Spend a minute with Val McDermid. And then spend a bit longer in an interview with Craig Sisterson over at Crime Watch.
How do you fancy being a character in Irvine Welsh's SKAGBOYS.
The Book Show in Australia has an audio piece on Louise Welsh. And CBC Radio has one with Alexander McCall Smith.
The very funny Douglas Lindsay on how to improve opera.
Ian Rankin picks five paintings that he would nick if he got half a chance. And listen to Ian Rankin and Andy Diggle talking comics on 21st October.
I've posted this before, but it's so good that there's absolutely nothing wrong with mentioning it again - the trailer forAllan Guthrie's BLOOD WILL OUT.
The Independent - standing up for the swearyword. That'll have my mother reaching for the Basildon Bond to write a stiff letter to the Editor.
Tuesday, 21 September 2010
Sunday, 19 September 2010
I'm Virtually A Writer, But Definitely A Tourist
Firstly, a huge thank you to everyone who has donated books for the charity raffle. I truly appreciate it - you're all very kind. Still time to donate if you wish! The crime fiction community is a wonderful thing to be part of.
Secondly, I am really chuffed - I am now Writer In Virtual Residence at my lovely schools in the Kuspuk School District in Alaska. I already keep in touch with some of the teachers and students, but this will mean I can keep in more regular touch with all the schools. I'm planning to do podcasts (if I can work out what a podcast is, that is...) or videoblogs, set writing exercises, get the students to send me stories on which I can give feedback, perhaps get some of the older students to set up an online magazine to publish the stories, and I'm also going to read as many of their curriculum books as possible so that I can tie some of the writing exercises in with what they're reading. I'm really looking forward to getting started. I can't stop smiling about it. I love the students, and teachers, and the villages and I have had some very special times there. If anyone has any suggestions for me (given that I've never done this before, nor am I a teacher!) please let me know.
I must still be in Berlin mode (holiday photos to come in future posts, Dear Reader - I know that you will be champing at the bit. Don't worry, I have 895 of the little buggers) because this weekend's film viewing was two German films.
The first one was The White Ribbon (Das Weisse Band) from 2009, and directed by Michael Haneke. It's set in a small town in Germany, just before the outbreak of World War I. A series of mysterious and cruel events take place, starting with the village doctor falling off his horse when the horse is brought up short by a wire strung across the track. The film is narrated many years later by the young schoolteacher at the time and focuses on people within the village who are defined by their status - the baron, the doctor, the steward, the pastor, the worker. We see their public faces and their private lives. It's difficult to say much about the plot without giving things away, but let's just say that some of the upstanding pillars of society don't necessarily practice what they preach. Disturbing, chilling enthralling, and beautifully shot in black-and-white.
The second film was The Lives of Others (Das Leben Der Anderen) from 2006, written and directed by Florian Henkel Von Donnersmarck. It's set in 1984 in East Berlin - a place where normal people are ground down by their daily life, where the secret police can come in and bug your whole house in double quick time, where no-one is going to tell you they've seen this happening, just in case something bad happens to them, and where you don't actually know whether your closest friend or relative is, actually, a Stasi informant. The film tells the story of the rather drab and unimaginative, staunch and idealistic Stasi captain Gerd Wiesler. He's loyal to the cause and loyal to the regime, and, when given the job of collecting evidence against playwright Georg Dreyman, he starts out with the same steely impassivity with which he interrogates suspects at Hohenschoenhausen prison. However, as he enters into the lives of Dreyman and his actress girlfriend - via the bugs which have been installed in every room in their flat, listening to hour upon hour of their lives from his secret hideaway in the building's attic space - he discovers things which threaten his idealism and may prove him to be not as soulless as he appears. Again, I won't say any more about the plot. It's an amazing film. Jealousy, envy, pettiness, fear, and quiet desperation. Wonderfully acted, powerful, fascinating, and it made me cry.
What made this film especially come alive was the fact that, a few days before, we had visited Hohenschoenhausen Prison - a place that not many people knew about at the time. What a good excuse for me to include a couple of gratuitous holiday snaps.
Hohenschoenhausen was a remand centre where people suspected of acts against the regime - whether that be trying to escape across the Berlin Wall, reading banned literature, publishing
leaflets speaking out against injustice, or, it seemed, simply moaning about the hardships of daily life - were subjected to psychological torture and hour upon hour of interrogation until they confessed.
