First of all, this weekend's film viewing. We saw THE FIGHTER with the always excellent Christian Bale. Really good film. Then it was a film that was so horrible that I don't even want to mention its name. I didn't watch most of it. Instead, at one point, I rushed out of the room saying "I can't watch this" and went and lay down on the bed and had a good cry. Silly cow, but it was truly horrible. After that, I needed a cinematic scouring brush to scrub my brain clean of that one, so we saw the quirky and touching GET LOW with Robert Duvall and Bill Murray.
I also spent some very pleasant kindle time with the lovely boys and girls from Radgepacket. I read volumes 1 and 2 while travelling on trains over the weekend and most excellent they were too. Reviews to follow. In the meantime, they are both over at Amazon for less than a quid.
And now, on to the Scottish crime fiction news.
The Mutant Bookshelf reviews Philip Kerr's FIELD GREY. And a review of the audio version of Charles Cumming's THE TRINITY SIX .
Congratulations to Alex Gray on her new book deal, and to Doctor Val McDermid.
Chris Ewan's audiobook narrator talks about the Good Thief series.
An interview with Jason Isaacs about his role as Kate Atkinson's Jackson Brodie.
Finally, a plea - if anyone has any suggestions for either writing exercises or groupwork exercises for both teenagers (from age 15-ish) and adults, please e-mail me! I'm looking for things which are fun and interesting and not too heavy.
Sunday, 26 June 2011
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.
Wednesday, 22 June 2011
An Opulence of Opportunities
A My Life In Books: Crime Fiction Special at the wonderful Glasgow Women's Library from 6 until 7.30pm on Tuesday 26th July. Your humble blogger will be asking Helen Fitzgerald and Karen Campbell about the influence books have had throughout their lives.
Further away (in all senses) Chris Ewan and Anne Zourodi are appearing at Murder By The Book in Houston on Monday 19th September. Do, however, note that it's not our Chris Ewan playing the drums in the video below the article! It reminds me of the time when Dexys Midnight Runners were on Top of The Pops singing Jackie Wilson Said (about soul singer Jackie Wilson) and the picture that was shown in the background was of darts player Jocky Wilson.
Whilst the Reading Festival of Crime Fiction doesn't yet have the programme up on the website, the events (or some of them) can be seen here.
This looks brilliant - Noir Nation: International Journal of Crime Fiction. You can become a supporter here. The first issue is due to be launched in September. They are also looking for submissions (short stories, graphic crime stories and non-fiction pieces) and they pay $100 per piece! I'm looking forward to reading the first issue and seeing what else they come up with.
A review of Helen Fitzgerald's THE DONOR. And here's Helen with advice on what not to read in prison.
Did Sir Arthur Conan Doyle steal the plot for THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES.
An interview with Alexander McCall Smith at CBS News' Author Talk.
Publishers Weekly on Nicola Upson's Josephine Tey mystery TWO FOR SORROW.
And, finally, Val McDermid, Stuart MacBride and other crime writers buy a morgue. And anyone can donate. By donating, you get to vote for your favourite participating crime writer and they get...errrrr...they get a morgue named after them.
Further away (in all senses) Chris Ewan and Anne Zourodi are appearing at Murder By The Book in Houston on Monday 19th September. Do, however, note that it's not our Chris Ewan playing the drums in the video below the article! It reminds me of the time when Dexys Midnight Runners were on Top of The Pops singing Jackie Wilson Said (about soul singer Jackie Wilson) and the picture that was shown in the background was of darts player Jocky Wilson.
Whilst the Reading Festival of Crime Fiction doesn't yet have the programme up on the website, the events (or some of them) can be seen here.
This looks brilliant - Noir Nation: International Journal of Crime Fiction. You can become a supporter here. The first issue is due to be launched in September. They are also looking for submissions (short stories, graphic crime stories and non-fiction pieces) and they pay $100 per piece! I'm looking forward to reading the first issue and seeing what else they come up with.
