are too big to fly, these days," (don't ask).
I heard my Dad in the background "My passport's in the kitchen drawer."
"We don't care about your passport, Patrick," came the scathing response. "Who is it that's going to the Royal Garden Party?" Silence. "Who, Patrick, who?"
"You, dear."
"That's right. So, what don't we care about?"
"My passport, dear."
"Exactly."
I have created a monster. A monster who is now on the hunt for a fascinator.
Irvine Welsh's ECSTASY is screened in London on February 9th.
A review of Val McDermid's THE RETRIBUTION.
Ian Rankin's THE IMPOSSIBLE DEAD on ABC Radio National. And Mr Rankin himself on his best story ever.
Gordon Ferris' THE HANGING SHED has, apparently, sold 150,000 e-copies.
Alexander McCall Smith to appear at Scotland's most remote literary festival.
An interview with Michael Malone.
A set of first editions by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is discovered in a charity shop.
Denise Mina wonders if sentiment is the new taboo.
For my latest blog post over at Blasted Heath, the talented Smudge doctors a poster for Nightmare Alley to make me look almost attractive. Well, from the neck down, anyway.
Tomorrow, it's the last proper day of lectures on my course before I start on my placement, and then I'm off to Allan Guthrie's event at Strathclyde University before going out to dinner with lovely pals Tony Black, Michael Malone and Kieran G. I'm planning to get them drunk so they will tell me all their secrets. I will, of course, share those secrets with you, dear Reader.
Friday, 27 January 2012
Wilder, Wilder. Faster, Faster.
A lesser known Cramps song today. Incidentally, I teach a creative writing class and this week I did an exercise using songs. I started them off with some Flaming Stars (to lull them into a false sense of security) moved through Killing Joke, Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds, and The Clash and finished up with this one from The Cramps. I think they were a bit puzzled by The Cramps. It was great fun.
Len Wanner, author of an excellent book of interviews with Scottish crime fiction authors, will be interviewing Tony Black in person on Saturday 4th February in Dalkeith. Also on 4th February, Stuart MacBride will be at the University of Dundee. And you can go to the screening of Irvine Welsh's ECSTASY and the after-party on February 18th, if you are so inclined.
And a reminder of an event on Monday - Allan Guthrie at the University of Strathclyde. See you there if you're going.
Those lovely chaps at Blasted Heath would like to serve you some #broth.
Crime Fiction Lover on comedy and crime, and recommends Chris Ewan.
Helen Fitzgerald's yummy new book cover.
Nigel Bird is featured in the East Lothian Courier.
Val McDermid on method and madness.
Douglas Lindsay does not want to be an astronaut. Which is a relief, really.
A crime writing MA? I'd sign up, if only to be taught by the rather excellent Martyn Waites.
Finally, a man plans a murder, with the intention of pinning it on the cat.
Len Wanner, author of an excellent book of interviews with Scottish crime fiction authors, will be interviewing Tony Black in person on Saturday 4th February in Dalkeith. Also on 4th February, Stuart MacBride will be at the University of Dundee. And you can go to the screening of Irvine Welsh's ECSTASY and the after-party on February 18th, if you are so inclined.
And a reminder of an event on Monday - Allan Guthrie at the University of Strathclyde. See you there if you're going.
Those lovely chaps at Blasted Heath would like to serve you some #broth.
Crime Fiction Lover on comedy and crime, and recommends Chris Ewan.
Helen Fitzgerald's yummy new book cover.
Nigel Bird is featured in the East Lothian Courier.
Val McDermid on method and madness.
Douglas Lindsay does not want to be an astronaut. Which is a relief, really.
A crime writing MA? I'd sign up, if only to be taught by the rather excellent Martyn Waites.
Finally, a man plans a murder, with the intention of pinning it on the cat.
Tuesday, 24 January 2012
"People Ain't No Good"
Your Cramps title for today.
Soon, I will get back to blogging more than once a week. Soon...
This weekend, we watched Vietnamese film Three Seasons. It tells the stories of several characters - a girl whose job is to pick lotus flower and her relationship with her hermit employer, a cyclo driver and his infatuation with a prostitute, an American GI who is looking for someone, and a little boy who is a street peddlar. It's quite a slight film in many ways, but it's beautifully filmed and really interesting from the point of view of seeing a strange location.
The programme for the Aye Write! festival is now available and here are the crime fiction related events.
Friday 9th March
11am - 12.30pm or 4.30pm - 6pm - Helen Fitzgerald and Sergio Casci - Making the Pitch and Not Striking Out: From Pitch to Published (Creative Writing).
1pm - 2pm - Helen Fitzgerald and Sergio Casci - Book to Film and Film to Book: Adaptations (Creative Writing).
4.30pm - 5.30pm - Christopher Brookmyre - The Making of a Bestseller (Creative Writing)
6pm - 7pm - William McIlvanney.
Saturday 10th March
3.30pm - 4.30pm - Alex Gray and Ian Rankin: New Scottish Crime
8pm - 9.30pm - Panel Debate: Scotland's books - includes William McIlvanney
Sunday 11th March
3.30pm - 5pm - Panel Debate: What's Wrong With Women's Writing? - includes Karen Campbell.
Monday 12th March
7.30pm - 8.30pm - Alexander McCall Smith
Friday 16th March
9.30pm - 10.30pm - Mark Billingham and Christopher Brookmyre are Indiscreet
Saturday 17th March
2pm - 3pm - Gillain Galbraith and Karen Campbell - Ethics
3.30pm - 4.30pm - Lin Anderson and Caro Ramsay - Forensics
I think that's it - apologies if I've missed any!
And, in other news, K T McCaffery reviews Ian Rankin's THE IMPOSSIBLE DEAD, and the Sun Sentinel reviews Val McDermid's THE RETRIBUTION.
Irvine Welsh on his various projects, Jame McAvoy in FILTH, and a not particularly positive review of the ECSTASY film.
An interview with Philip Kerr.
Helen Fitzgerald blesses our libraries. And me too. My PLR is nowhere near as large as Helen's, but it took Ewan and I out for dinner at one of my favourite places, where I have discovered the joys of Hacienda de Chihuahua Crema de Sotol. Best of all though, is the thought that all those people were interested enough to borrow OLD DOGS. Thank you library users. That's the best thrill for me.
Finally, a final plea for any donations of books, or anything else for the helpline charity I volunteer for. All donations gratefully received for the charity raffle coming up. Thanks to everyone who has given stuff so far - I could hug you all. x
Soon, I will get back to blogging more than once a week. Soon...
This weekend, we watched Vietnamese film Three Seasons. It tells the stories of several characters - a girl whose job is to pick lotus flower and her relationship with her hermit employer, a cyclo driver and his infatuation with a prostitute, an American GI who is looking for someone, and a little boy who is a street peddlar. It's quite a slight film in many ways, but it's beautifully filmed and really interesting from the point of view of seeing a strange location.
The programme for the Aye Write! festival is now available and here are the crime fiction related events.
Friday 9th March
11am - 12.30pm or 4.30pm - 6pm - Helen Fitzgerald and Sergio Casci - Making the Pitch and Not Striking Out: From Pitch to Published (Creative Writing).
1pm - 2pm - Helen Fitzgerald and Sergio Casci - Book to Film and Film to Book: Adaptations (Creative Writing).