And, according to our guide, they always confessed. The prison has something like 102 detention cells and 120 interrogation cells - I think that says something about where their priorities lay! This is one of
the interrogation cells we went in.
Prisoners were de-humanised by only being known by a number, by never being able to engage in conversation except when being interrogated, and by never seeing another prisoner. While watching the film, I could smell the interrogation cells - a distinctive mixture of cleaning fluid and lino. We smelled the same smell in a couple of other ex-official East Berlin
buildings.
In the film there's also a Barkas van which is used to round up suspects. On the outside it says 'Fresh Fish'. We saw a similar van at the prison. Inside are 5 tiny cells, dark and cramped. They would pick people up, drive them round for a couple of hours, and then take them to Hohenschoenhausen. They would step out of the pitch black van to be greeted by a bright light shone in their faces, and the barking of the guards.
And, finally, an article in The Washington Post on The Hardy Boys. I had a very similar reaction when I read a Nancy Drew book a couple of years ago. When I was little, I wanted to be one of Enid Blyton's Famous Five and fight crime with the aid of only a basket of cucumber sandwiches and a bottle of ginger beer. I spent my spare time following mysterious strangers around the village where we lived - especially those with cockney accents and a couple of days' growth of stubble - until a complaint from the new local vicar put a stop to my sleuthing career. When I was about 12, we had an American neighbour who used to take me to the local American airbase every Saturday, and I would buy a new Nancy Drew book. Then I would take it home and devour it. So then I decided I wanted to be Nancy Drew - I coveted her cool friends, her dashing boyfriend, her understanding father and her lovely car. Sadly, after re-reading one recently I discovered that either Nancy or I had changed - she was a pompous prig, her friends were whiny and self absorbed, her father was uncaring and her boyfriend was a wet drip. I still liked the car though.
No Scottish crime fiction news today. Normal service will be resumed in the next couple of days, along with the threatened holiday post.
Secondly, I am really chuffed - I am now Writer In Virtual Residence at my lovely schools in the Kuspuk School District in Alaska. I already keep in touch with some of the teachers and students, but this will mean I can keep in more regular touch with all the schools. I'm planning to do podcasts (if I can work out what a podcast is, that is...) or videoblogs, set writing exercises, get the students to send me stories on which I can give feedback, perhaps get some of the older students to set up an online magazine to publish the stories, and I'm also going to read as many of their curriculum books as possible so that I can tie some of the writing exercises in with what they're reading. I'm really looking forward to getting started. I can't stop smiling about it. I love the students, and teachers, and the villages and I have had some very special times there. If anyone has any suggestions for me (given that I've never done this before, nor am I a teacher!) please let me know.
I must still be in Berlin mode (holiday photos to come in future posts, Dear Reader - I know that you will be champing at the bit. Don't worry, I have 895 of the little buggers) because this weekend's film viewing was two German films.
The first one was The White Ribbon (Das Weisse Band) from 2009, and directed by Michael Haneke. It's set in a small town in Germany, just before the outbreak of World War I. A series of mysterious and cruel events take place, starting with the village doctor falling off his horse when the horse is brought up short by a wire strung across the track. The film is narrated many years later by the young schoolteacher at the time and focuses on people within the village who are defined by their status - the baron, the doctor, the steward, the pastor, the worker. We see their public faces and their private lives. It's difficult to say much about the plot without giving things away, but let's just say that some of the upstanding pillars of society don't necessarily practice what they preach. Disturbing, chilling enthralling, and beautifully shot in black-and-white.
The second film was The Lives of Others (Das Leben Der Anderen) from 2006, written and directed by Florian Henkel Von Donnersmarck. It's set in 1984 in East Berlin - a place where normal people are ground down by their daily life, where the secret police can come in and bug your whole house in double quick time, where no-one is going to tell you they've seen this happening, just in case something bad happens to them, and where you don't actually know whether your closest friend or relative is, actually, a Stasi informant. The film tells the story of the rather drab and unimaginative, staunch and idealistic Stasi captain Gerd Wiesler. He's loyal to the cause and loyal to the regime, and, when given the job of collecting evidence against playwright Georg Dreyman, he starts out with the same steely impassivity with which he interrogates suspects at Hohenschoenhausen prison. However, as he enters into the lives of Dreyman and his actress girlfriend - via the bugs which have been installed in every room in their flat, listening to hour upon hour of their lives from his secret hideaway in the building's attic space - he discovers things which threaten his idealism and may prove him to be not as soulless as he appears. Again, I won't say any more about the plot. It's an amazing film. Jealousy, envy, pettiness, fear, and quiet desperation. Wonderfully acted, powerful, fascinating, and it made me cry.
What made this film especially come alive was the fact that, a few days before, we had visited Hohenschoenhausen Prison - a place that not many people knew about at the time. What a good excuse for me to include a couple of gratuitous holiday snaps.Hohenschoenhausen was a remand centre where people suspected of acts against the regime - whether that be trying to escape across the Berlin Wall, reading banned literature, publishing
leaflets speaking out against injustice, or, it seemed, simply moaning about the hardships of daily life - were subjected to psychological torture and hour upon hour of interrogation until they confessed.And, according to our guide, they always confessed. The prison has something like 102 detention cells and 120 interrogation cells - I think that says something about where their priorities lay! This is one of
the interrogation cells we went in.Prisoners were de-humanised by only being known by a number, by never being able to engage in conversation except when being interrogated, and by never seeing another prisoner. While watching the film, I could smell the interrogation cells - a distinctive mixture of cleaning fluid and lino. We smelled the same smell in a couple of other ex-official East Berlin
buildings.In the film there's also a Barkas van which is used to round up suspects. On the outside it says 'Fresh Fish'. We saw a similar van at the prison. Inside are 5 tiny cells, dark and cramped. They would pick people up, drive them round for a couple of hours, and then take them to Hohenschoenhausen. They would step out of the pitch black van to be greeted by a bright light shone in their faces, and the barking of the guards.
And, finally, an article in The Washington Post on The Hardy Boys. I had a very similar reaction when I read a Nancy Drew book a couple of years ago. When I was little, I wanted to be one of Enid Blyton's Famous Five and fight crime with the aid of only a basket of cucumber sandwiches and a bottle of ginger beer. I spent my spare time following mysterious strangers around the village where we lived - especially those with cockney accents and a couple of days' growth of stubble - until a complaint from the new local vicar put a stop to my sleuthing career. When I was about 12, we had an American neighbour who used to take me to the local American airbase every Saturday, and I would buy a new Nancy Drew book. Then I would take it home and devour it. So then I decided I wanted to be Nancy Drew - I coveted her cool friends, her dashing boyfriend, her understanding father and her lovely car. Sadly, after re-reading one recently I discovered that either Nancy or I had changed - she was a pompous prig, her friends were whiny and self absorbed, her father was uncaring and her boyfriend was a wet drip. I still liked the car though.
No Scottish crime fiction news today. Normal service will be resumed in the next couple of days, along with the threatened holiday post.
Tuesday, 14 September 2010
R I P David Thompson
When I arrived home from Berlin tonight, the first thing to greet me was a text telling me that my friend David Thompson of Busted Flush Press had died. I stared at my phone in disbelief and then started to cry.
I first met David and his wife McKenna at a Bouchercon, got to know them at subsequent Bouchercons and Left Coast Crimes, and was honoured to be invited to stay with them in Houston and subsequently to go to their wedding. David was loved by the whole mystery community - not just because he was such a great supporter of crime fiction, not just because he championed authors and books, not just because he always had a brilliant recommendation for something you were sure to love, not just because he had an infectious and boundless enthusiasm and energy for everything he did, but because he was genuinely one of the nicest people you could hope to meet.
As a publisher he cared about his authors and their books. He truly loved what he published and he went above and beyond the call of duty, but bemoaned the fact that he couldn't do more, he got as excited as I did about reviews, he came up with some excellent suggestions for edits for OLD DOGS and we shared a series of giddy and excited e-mails and tweets about the gorgeous cover he commissioned for the book. He was the same with everyone. My last e-mail from him, on the day he died, was about an author we both loved - Daniel Woodrell. He was thrilled to be publishing Woodrell, just as he was thrilled to publish everything Busted Flush came out with. He treated everyone as if they were special. He was passionate. And he cared.
As a person he was so lovely. My over-riding memory of him is with a huge smile on his face. I seldom saw him any other way. I was looking forward to seeing David at Bouchercon and spending time with him and McKenna in Houston afterwards. We had been discussing going out after my signing event and he mentioned a strip joint in Houston that used to have the same name as one in OLD DOGS. I told him we had to go in October. He said of course we would and added "I'm totally not a stripjoint kinda guy...I was like, 'oh my god, she's sweating near my beer.'" He made me laugh, on that and many occasions. He was kind, and caring, and funny.