4.30pm - 5.30pm - Christopher Brookmyre - The Making of a Bestseller (Creative Writing)
6pm - 7pm - William McIlvanney.
Saturday 10th March
3.30pm - 4.30pm - Alex Gray and Ian Rankin: New Scottish Crime
8pm - 9.30pm - Panel Debate: Scotland's books - includes William McIlvanney
Sunday 11th March
3.30pm - 5pm - Panel Debate: What's Wrong With Women's Writing? - includes Karen Campbell.
Monday 12th March
7.30pm - 8.30pm - Alexander McCall Smith
Friday 16th March
9.30pm - 10.30pm - Mark Billingham and Christopher Brookmyre are Indiscreet
Saturday 17th March
2pm - 3pm - Gillain Galbraith and Karen Campbell - Ethics
3.30pm - 4.30pm - Lin Anderson and Caro Ramsay - Forensics
I think that's it - apologies if I've missed any!
And, in other news, K T McCaffery reviews Ian Rankin's THE IMPOSSIBLE DEAD, and the Sun Sentinel reviews Val McDermid's THE RETRIBUTION.
Irvine Welsh on his various projects, Jame McAvoy in FILTH, and a not particularly positive review of the ECSTASY film.
An interview with Philip Kerr.
Helen Fitzgerald blesses our libraries. And me too. My PLR is nowhere near as large as Helen's, but it took Ewan and I out for dinner at one of my favourite places, where I have discovered the joys of Hacienda de Chihuahua Crema de Sotol. Best of all though, is the thought that all those people were interested enough to borrow OLD DOGS. Thank you library users. That's the best thrill for me.
Finally, a final plea for any donations of books, or anything else for the helpline charity I volunteer for. All donations gratefully received for the charity raffle coming up. Thanks to everyone who has given stuff so far - I could hug you all. x
Tuesday, 17 January 2012
New Kind of Kick
Back to The Cramps again today.
This weekend's cinematic viewing list consisted of two very different films. First of all the Korean film THE MAN FROM NOWHERE - a very dark film about drugs, child slavery and heartless criminal gangs, with lots of violence and gore flying about. But there was also a little girl who gave the film a wee bit of heart and humour. I enjoyed it even though I spent several scenes covering my eyes. The second film was Iranian film A SEPARATION - a film about relationships of all sorts in which what you don't see is just as important as what you do. An emotionally powerful film that I absolutely loved.
Ian Rankin takes Alan Yentob to the Oxford Bar and calls for tax incentives to help new authors. And this weekend Ian will be at the Brighton and Hove Albion First Fiction Book Festival.
A review of Kate Atkinson's STARTED EARLY, TOOK MY DOG, Norm at Crime Scraps loves Aly Monroe's ICELIGHT, The Morning Star recommends Stuart MacBride's SHATTER THE BONES, and Lambda Literary reviews Val McDermid's TRICK OF THE DARK.
Christopher Brookmyre and Louise Welsh at the Margins Book and Music Festival on February 24th. And Allan Guthrie at the University of Strathclyde on January 30th (see you there if you're going along).
Den of Geek (what a great name) with the top 10 portrayals of Sherlock Holmes. I thought the third episode of the new series was totally brilliant. I have no idea how the ending happened (she says vaguely) but I loved it. And the series has boosted sales of the original Holmes books. Excellent.
Margot Kinberg puts the spotlight on Denise Mina's GARNETHILL.
The film of Irvine Welsh's ECSTASY gets its premiere in February.
Finally, a break in my university essay schedule and I am able to read proper books again - lovely, lovely crime fiction books. I've missed you so. I have just started Donald Ray Pollock's THE DEVIL ALL THE TIME, which is shaping up brilliantly so far. This will be followed by THE ADJUSTMENT by the brilliant Scott Phillips and some lesbian pulp from the wonderful Christa Faust with BUTCH FATALE; DYKE DICK — DOUBLE-D DOUBLE CROSS. Life is good.
This weekend's cinematic viewing list consisted of two very different films. First of all the Korean film THE MAN FROM NOWHERE - a very dark film about drugs, child slavery and heartless criminal gangs, with lots of violence and gore flying about. But there was also a little girl who gave the film a wee bit of heart and humour. I enjoyed it even though I spent several scenes covering my eyes. The second film was Iranian film A SEPARATION - a film about relationships of all sorts in which what you don't see is just as important as what you do. An emotionally powerful film that I absolutely loved.
Ian Rankin takes Alan Yentob to the Oxford Bar and calls for tax incentives to help new authors. And this weekend Ian will be at the Brighton and Hove Albion First Fiction Book Festival.
A review of Kate Atkinson's STARTED EARLY, TOOK MY DOG, Norm at Crime Scraps loves Aly Monroe's ICELIGHT, The Morning Star recommends Stuart MacBride's SHATTER THE BONES, and Lambda Literary reviews Val McDermid's TRICK OF THE DARK.
Christopher Brookmyre and Louise Welsh at the Margins Book and Music Festival on February 24th. And Allan Guthrie at the University of Strathclyde on January 30th (see you there if you're going along).
Den of Geek (what a great name) with the top 10 portrayals of Sherlock Holmes. I thought the third episode of the new series was totally brilliant. I have no idea how the ending happened (she says vaguely) but I loved it. And the series has boosted sales of the original Holmes books. Excellent.
Margot Kinberg puts the spotlight on Denise Mina's GARNETHILL.
The film of Irvine Welsh's ECSTASY gets its premiere in February.
Finally, a break in my university essay schedule and I am able to read proper books again - lovely, lovely crime fiction books. I've missed you so. I have just started Donald Ray Pollock's THE DEVIL ALL THE TIME, which is shaping up brilliantly so far. This will be followed by THE ADJUSTMENT by the brilliant Scott Phillips and some lesbian pulp from the wonderful Christa Faust with BUTCH FATALE; DYKE DICK — DOUBLE-D DOUBLE CROSS. Life is good.
Wednesday, 28 December 2011
The Bats Have Left The Bell Tower
Alexander McCall Smith on the etiquette of regifting. Of course, there is another alternative. I volunteer for a UK telephone helpline charity and if you got any unwanted gifts, or you have any books - signed or otherwise - that are looking for a good home, I'm helping to organise the annual conference in February, and those would make smashing raffle prizes, so please feel free to re-gift them my way and I will love you forever :o)
And now, we need to talk about Kevin... I haven't read any fiction since I started my Masters Degree in September but, coming back from my Mum and Dad's in the wilds of Mordor after Christmas, I fired up my Kindle and got stuck into K J Wignall (aka Lord Kevin of Wignall)'s BLOOD. It's not crime fiction (although there are crimes in it). It's Young Adult vampire fiction. No - definitely not my usual fare, but Kevin Wignall is one of my favourite writers (who deserves to be far better known than he is) so, since it's been far too long since he had some crime fiction out in English (come on publishers, am I really going to have to learn Finnish to read DARK FLAG? Sinun täytyy olla pilaa (that might be Finnish for 'you've got to be kidding'. Since I got it from an internet translation thingy, it is equally likely to mean 'I've just eaten your grandma's bullfrog')).
Anyway, back to vampires. My last (and probably only) enjoyable encounter with a vampire was with the brilliant Bela Lugosi's Dead by the equally brilliant Bauhaus. My least enjoyable encounter was with that self same Bela Lugosi's 1931 Dracula. I was 13 and babysitting for the Bysouths, who lived down the road. It was nearing midnight and I foolishly turned the TV over, only to discover Bela Lugosi saying "I bid you welcome." I was petrified. I had to phone my mum to get her to come and finish babysitting with me. She was not happy. When she arrived, I didn't
know whether to be more scared of her, or the creak of Dracula's coffin opening.
So...BLOOD. It's bloody brilliant. I'll do a proper review in January, but just in case you're looking for something a bit different, I thought I'd mention it as I absolutely loved it. It was totally captivating. Not your stereotypical vampire story - far from it, in fact. Great characters (I felt very sad for Will - the main character, who's been 16 for the last 750 years. There are also some wonderful wee snippets about how he got to where he is today, and the plot was deliciously twisty and turny. And it was as creepy as hell.
And now, on to Scottish crime fiction.
Our Michael Malone picks his top crime reads of 2011, including Tony Black's excellent TRUTH LIES BLEEDING. And the lovely Julie Morrigan interviews Tony (and look at that lovely snippet of news about a Blasted Heath publication).
Oooooh, doesn't the cover for Russel McLean's next book, FATHER CONFESSOR, look good?
Sherlock Holmes under investigation.
McDroll at I Meant To Read That loved Ray Banks' DEAD MONEY.
The Spectator reviews the Alexander McCall Smith writing machine.
James McAvoy talks about Irvine Welsh's FILTH.
Here's my latest Blasted Blog column at Blasted Heath.
This will probably be my last blog post until 2nd or 3rd of January as I will be partying Hogmanay away in the Lake District, so thanks everyone for being so supportive, and I hope that next year will be a brilliant year for all of you. And here's hoping that I get to hug at least some of you in 2012.
And now, we need to talk about Kevin... I haven't read any fiction since I started my Masters Degree in September but, coming back from my Mum and Dad's in the wilds of Mordor after Christmas, I fired up my Kindle and got stuck into K J Wignall (aka Lord Kevin of Wignall)'s BLOOD. It's not crime fiction (although there are crimes in it). It's Young Adult vampire fiction. No - definitely not my usual fare, but Kevin Wignall is one of my favourite writers (who deserves to be far better known than he is) so, since it's been far too long since he had some crime fiction out in English (come on publishers, am I really going to have to learn Finnish to read DARK FLAG? Sinun täytyy olla pilaa (that might be Finnish for 'you've got to be kidding'. Since I got it from an internet translation thingy, it is equally likely to mean 'I've just eaten your grandma's bullfrog')).
Anyway, back to vampires. My last (and probably only) enjoyable encounter with a vampire was with the brilliant Bela Lugosi's Dead by the equally brilliant Bauhaus. My least enjoyable encounter was with that self same Bela Lugosi's 1931 Dracula. I was 13 and babysitting for the Bysouths, who lived down the road. It was nearing midnight and I foolishly turned the TV over, only to discover Bela Lugosi saying "I bid you welcome." I was petrified. I had to phone my mum to get her to come and finish babysitting with me. She was not happy. When she arrived, I didn't
know whether to be more scared of her, or the creak of Dracula's coffin opening.
So...BLOOD. It's bloody brilliant. I'll do a proper review in January, but just in case you're looking for something a bit different, I thought I'd mention it as I absolutely loved it. It was totally captivating. Not your stereotypical vampire story - far from it, in fact. Great characters (I felt very sad for Will - the main character, who's been 16 for the last 750 years. There are also some wonderful wee snippets about how he got to where he is today, and the plot was deliciously twisty and turny. And it was as creepy as hell.
And now, on to Scottish crime fiction.
Our Michael Malone picks his top crime reads of 2011, including Tony Black's excellent TRUTH LIES BLEEDING. And the lovely Julie Morrigan interviews Tony (and look at that lovely snippet of news about a Blasted Heath publication).
Oooooh, doesn't the cover for Russel McLean's next book, FATHER CONFESSOR, look good?
Sherlock Holmes under investigation.
McDroll at I Meant To Read That loved Ray Banks' DEAD MONEY.
The Spectator reviews the Alexander McCall Smith writing machine.
James McAvoy talks about Irvine Welsh's FILTH.
Here's my latest Blasted Blog column at Blasted Heath.
This will probably be my last blog post until 2nd or 3rd of January as I will be partying Hogmanay away in the Lake District, so thanks everyone for being so supportive, and I hope that next year will be a brilliant year for all of you. And here's hoping that I get to hug at least some of you in 2012.
Thursday, 15 December 2011
Queen of Pain
The Cramps again, of course.
I am now down at my parents to be spoiled over Christmas and it reminded me of a trip a few years ago. It's not just buses, you see. Public Transport and I have one of those love/hate relationships. I hate it, and it loves making my life a misery. Whenever I step on a train, or a plane, or a bus, or into a taxi, I take a deep breath and pray to everyone I can think of that I'm going to be sane at the end of the journey.
A couple of years ago I spent Christmas, as usual, in the soft and comfortable bosom of my family near Peterborough. After a wonderful time, we set off home. Now, I should state here that on Christmas Day I got the flu and I was feeling pretty ill. So I wasn't really looking forward to travelling anyway, but it was made all the worse by the fact that British Rail, in their infinite wisdom, had ripped up the railway tracks between York and Darlington, at the busiest time of year, so part of our train journey was done by bus.
Our seats were booked for the first part of the journey in Coach F. When the train arrived at Peterborough, we walked along past all the carriages - A, B, C, D, E, G, H. No F. So we walked back, just in case a tipsy carriage assembler had put coach F somewhere else. Still no Effing F. I spied a guard, a way up the platform, so, battling through the thronging hordes, and slamming myself into a pillar in the process (I didn't get transported to Platform 9 3/4 so I guess I won't be off to Hogwarts this term), I ascertained that Coach F was now Coach C through the miracles of Alphabet Soup so we managed to get a seat just before the train left.
At York, we all trooped out of the train, through a muddy bog that the station staff euphemistically referred to as 'car park' and onto buses. By this point we were already running 15 minutes late. Not to worry, said the guard on the train, the train would be waiting for us at Darlington. Absolutely. It definitely wouldn't be going anywhere until we arrived, we had his assurances on that.
So we all piled onto the bus. The bus was one of those posh ones, where you go down a little flight of stairs to the loo. Good, since by this time I was desperate to go to the loo. I walked up the bus and descended the stairs, only to hear the booming voice of the driver over the bus's tannoy "Could someone tell that woman that the toilet isn't working". About 17 people called down the stairs "Oy, you, the woman with the red face, the toilet isn't working."
We arrived at Darlington 40 minutes late to catch our connecting train (you remember, the one that on no account, absolutely definitely posilutely would not have left without us?), only to find that it had left without us, and the next one wasn't for another hour or so. Since we'd missed the train we had seats booked for, we didn't have seats booked for this one but there would be a whole load of people who would have had seats reserved. You could tell who they were - amongst the hordes of people on the platform they were the ones with really smug looks, the 4 bus loads of people who'd all arrived too late for our train just looked increasingly desperate, and were eyeing up those less fit than themselves, to determine their best chances of elbowing people out of the way to get a seat. By this time, I felt really, really awful, and promised the train guard (a different one from the lying sadist at York station) that I would vomit all over his shoes if he couldn't promise me a seat. He leaned over and whispered "I'll give you a tip since you're not well - Coach C has all the unbooked seats on it."