David was a good friend to the mystery community, and a good friend to me. We will all miss him very much. My thoughts are with McKenna and everyone at MBTB, and all David's family and friends. We have lost a special person. I am so very sad tonight.
I first met David and his wife McKenna at a Bouchercon, got to know them at subsequent Bouchercons and Left Coast Crimes, and was honoured to be invited to stay with them in Houston and subsequently to go to their wedding. David was loved by the whole mystery community - not just because he was such a great supporter of crime fiction, not just because he championed authors and books, not just because he always had a brilliant recommendation for something you were sure to love, not just because he had an infectious and boundless enthusiasm and energy for everything he did, but because he was genuinely one of the nicest people you could hope to meet.
As a publisher he cared about his authors and their books. He truly loved what he published and he went above and beyond the call of duty, but bemoaned the fact that he couldn't do more, he got as excited as I did about reviews, he came up with some excellent suggestions for edits for OLD DOGS and we shared a series of giddy and excited e-mails and tweets about the gorgeous cover he commissioned for the book. He was the same with everyone. My last e-mail from him, on the day he died, was about an author we both loved - Daniel Woodrell. He was thrilled to be publishing Woodrell, just as he was thrilled to publish everything Busted Flush came out with. He treated everyone as if they were special. He was passionate. And he cared.
As a person he was so lovely. My over-riding memory of him is with a huge smile on his face. I seldom saw him any other way. I was looking forward to seeing David at Bouchercon and spending time with him and McKenna in Houston afterwards. We had been discussing going out after my signing event and he mentioned a strip joint in Houston that used to have the same name as one in OLD DOGS. I told him we had to go in October. He said of course we would and added "I'm totally not a stripjoint kinda guy...I was like, 'oh my god, she's sweating near my beer.'" He made me laugh, on that and many occasions. He was kind, and caring, and funny.
David was a good friend to the mystery community, and a good friend to me. We will all miss him very much. My thoughts are with McKenna and everyone at MBTB, and all David's family and friends. We have lost a special person. I am so very sad tonight.
Tuesday, 7 September 2010
Born To Die In Berlin
Well, tomorrow I'm off to Berlin for a week or so (note to burglars: there will be someone home, so don't bother). I will either post while I'm away, or I won't. Is that helpful? Probably not.
Isn't it brilliant that there seems to be a Ramones song title to fit all eventualities (I'm serious about that Ramones themed anthology by the way. I might just have to do it myself).
Anyway, here's to crime...
BBC Radio 4's Front Row is asking various authors to play a game of Consequences, with brilliant results.
Noir Journal looks at Philip Kerr's Bernie Gunther novels.
If You Can Read This blog reviews Catriona McPherson's AFTER THE ARMISTICE BALL, while Learning To Read enjoyed Christopher Brookmyre's A TALE ETCHED IN BLOOD AND HARD BLACK PENCIL.
And a couple of reviews for Kate Atkinson - first of all The Northern Echo reviews STARTED EARLY, TOOK MY DOG, and Insert Clever Title Here finds reading EMOTIONALLY WEIRD to be 'pure joy'.
West Lothian events for Christopher Brookmyre, Karen Campbell and Ken McClure.
An interview with Val McDermid in The Scotsman.
And finally, she's not Scottish, but she's my good pal - if you like dark (and often warped) short stories, check out my lovely mate Julie Lewthwaite's blog - Gone Bad.
Tschuss, meine Lieblinge, bis bald.
Isn't it brilliant that there seems to be a Ramones song title to fit all eventualities (I'm serious about that Ramones themed anthology by the way. I might just have to do it myself).
Anyway, here's to crime...
BBC Radio 4's Front Row is asking various authors to play a game of Consequences, with brilliant results.
Noir Journal looks at Philip Kerr's Bernie Gunther novels.
If You Can Read This blog reviews Catriona McPherson's AFTER THE ARMISTICE BALL, while Learning To Read enjoyed Christopher Brookmyre's A TALE ETCHED IN BLOOD AND HARD BLACK PENCIL.
And a couple of reviews for Kate Atkinson - first of all The Northern Echo reviews STARTED EARLY, TOOK MY DOG, and Insert Clever Title Here finds reading EMOTIONALLY WEIRD to be 'pure joy'.