"My saviour. Thank you, thank you." I kissed his hands, sobbed into his British Rail jacket and promised him my uneaten British Rail sandwich (uneaten for very good reason I might add).
The train arrived. We sped down the platform past coaches H, G, F, E, D, B, A... D, B, A???? Had anyone reported this wholesale theft of railway carriages? Was someone, somewhere, setting up home in two cozy GNER carriages called F and C on a disused stretch of line somewhere between York and Darlington?
So, we grabbed seats in Coach D. I'm afraid I may have made rather a fool of myself as I clung to it sobbing "You'll never get me off this seat, never. Just leave me to die here. I've never harmed anyone." Anyway, it seemed to do the trick, no-one asked me to move for the whole journey. Not even the nice man in the white coat carrying the large butterfly net who hovered by my seat for the rest of the journey.
Now, enough of the nonsense. Scottish crime fiction news coming up.
Luca Veste over at Guilty Conscience talks about his top 5 books of 2011. Not only does he include Ray Banks' DEAD MONEY and Helen Fitzgerald's THE DONOR, but his number 1 is also one of my own favourite books of the year - the amazing BLACK FLOWERS by Steve Mosby. Luca obviously has excellent taste, I shall have to read the other two in his top 5 - Nick Quantrill's BROKEN DREAMS, and Neil White's COLD KILL.
More Ray, as The All Purpose Monkey muses over DEAD MONEY. And Ed Kurtz - another man with exceedingly good taste - picks it as one of his top books of 2011.
Doug Johnstone's busy year.
Conan Doyle's Moriarty on the big screen. And a review of A GAME OF SHADOWS.
Metaliterature reviews Philip Kerr's THE ONE FROM THE OTHER, Savidge Reads reviews M C Beaton's AGATHA RAISIN AND THE LOVE FROM HELL, and Crime Fiction Lover reviews Alex Gray's SLEEP LIKE THE DEAD.
Ian Rankin talks about which literary character he'd like to sleep with and other topics.
More on the Denise Mina comic book adaptation of the Stieg Larsson books. And more on the Unbound 26 Treasures project which Alexander McCall Smith is part of.
Irvine Welsh to write Britpop musical.
The Scotsman talks about their books of the year and note that Denise Mina and Ian Rankin show the "range of what the crime genre can do".
I am now down at my parents to be spoiled over Christmas and it reminded me of a trip a few years ago. It's not just buses, you see. Public Transport and I have one of those love/hate relationships. I hate it, and it loves making my life a misery. Whenever I step on a train, or a plane, or a bus, or into a taxi, I take a deep breath and pray to everyone I can think of that I'm going to be sane at the end of the journey.
A couple of years ago I spent Christmas, as usual, in the soft and comfortable bosom of my family near Peterborough. After a wonderful time, we set off home. Now, I should state here that on Christmas Day I got the flu and I was feeling pretty ill. So I wasn't really looking forward to travelling anyway, but it was made all the worse by the fact that British Rail, in their infinite wisdom, had ripped up the railway tracks between York and Darlington, at the busiest time of year, so part of our train journey was done by bus.
Our seats were booked for the first part of the journey in Coach F. When the train arrived at Peterborough, we walked along past all the carriages - A, B, C, D, E, G, H. No F. So we walked back, just in case a tipsy carriage assembler had put coach F somewhere else. Still no Effing F. I spied a guard, a way up the platform, so, battling through the thronging hordes, and slamming myself into a pillar in the process (I didn't get transported to Platform 9 3/4 so I guess I won't be off to Hogwarts this term), I ascertained that Coach F was now Coach C through the miracles of Alphabet Soup so we managed to get a seat just before the train left.
At York, we all trooped out of the train, through a muddy bog that the station staff euphemistically referred to as 'car park' and onto buses. By this point we were already running 15 minutes late. Not to worry, said the guard on the train, the train would be waiting for us at Darlington. Absolutely. It definitely wouldn't be going anywhere until we arrived, we had his assurances on that.
So we all piled onto the bus. The bus was one of those posh ones, where you go down a little flight of stairs to the loo. Good, since by this time I was desperate to go to the loo. I walked up the bus and descended the stairs, only to hear the booming voice of the driver over the bus's tannoy "Could someone tell that woman that the toilet isn't working". About 17 people called down the stairs "Oy, you, the woman with the red face, the toilet isn't working."
We arrived at Darlington 40 minutes late to catch our connecting train (you remember, the one that on no account, absolutely definitely posilutely would not have left without us?), only to find that it had left without us, and the next one wasn't for another hour or so. Since we'd missed the train we had seats booked for, we didn't have seats booked for this one but there would be a whole load of people who would have had seats reserved. You could tell who they were - amongst the hordes of people on the platform they were the ones with really smug looks, the 4 bus loads of people who'd all arrived too late for our train just looked increasingly desperate, and were eyeing up those less fit than themselves, to determine their best chances of elbowing people out of the way to get a seat. By this time, I felt really, really awful, and promised the train guard (a different one from the lying sadist at York station) that I would vomit all over his shoes if he couldn't promise me a seat. He leaned over and whispered "I'll give you a tip since you're not well - Coach C has all the unbooked seats on it."
"My saviour. Thank you, thank you." I kissed his hands, sobbed into his British Rail jacket and promised him my uneaten British Rail sandwich (uneaten for very good reason I might add).
The train arrived. We sped down the platform past coaches H, G, F, E, D, B, A... D, B, A???? Had anyone reported this wholesale theft of railway carriages? Was someone, somewhere, setting up home in two cozy GNER carriages called F and C on a disused stretch of line somewhere between York and Darlington?
So, we grabbed seats in Coach D. I'm afraid I may have made rather a fool of myself as I clung to it sobbing "You'll never get me off this seat, never. Just leave me to die here. I've never harmed anyone." Anyway, it seemed to do the trick, no-one asked me to move for the whole journey. Not even the nice man in the white coat carrying the large butterfly net who hovered by my seat for the rest of the journey.
Now, enough of the nonsense. Scottish crime fiction news coming up.
Luca Veste over at Guilty Conscience talks about his top 5 books of 2011. Not only does he include Ray Banks' DEAD MONEY and Helen Fitzgerald's THE DONOR, but his number 1 is also one of my own favourite books of the year - the amazing BLACK FLOWERS by Steve Mosby. Luca obviously has excellent taste, I shall have to read the other two in his top 5 - Nick Quantrill's BROKEN DREAMS, and Neil White's COLD KILL.
More Ray, as The All Purpose Monkey muses over DEAD MONEY. And Ed Kurtz - another man with exceedingly good taste - picks it as one of his top books of 2011.
Doug Johnstone's busy year.
Conan Doyle's Moriarty on the big screen. And a review of A GAME OF SHADOWS.
Metaliterature reviews Philip Kerr's THE ONE FROM THE OTHER, Savidge Reads reviews M C Beaton's AGATHA RAISIN AND THE LOVE FROM HELL, and Crime Fiction Lover reviews Alex Gray's SLEEP LIKE THE DEAD.
Ian Rankin talks about which literary character he'd like to sleep with and other topics.
More on the Denise Mina comic book adaptation of the Stieg Larsson books. And more on the Unbound 26 Treasures project which Alexander McCall Smith is part of.
Irvine Welsh to write Britpop musical.
The Scotsman talks about their books of the year and note that Denise Mina and Ian Rankin show the "range of what the crime genre can do".
Friday, 11 November 2011
Don't Get Funny With Me
Another Cramps-inspired title today.
Not only do we have Douglas Lindsay goodness over at his regular blog, but he's also going to be blogging weekly at Blasted Heath, and this week's is a cracker.
Alan Cranis reviews Ray Banks' BEAST OF BURDEN at Bookgasm. And Eurocrime reviews Lin Anderson's THE REBORN.
Jamie Bell talks about Irvine Welsh's FILTH.
The New Statesman on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
More on the Reading Festival of Crime which includes Stuart MacBride, Quintin Jardine, Denise Mina and M C Beaton.
An interesting post from Aly Monroe on history, film and books.
Have a lovely weekend, dear Reader. Tomorrow, Ewan is doing musical stuff so I am going to do some Crimefest programming . All author slots are now full (although you can sign up for the waiting list for panels). The website hasn't been totally updated with attendees and there are a couple of exciting names to be added. If you're coming and you have any panel topic suggestions, or special requests, please let me know and I will try and accommodate you.
Not only do we have Douglas Lindsay goodness over at his regular blog, but he's also going to be blogging weekly at Blasted Heath, and this week's is a cracker.
Alan Cranis reviews Ray Banks' BEAST OF BURDEN at Bookgasm. And Eurocrime reviews Lin Anderson's THE REBORN.
Jamie Bell talks about Irvine Welsh's FILTH.
The New Statesman on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
More on the Reading Festival of Crime which includes Stuart MacBride, Quintin Jardine, Denise Mina and M C Beaton.
An interesting post from Aly Monroe on history, film and books.
Have a lovely weekend, dear Reader. Tomorrow, Ewan is doing musical stuff so I am going to do some Crimefest programming . All author slots are now full (although you can sign up for the waiting list for panels). The website hasn't been totally updated with attendees and there are a couple of exciting names to be added. If you're coming and you have any panel topic suggestions, or special requests, please let me know and I will try and accommodate you.
Thursday, 20 October 2011
I got a garbage brain, It's driving me insane...
Post title courtesy of The Cramps' Human Fly (which also happens to be the only thing I can play on the guitar).
Catch Russel McLean at Dundee University on October 28th, talking about Scottish crime fiction. And Alexander McCall Smith is in Norfolk on October 24th and in Bridport on 20th November. Russel is free, Alexander McCall Smith will set you back £15 and £12 respectively. It's official - Russel is chea..errr...very good value.
And there's lots of Scottish crime at the Reading Festival with Denise Mina, Stuart MacBride, M C Beaton and Quintin Jardine. Denise and Stuart will also be appearing at the Toronto International Festival of Authors, along with Ian Rankin. And the Vancouver Sun asks Denise Mina some questions.
How Ian Rankin infiltrated police college. And he tells the National Post that he's a frustrated musician and how he's awaiting the volleys for THE IMPOSSIBLE DEAD. And here he is, talking about Cromarty. I wonder whether he ever gets fed up of people asking him about anything and everything...maybe I should ask him.
Denise Mina's FIELD OF BLOOD actors up for Scottish BAFTAs. And, in other awards news, congratulations to Gordon Ferris whose THE HANGING SHED is up for the CWA's Ellis Peters Historical Award. And he's not Scottish, but huge congratulations to Declan Burke for his nomination for the Irish Book Awards.
Kate Atkinson on Jason Isaacs as Jackson Brodie. And a review of the show.
Conan Doyle's lost first novel is to be the highlight of the Portsmouth Literary Festival.
Peter May on his French award.
Irvine Welsh gets cut from his own film.
And now I am off for the best part of the week - a virtual creative writing class via Skype with a class of 4th and 5th graders in Alaska. The next best thing to being there. Today I'm giving them feedback on some brilliant and hilarious Halloween stories they've written.
Catch Russel McLean at Dundee University on October 28th, talking about Scottish crime fiction. And Alexander McCall Smith is in Norfolk on October 24th and in Bridport on 20th November. Russel is free, Alexander McCall Smith will set you back £15 and £12 respectively. It's official - Russel is chea..errr...very good value.
And there's lots of Scottish crime at the Reading Festival with Denise Mina, Stuart MacBride, M C Beaton and Quintin Jardine. Denise and Stuart will also be appearing at the Toronto International Festival of Authors, along with Ian Rankin. And the Vancouver Sun asks Denise Mina some questions.
How Ian Rankin infiltrated police college. And he tells the National Post that he's a frustrated musician and how he's awaiting the volleys for THE IMPOSSIBLE DEAD. And here he is, talking about Cromarty. I wonder whether he ever gets fed up of people asking him about anything and everything...maybe I should ask him.
Denise Mina's FIELD OF BLOOD actors up for Scottish BAFTAs. And, in other awards news, congratulations to Gordon Ferris whose THE HANGING SHED is up for the CWA's Ellis Peters Historical Award. And he's not Scottish, but huge congratulations to Declan Burke for his nomination for the Irish Book Awards.
Kate Atkinson on Jason Isaacs as Jackson Brodie. And a review of the show.
Conan Doyle's lost first novel is to be the highlight of the Portsmouth Literary Festival.
Peter May on his French award.
Irvine Welsh gets cut from his own film.
And now I am off for the best part of the week - a virtual creative writing class via Skype with a class of 4th and 5th graders in Alaska. The next best thing to being there. Today I'm giving them feedback on some brilliant and hilarious Halloween stories they've written.
Thursday, 13 October 2011
A Fiction Feast
Val McDermid will be appearing in Lichfield today and at the Durham Book Festival next week (and I love the idea of the Book Doctor). In other Val news, EuroCrime reviews THE RETRIBUTION.
10 of the best films set in Edinburgh. They missed out one of my favourites - Crying With Laughter. Talking about Edinburgh films - the truth behind Trainspotting.
Les Edgerton says that he can't do Ray Banks' BEAST OF BURDEN justice, and then proceeds to do just that. Nice.
David Tennant is set to play Robert Louis Stevenson in a BBC Radio drama.
More on the NO REST FOR THE DEAD anthology.
A report from the Portobello Book Festival on a writing workshop featuring Allan Guthrie.
Ian Rankin's Edinburgh Playlist. Some good stuff there. Talking of Ian, here he is on The Wright Stuff, where he refuses to eat a rotten egg. Probably the most sensible thing he's ever done.
Finally, here's more on the exciting Blasted Heath news. Doesn't that Blasted Box look delicious?
10 of the best films set in Edinburgh. They missed out one of my favourites - Crying With Laughter. Talking about Edinburgh films - the truth behind Trainspotting.
Les Edgerton says that he can't do Ray Banks' BEAST OF BURDEN justice, and then proceeds to do just that. Nice.
David Tennant is set to play Robert Louis Stevenson in a BBC Radio drama.
More on the NO REST FOR THE DEAD anthology.
A report from the Portobello Book Festival on a writing workshop featuring Allan Guthrie.