West Lothian events for Christopher Brookmyre, Karen Campbell and Ken McClure.
An interview with Val McDermid in The Scotsman.
And finally, she's not Scottish, but she's my good pal - if you like dark (and often warped) short stories, check out my lovely mate Julie Lewthwaite's blog - Gone Bad.
Tschuss, meine Lieblinge, bis bald.
Sunday, 5 September 2010
It Can't Be Sunday Yet, Surely?
First of all huge thanks to everyone who has offered books for the charity raffle - I really appreciate it.
My weekends guests have now gone home and the flat is back to quiet normality (if you don't count Black Rebel Motorcycle Club who are currently blasting through the speakers and the bits of baby food I keep picking up off the floor) So, onto the news round-up.
Firstly, it's me, me, me (sorry!) I'm blogging here on the Busted Flush blog about the perils of research. And the Kindle version of OLD DOGS is now available in the US. Right, that's enough of that nonsense, back to proper news.
Some appearances - Louise Welsh in Canada in November, more on the Milngavie Book and Arts Festival with G J Moffat, Caro Ramsay and Shirley McKay, Philip Kerr will be at the Indie Alliance Weekend on 11th September, and Ken McClure will be speaking at the West Calder Library on 30 September.
And some reviews - Brit Grit, just like Badsville, loves Tony Black's Gus Dury novels and writes an excellent post to tell us so, here. Meanwhile, Bookmunch enjoyed Kate Atkinson's STARTED EARLY, TOOK MY DOG, and The Shore Bookworm reviews Denise Mina's Garnethill series.
Oxfam's most wanted author for the second year in a row is Ian Rankin, whilst Dan Brown is most unwanted. And, on the topic of Ian Rankin, here's a review of the audio version of THE FALLS.
In an audio interview with 'Scottish National Treasure' Val McDermid at the Brisbane Writers' Festival, Val reveals that she was once beaten up by a wrestler and was recently insulted by being inadequately burgled. It's a fascinating interview with Val and journalist Jake Adelstein. Wonderfully entertaining stuff. And Crime and Publishing reviews TRICK OF THE DARK.
The Scottish Review of Books reviews Alexander McCall Smith at the Edinburgh Book Festival.
And, finally, watch out if you're making a film in Aberdeen.
My weekends guests have now gone home and the flat is back to quiet normality (if you don't count Black Rebel Motorcycle Club who are currently blasting through the speakers and the bits of baby food I keep picking up off the floor) So, onto the news round-up.
Firstly, it's me, me, me (sorry!) I'm blogging here on the Busted Flush blog about the perils of research. And the Kindle version of OLD DOGS is now available in the US. Right, that's enough of that nonsense, back to proper news.
Some appearances - Louise Welsh in Canada in November, more on the Milngavie Book and Arts Festival with G J Moffat, Caro Ramsay and Shirley McKay, Philip Kerr will be at the Indie Alliance Weekend on 11th September, and Ken McClure will be speaking at the West Calder Library on 30 September.
And some reviews - Brit Grit, just like Badsville, loves Tony Black's Gus Dury novels and writes an excellent post to tell us so, here. Meanwhile, Bookmunch enjoyed Kate Atkinson's STARTED EARLY, TOOK MY DOG, and The Shore Bookworm reviews Denise Mina's Garnethill series.
Oxfam's most wanted author for the second year in a row is Ian Rankin, whilst Dan Brown is most unwanted. And, on the topic of Ian Rankin, here's a review of the audio version of THE FALLS.
In an audio interview with 'Scottish National Treasure' Val McDermid at the Brisbane Writers' Festival, Val reveals that she was once beaten up by a wrestler and was recently insulted by being inadequately burgled. It's a fascinating interview with Val and journalist Jake Adelstein. Wonderfully entertaining stuff. And Crime and Publishing reviews TRICK OF THE DARK.
The Scottish Review of Books reviews Alexander McCall Smith at the Edinburgh Book Festival.
And, finally, watch out if you're making a film in Aberdeen.
Friday, 3 September 2010
A Begging Letter
A quick post today as I'm expecting weekend visitors.