Ian Rankin's Edinburgh Playlist. Some good stuff there. Talking of Ian, here he is on The Wright Stuff, where he refuses to eat a rotten egg. Probably the most sensible thing he's ever done.
Finally, here's more on the exciting Blasted Heath news. Doesn't that Blasted Box look delicious?
Thursday, 6 October 2011
From the ridiculous to the sublime
Ian Pattison, on how writing Rab C Nesbitt is more lucrative than crime fiction.
Why, Philip Kerr? Why? Well, there's one film I won't be going to see, anyway.
John Buchan's The 39 Steps a comedy thriller?
Louise Welsh in Iowa City on Sunday, Ian Rankin at the Aberfeldy Festival, Denise Mina in Berlin next February (sometimes I wish I was a famous writer rather than an obscure one). And Val McDermid and Alexander McCall Smith at the Dundee Literary Festival.
Lots of stuff about Alexander McCall Smith today.
Ewan McGregor on Irvine Welsh's TRAINSPOTTING.
Ken Hebenstreit pronounces Chris Ewan "not in the best of shape" but marvellous despite that.
Hmmmmmmm, I might have to subscribe to the Ayrshire Post so that I can get the new Tony Black early.
He's not Scottish, but here's a great interview with one of my favourite authors (and all round lovely man) Ken Bruen.
And, finally, the utterly brilliant (and totally bonkers) Douglas Lindsay on 'lugzhury'.
Why, Philip Kerr? Why? Well, there's one film I won't be going to see, anyway.
John Buchan's The 39 Steps a comedy thriller?
Louise Welsh in Iowa City on Sunday, Ian Rankin at the Aberfeldy Festival, Denise Mina in Berlin next February (sometimes I wish I was a famous writer rather than an obscure one). And Val McDermid and Alexander McCall Smith at the Dundee Literary Festival.
Lots of stuff about Alexander McCall Smith today.
Ewan McGregor on Irvine Welsh's TRAINSPOTTING.
Ken Hebenstreit pronounces Chris Ewan "not in the best of shape" but marvellous despite that.
Hmmmmmmm, I might have to subscribe to the Ayrshire Post so that I can get the new Tony Black early.
He's not Scottish, but here's a great interview with one of my favourite authors (and all round lovely man) Ken Bruen.
And, finally, the utterly brilliant (and totally bonkers) Douglas Lindsay on 'lugzhury'.
Tuesday, 27 September 2011
Birthday Crime Fiction
Apologies for the delay in updating the blog. I was at a conference this weekend for the helpline organisation I volunteer for (inspiring, interesting and bloody good fun), I also have an essay to write on The Big Society. I'm taking the evening off and eating ice cream, since it's my birthday. So, here we go with the latest from the world of Scottish crime fiction.
Talking of the Big Society, here's Alexander McCall Smith on mending broken societies. But first of all, he needs to fix his house. And then he can head off to Indonesia. Finally, a review of THE FORGOTTEN AFFAIRS OF YOUTH. Does the man ever sleep?
Novel Insights discovers Val McDermid, and Mostly Fiction reviews TRICK OF THE DARK. The Irish Independent asks Val some great questions, and Val gives some great answers.
The lost novel of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
Ray Yanek discovers Chris Ewan at Bouchercon.
Irvine Welsh is adapting a documentary about bare-knuckle bxing into a drama series for HBO.
Cleveland.com loves Denise Mina's THE END OF THE WASP SEASON.
Ian Rankin has recorded an audio guide for a mining museum. And he's reviewing restaurants. But it seems as though he hasn't finished writing books yet.
Finally, Glasgow gang crime has reduced due to an interesting idea. Or maybe the gangs are all raiding sheds.
Talking of the Big Society, here's Alexander McCall Smith on mending broken societies. But first of all, he needs to fix his house. And then he can head off to Indonesia. Finally, a review of THE FORGOTTEN AFFAIRS OF YOUTH. Does the man ever sleep?
Novel Insights discovers Val McDermid, and Mostly Fiction reviews TRICK OF THE DARK. The Irish Independent asks Val some great questions, and Val gives some great answers.
The lost novel of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
Ray Yanek discovers Chris Ewan at Bouchercon.
Irvine Welsh is adapting a documentary about bare-knuckle bxing into a drama series for HBO.
Cleveland.com loves Denise Mina's THE END OF THE WASP SEASON.
Ian Rankin has recorded an audio guide for a mining museum. And he's reviewing restaurants. But it seems as though he hasn't finished writing books yet.
Finally, Glasgow gang crime has reduced due to an interesting idea. Or maybe the gangs are all raiding sheds.
Monday, 29 August 2011
Appeaser of Gangsters and Breaker of Wind
I mentioned last week that I've been involved in making a film for a charity I volunteer with. Well, today was the second day of filming. After last week's antics (which involved appeasing Glasgow gangsters and football hooligans), we thought this week would be much simpler. Unfortunately, this was not to be the case - mostly due to weather this time. We wanted shots from the Squinty Bridge (seen in the photo at the top of the page). By this time, the wind was howling. This would have been fine, apart from the fact that the microphone was picking all that noise up. The speaker for this part was patiently waiting to say his piece but the wind just wasn’t dying down.
“I know this might sound weird, Donna,” said our Director, “but do you think you could go and stand about 5 feet in front of him.”
Ah, my big break. My acting talents were required at last. “You want me just to stand by the railing, wistfully looking out towards the river? Or perhaps I should glide elegantly past him as he speaks? Just tell me what you want me to do. I’ve been studying the great Method actors.”
“Actually, I want you to stand in front of him and act as a windbreak.”
A windbreak? I was mortified. I know the camera’s supposed to add twenty pounds, but I thought that was only if you were in front of it – not within ten feet in any direction. However, consummate professional that I am, I bit back my tears and stood in the required position – trying to look as fat and wide as possible. Apparently, I succeeded – we got the shot – despite the wind I successfully broke. (Not as in “I broke wind”, you understand.)
Luckily, my enormous bulk came in handy at the next location. The Director wanted a shot looking up Kelvin Way. The only problem was that there was an enormous green rubbish bin spoiling the shot. Not your normal household rubbish bin – it was about 6 times the size and really, really heavy. As I wheeled it out of shot towards the side of the pavement, I realised it was on the way towards a parked car, at speed. I would like to say that I threw myself in front of it, but I didn’t. The Director ran up and rescued me.
Anyway, enough of that. The wonderful For Books' Sake reviews Shona MacLean's CRUCIBLE OF SECRETS.
Another one of those lovely mystery book sculptures has mysteriously appeared. Here's a post on some of the recent ones at the Edinburgh Book Festival. And more from the Guardian blog on the Festival.
Irvine Welsh in a sneaky plot to sabotage Hearts? And a trailer for Ecstasy.
Ian Rankin auctions off a character and himself for cancer research.
A review of Val McDermid's VILLAGE SOS on Radio 4, a great interview with her in the Scotsman, and Val wants to make people care when someone dies.
A review of Ray Banks' BEAST OF BURDEN.
Yay! Douglas Lindsay's blog is back after taking a break over the summer.
And, finally, this photo was taken by my partner, at a town in the Buckfast Triangle ("you get used to it").
When I was looking for articles to explain Buckfast to those of you who don't know, I found this brilliant one from the Uncyclopedia. Do read the warning at the top.
I think this photo is brilliant. Someone spent ages getting this display juuuuuuuuuuuust right.
“I know this might sound weird, Donna,” said our Director, “but do you think you could go and stand about 5 feet in front of him.”
Ah, my big break. My acting talents were required at last. “You want me just to stand by the railing, wistfully looking out towards the river? Or perhaps I should glide elegantly past him as he speaks? Just tell me what you want me to do. I’ve been studying the great Method actors.”
“Actually, I want you to stand in front of him and act as a windbreak.”
A windbreak? I was mortified. I know the camera’s supposed to add twenty pounds, but I thought that was only if you were in front of it – not within ten feet in any direction. However, consummate professional that I am, I bit back my tears and stood in the required position – trying to look as fat and wide as possible. Apparently, I succeeded – we got the shot – despite the wind I successfully broke. (Not as in “I broke wind”, you understand.)
Luckily, my enormous bulk came in handy at the next location. The Director wanted a shot looking up Kelvin Way. The only problem was that there was an enormous green rubbish bin spoiling the shot. Not your normal household rubbish bin – it was about 6 times the size and really, really heavy. As I wheeled it out of shot towards the side of the pavement, I realised it was on the way towards a parked car, at speed. I would like to say that I threw myself in front of it, but I didn’t. The Director ran up and rescued me.
Anyway, enough of that. The wonderful For Books' Sake reviews Shona MacLean's CRUCIBLE OF SECRETS.
Another one of those lovely mystery book sculptures has mysteriously appeared. Here's a post on some of the recent ones at the Edinburgh Book Festival. And more from the Guardian blog on the Festival.
Irvine Welsh in a sneaky plot to sabotage Hearts? And a trailer for Ecstasy.
Ian Rankin auctions off a character and himself for cancer research.
A review of Val McDermid's VILLAGE SOS on Radio 4, a great interview with her in the Scotsman, and Val wants to make people care when someone dies.
A review of Ray Banks' BEAST OF BURDEN.
Yay! Douglas Lindsay's blog is back after taking a break over the summer.
And, finally, this photo was taken by my partner, at a town in the Buckfast Triangle ("you get used to it").
When I was looking for articles to explain Buckfast to those of you who don't know, I found this brilliant one from the Uncyclopedia. Do read the warning at the top.
I think this photo is brilliant. Someone spent ages getting this display juuuuuuuuuuuust right.
Tuesday, 23 August 2011
Good News,Old News, New News
Catching up a wee bit here.
Brilliant film news for Tony Black - I can't wait to see this - Tony Black, Richard Jobson and Dougray Scott? Bloody hell - what a trio. Huge congratulations Tony.
A couple of reports from the Edinburgh Book Festival that are vaguely crime fiction related, including Bella Bathhurst's favourite moments from previous festivals.
A review of Ian Rankin's EXIT MUSIC, one of Alexander McCall Smith's THE FORGOTTEN AFFAIRS OF YOUTH, It'sACrime enjoyed Craig Robertson's SNAPSHOT and Karen at Austcrime reviews the CRIMESPOTTING short story collection.
An article on the TV version of Kate Atkinson's CASE HISTORIES.
Louise Welsh on Saturday Review.
Check out Val McDermid's Woman's Hour drama VILLAGE SOS.
Irvine Welsh on the set of ECSTACY.
The Gold, Steel and New Blood Dagger shortlists.
Brilliant film news for Tony Black - I can't wait to see this - Tony Black, Richard Jobson and Dougray Scott? Bloody hell - what a trio. Huge congratulations Tony.
A couple of reports from the Edinburgh Book Festival that are vaguely crime fiction related, including Bella Bathhurst's favourite moments from previous festivals.
A review of Ian Rankin's EXIT MUSIC, one of Alexander McCall Smith's THE FORGOTTEN AFFAIRS OF YOUTH, It'sACrime enjoyed Craig Robertson's SNAPSHOT and Karen at Austcrime reviews the CRIMESPOTTING short story collection.
An article on the TV version of Kate Atkinson's CASE HISTORIES.
Louise Welsh on Saturday Review.
Check out Val McDermid's Woman's Hour drama VILLAGE SOS.
Irvine Welsh on the set of ECSTACY.
The Gold, Steel and New Blood Dagger shortlists.
Tuesday, 9 August 2011
Just call me Fatty Acids for short
Apologies for the less than regular postings over the last few days. I'm back down at my Mum and Dad's at the moment. It's my Mum's 80th birthday this week, so I have come down to celebrate.
Today, we went to the bingo. Sadly, I didn't make out like a bandit this time. However, I did win a jar of Tesco Value Lemon Curd. That's saved me a whole 22p off my next week's shopping. Well, it would have done if I actually ate lemon curd. Somebody else won the packet of Strawberry Whip. I was gutted. That had my name written all over it (assuming I changed my name to Maltodextrin, Modified Potato Starch, Emulsifiers (Propane-1,2-diol Esters of Fatty Acids, Sunflower Lecithins) , Gelling Agents (Tetrasodium Diphosphate, Disodium Phosphate) which, by the way, I was totally prepared to do.
Anyway, on to the news.
Gillian Galbraith and Shirley McKay at the Inverness Book Festival on Thursday,
A great review of Chris Ewan's THE GOOD THIEF'S GUIDE TO VENICE, and the Deseret News calls it 'fun and entrancing'. Finally, an interview with the man himself over at Novel Rocket,
Ian Rankin is supporting the StreetSmart campaign, to help homelessness projects.
Breathing Fiction puts the spotlight on Denise Mina. And an article in the Daily Record on Gordon Ferris.
A review of Nicola Upson's third Josephine Tey novel, TWO FOR SORROW, one of Alexander McCall Smith's THE LOST ART OF GRATITUDE and a review for THE DOG WHO CAME IN FROM THE COLD.
Lots of Irvine Welsh news: first a trailer for ECSTACY, an interview with Irvine Welsh about the film, and news on FILTH.
Caro Ramsay talks about Jack The Ripper, The Musical, amongst other things.
If you want to help set a world record, and you can be in Edinburgh on August 19th, here's your opportunity.
Sunday, 17 July 2011
This, That, and a Bit of the Other
This weekend's film viewing was 36 QUAI DES ORFEVRES with Daniel Auteuil and Gerard Depardieu - a gritty, absorbing and convoluted crime thriller with lots of shades of grey. Great performances from Auteuil and Depardieu. Off to Harrogate Crime Festival next week so it will be a film-less weekend.
A great post from Helen Fitzgerald on self-obsession, and here's a great interview with her in The Scotsman.
The Scotsman also interviews David Ashton.
Hobbit in Irvine Welsh's ECSTACY.
An audio interview with Dr Val McDermid.
The World of Alexander McCall Smith, a review of BLUE SHOES AND HAPPINESS and a video interview with the man.
An interesting article on Douglas Watt's TESTAMENT OF A WITCH.
Fancy an evening with Ian Rankin?
Shirley McKay and Gillian Galbraith will be appearing at the Inverness Book Festival August 10-13. Louise Welsh and Christopher Brookmyre will also be appearing.
The Guardian on class in fiction. And another Guardian piece - this time the best summer reads and where to read them. Maybe we should do the equivalent for crime fiction.
I'm sure I don't need to tell you again that you should read the genius that is Douglas Lindsay's GOVERNMENT OF THE LIVING DEAD, do I?