This post is mainly a plea. I volunteer on the phonelines for a UK charity that supports people in crisis. The local branch are having a raffle to raise funds and the lady organising the raffle asked if she could have a signed copy of OLD DOGS. Since I was worried that that would be one of those raffle prizes that nobody wants and which always turns up at subsequent raffles, always the last prize to be picked like the sad and lonely little plastic loo brush holder set shaped like a duck, I decided it was time for A Brilliant Idea (my second in 5 days, I'll have you know). So my Brilliant Idea is to hide my book in the middle of a box of books that everyone wants. So here is my begging letter to you, dear reader. If you're a writer and would like to donate a signed book to this good cause, please send me an e-mail or leave a note in the comments and I'll send you my address. If you're a reader and would like to donate a book (it doesn't matter if it's not signed by the author) then please do the same. With many thanks in advance.
And now, a brief snippet of news...
First of all, the Tesco Siummer Bank Read has now been judged and I'm happy to report that crime fiction made a great showing with Ian Rankin coming second and Karen Campbell coming fourth. Well done to all the nominees.
Have a lovely weekend all. Back with a full round-up on Sunday.
This post is mainly a plea. I volunteer on the phonelines for a UK charity that supports people in crisis. The local branch are having a raffle to raise funds and the lady organising the raffle asked if she could have a signed copy of OLD DOGS. Since I was worried that that would be one of those raffle prizes that nobody wants and which always turns up at subsequent raffles, always the last prize to be picked like the sad and lonely little plastic loo brush holder set shaped like a duck, I decided it was time for A Brilliant Idea (my second in 5 days, I'll have you know). So my Brilliant Idea is to hide my book in the middle of a box of books that everyone wants. So here is my begging letter to you, dear reader. If you're a writer and would like to donate a signed book to this good cause, please send me an e-mail or leave a note in the comments and I'll send you my address. If you're a reader and would like to donate a book (it doesn't matter if it's not signed by the author) then please do the same. With many thanks in advance.
And now, a brief snippet of news...
First of all, the Tesco Siummer Bank Read has now been judged and I'm happy to report that crime fiction made a great showing with Ian Rankin coming second and Karen Campbell coming fourth. Well done to all the nominees.
Have a lovely weekend all. Back with a full round-up on Sunday.
Wednesday, 1 September 2010
Titbits and Twists
Lots of stuff about Val McDermid today as she continues her tour of New Zealand and Australia. First of all, an audio interview on The Book Show on ABC, Craig at Crimewatch goes to see her in Auckland, and here's six words from Val at the always excellent Jen's Book Thoughts.
Caro Ramsay on becoming a crime writer by accident.
If you have a Sky account you can watch Ian Rankin on TV.
Alexander McCall Smith and the Green Pencil Award.
A (mostly SF) interview with Iain Banks.
Russel McLean is appearing at Houston's Murder By The Book on October 8th. Sadly, it's a couple of weeks before my event (gulp - what the heck am I going to do???) so I won't have the moral support of the lovely Russel.
Closer to home, Louise Welsh is appearing in Forres on 16th September and Alice Thompson will be at the Caledonian Hotel in Edinburgh on 7th October for a Gliterary Lunch.
Irvine Welsh says that the only entrepreneurs in Scotland's housing schemes are the drug dealers. And it's probably a bit late for this, but there's a special screening of Trainspotting at Edinburgh's Dominion.
And I've mentioned it before, but if you're ever stuck for something to read, pop over to the brilliant A Twist of Noir, where there are plenty of great stories, 564 of them so far to be exact. And, in an additional twist, from story 600 onwards, the story number is also the number of words in the story. Genius.
Caro Ramsay on becoming a crime writer by accident.
If you have a Sky account you can watch Ian Rankin on TV.
Alexander McCall Smith and the Green Pencil Award.
A (mostly SF) interview with Iain Banks.
Russel McLean is appearing at Houston's Murder By The Book on October 8th. Sadly, it's a couple of weeks before my event (gulp - what the heck am I going to do???) so I won't have the moral support of the lovely Russel.
Closer to home, Louise Welsh is appearing in Forres on 16th September and Alice Thompson will be at the Caledonian Hotel in Edinburgh on 7th October for a Gliterary Lunch.
Irvine Welsh says that the only entrepreneurs in Scotland's housing schemes are the drug dealers. And it's probably a bit late for this, but there's a special screening of Trainspotting at Edinburgh's Dominion.
And I've mentioned it before, but if you're ever stuck for something to read, pop over to the brilliant A Twist of Noir, where there are plenty of great stories, 564 of them so far to be exact. And, in an additional twist, from story 600 onwards, the story number is also the number of words in the story. Genius.
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