And, he's not Scottish, but I can't resist the chance to give a shout out to the lovely Declan Burke, whose book ABSOLUTE ZERO COOL is out soon. It's absolute 100% brilliant, by the way. And it's being launched on August 10th at the Gutter Bookshop in Dublin. Everyone welcome.
A great post from Helen Fitzgerald on self-obsession, and here's a great interview with her in The Scotsman.
The Scotsman also interviews David Ashton.
Hobbit in Irvine Welsh's ECSTACY.
An audio interview with Dr Val McDermid.
The World of Alexander McCall Smith, a review of BLUE SHOES AND HAPPINESS and a video interview with the man.
An interesting article on Douglas Watt's TESTAMENT OF A WITCH.
Fancy an evening with Ian Rankin?
Shirley McKay and Gillian Galbraith will be appearing at the Inverness Book Festival August 10-13. Louise Welsh and Christopher Brookmyre will also be appearing.
The Guardian on class in fiction. And another Guardian piece - this time the best summer reads and where to read them. Maybe we should do the equivalent for crime fiction.
I'm sure I don't need to tell you again that you should read the genius that is Douglas Lindsay's GOVERNMENT OF THE LIVING DEAD, do I?
And, he's not Scottish, but I can't resist the chance to give a shout out to the lovely Declan Burke, whose book ABSOLUTE ZERO COOL is out soon. It's absolute 100% brilliant, by the way. And it's being launched on August 10th at the Gutter Bookshop in Dublin. Everyone welcome.
Friday, 1 July 2011
Nibbled To Death By Fish
First of all - happy birthday to the talented JT Lindroos. Thanks, JT, you're a star.
I've been away having a girlie few days with my friend Jill - you know the sort of thing - drinking wine, watching movies, shopping, and having your feet nibbled at by man-eating fish. Strangely, a notice on the tank says "Please do not feed the fish." The film we watched was BRIDESMAIDS - not my usual fare but it was a bit different from the usual sickly sweet chick flick, being delightfully rude and crude in places. Good fun.
I've been chastised yet again for not updating my music selections over on the right, so I've put my current listens up. No doubt they'll still be up there 6 months hence.
Allan Guthrie over at Criminal E interviews...errrr...Allan Guthrie. And he also interviews Gordon Brown, so he doesn't just talk to himself.
A real life Ian Rankin mystery. How brilliant is this?
An interview with Ken McClure.
Alexander McCall Smith at the London Literature Festival on July 3rd.
Irvine Welsh - Ecstasy: The Movie.
Have a lovely weekend all, and thanks to everyone for the creative writing exercises.
I've been away having a girlie few days with my friend Jill - you know the sort of thing - drinking wine, watching movies, shopping, and having your feet nibbled at by man-eating fish. Strangely, a notice on the tank says "Please do not feed the fish." The film we watched was BRIDESMAIDS - not my usual fare but it was a bit different from the usual sickly sweet chick flick, being delightfully rude and crude in places. Good fun.
I've been chastised yet again for not updating my music selections over on the right, so I've put my current listens up. No doubt they'll still be up there 6 months hence.
Allan Guthrie over at Criminal E interviews...errrr...Allan Guthrie. And he also interviews Gordon Brown, so he doesn't just talk to himself.
A real life Ian Rankin mystery. How brilliant is this?
An interview with Ken McClure.
Alexander McCall Smith at the London Literature Festival on July 3rd.
Irvine Welsh - Ecstasy: The Movie.
Have a lovely weekend all, and thanks to everyone for the creative writing exercises.
Friday, 24 June 2011
Pre-Weekend Peregrinations
An excellent article on Scottish actor Martin Compston (who I would love to have play Duncan or Raymie from OLD DOGS), who's going to be in Irvine Welsh's FILTH which is being filmed in October.
A review of Charles Cumming's TYPHOON, the Morning Star with a reviewlet of Denise Mina's THE END OF THE WASP SEASON, a review of Alexander McCall Smith's CORDUROY MANSIONS, The Guardian enjoyed Christopher Brookmyre's WHERE THE BODIES ARE BURIED, and reviewingtheevidence on Quintin Jardine's GRIEVOUS ANGEL.
Talking of Quintin Jardine, he was able to scatter his uncle, thanks to Kinky Friedman.
Two radio plays from the BBC Radio Crimes series have been released on CD - David Ashton's SERVANT OF THE CROWN and THE PICTURE OF INNOCENCE, and Val McDermid's CLEAN BREAK.
Alexander McCall Smith on Edinburgh's nightmare tram situation (warning - the audio starts automatically).
See Chris Ewan in Salt Lake City on August 13th.
The Washington Independent Review of Books has an audio interview with Kate Atkinson.
A short story by Campbell Armstrong (aka Campbell Black).
Think of me this weekend. I'm babysitting ten 13-year olds. At a pyjama party.
A review of Charles Cumming's TYPHOON, the Morning Star with a reviewlet of Denise Mina's THE END OF THE WASP SEASON, a review of Alexander McCall Smith's CORDUROY MANSIONS, The Guardian enjoyed Christopher Brookmyre's WHERE THE BODIES ARE BURIED, and reviewingtheevidence on Quintin Jardine's GRIEVOUS ANGEL.
Talking of Quintin Jardine, he was able to scatter his uncle, thanks to Kinky Friedman.
Two radio plays from the BBC Radio Crimes series have been released on CD - David Ashton's SERVANT OF THE CROWN and THE PICTURE OF INNOCENCE, and Val McDermid's CLEAN BREAK.
Alexander McCall Smith on Edinburgh's nightmare tram situation (warning - the audio starts automatically).
See Chris Ewan in Salt Lake City on August 13th.
The Washington Independent Review of Books has an audio interview with Kate Atkinson.
A short story by Campbell Armstrong (aka Campbell Black).
Think of me this weekend. I'm babysitting ten 13-year olds. At a pyjama party.
Monday, 9 May 2011
Today it's all about Pulp and Cake
Today was a lovely day. I have delicious new shoes. And I spent most of the day alternately working on the screenplay I've been wanting to finish, and reading Colin Cotterill's brilliant LOVE SONGS FROM A SHALLOW GRAVE. All whilst wearing my new shoes.I watched the first part of Denise Mina's FIELD OF BLOOD on TV last night. For those of you who didn't get it (I believe it was only shown in Scotland), you can watch it here (not sure how long it is available for). It was excellent, and I'm looking forward to part 2 tonight.
More video with Irvine Welsh at PEN World Voices Festival. And, on radio, Val McDermid talks about The Mermaids Singing.
If you're an M C Beaton fan, you may want to make sure that your library has applied for these.
The Tarantino Version - a delightfully nasty little short story from Douglas Lindsay.
Excellent news about a film adaptation of Helen Fitzgerald's DEAD LOVELY. Congratulations Helen!
A review of Louise Welsh's NAMING THE BONES. And Louise Welsh talks about Rigoletto.
An essay by Allan Massie in the Wall Street Journal on Philip Kerr's Bernie Gunther novels.
A review of Charles Cumming's THE TRINITY SIX.
Forget all the Super Injunction news, the Scotsman reveals that Ian Rankin eats cake. Shocker.
And, finally, brilliant news - the lovely Tony Black has brought back Pulp Pusher - this time in the form of a blog.
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