A review of Helen Fitzgerald's THE DONOR. And here's Helen with advice on what not to read in prison.
Did Sir Arthur Conan Doyle steal the plot for THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES.
An interview with Alexander McCall Smith at CBS News' Author Talk.
Publishers Weekly on Nicola Upson's Josephine Tey mystery TWO FOR SORROW.
And, finally, Val McDermid, Stuart MacBride and other crime writers buy a morgue. And anyone can donate. By donating, you get to vote for your favourite participating crime writer and they get...errrrr...they get a morgue named after them.
Monday, 20 June 2011
News, Reviews and Battling Grannies
An interview with Allan Guthrie. And one with Quintin Jardine.
More Quintin Jardine in The Afterword.
Alexander McCall Smith and the 107 moments that made Scotland. In other AMS news: a review of CORDUROY MANSIONS, and here he talks about his favourite books.
Ian Rankin, on why the Edinburgh Book Festival is special.
A review of Charles Cummings' THE TRINITY SIX, one of Denise Mina's THE END OF THE WASP SEASON and a brilliant one of Ray Banks' GUN.
Hot off the press - Douglas Lindsay smells like a Polynesian Goddess.
And, finally, this is why I love writing about elderly people. And if you don't read all of it, you should, at the very least, watch this video of SuperGranny foiling some robbers.
More Quintin Jardine in The Afterword.
Alexander McCall Smith and the 107 moments that made Scotland. In other AMS news: a review of CORDUROY MANSIONS, and here he talks about his favourite books.
Ian Rankin, on why the Edinburgh Book Festival is special.
A review of Charles Cummings' THE TRINITY SIX, one of Denise Mina's THE END OF THE WASP SEASON and a brilliant one of Ray Banks' GUN.
Hot off the press - Douglas Lindsay smells like a Polynesian Goddess.
And, finally, this is why I love writing about elderly people. And if you don't read all of it, you should, at the very least, watch this video of SuperGranny foiling some robbers.
Thursday, 16 June 2011
Edinburgh Book Festival - Crime Fiction Related Events
The Edinburgh Book Festival Programme has just been launched - and rather excellent it looks too. From a look through - here are the events which may be of interest to crime fiction fans. I've searched in four different ways, but probably still missed some, so let me know! And please excuse any formatting problems - this post has been a bloody nightmare and I have lost the will to live.
Saturday 13 August 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Alexander McCall Smith
AGE 7 - 9
Saturday 13 August 4:30pm - 5:30pm
T C Boyle
NATURE IS JUST AS MURDEROUS AS HUMAN BEINGS
Saturday 13 August 6:30pm - 7:30pm
Alexander McCall Smith
AN HOUR WITH ONE OF THE WORLD'S MOST CHARMING AUTHORS
Saturday 13 August 6:45pm - 7:45pm
Lin Anderson & Tony Black
CRIME AND THE FABRIC OF EDINBURGH AND GLASGOW
Sunday 14 August 3:30pm - 4:30pm
Megan Abbott & Kathleen Winter with Maggie O'Farrell
TEENAGERS IN TROUBLE
Sunday 14 August 6:45pm - 7:45pm
R J Ellory
INTENSE, COMPULSIVE, GUT-WRENCHING FICTION
Monday 15 August 11:30am - 12:30pm
William McIlvanney
ACCLAIMED SCOTTISH WRITER RETURNS
Monday 15 August 6:45pm - 7:45pm
Judith Flanders
WHEN MURDER WAS AN HONOURABLE PRACTICE
Tuesday 16 August 11:00am - 12:30pm
Writing Workshop
CREATING A WEB OF CHARACTERS
Tuesday 16 August 12:00pm - 1:00pm
Tim Bowler & Mike Lancaster
AGE 10 - 14
Tuesday 16 August 6:45pm - 7:45pm
David Ashton
THE ACTOR GIVES VOICE TO INSPECTOR MCLEVY
Tuesday 16 August 8:00pm - 9:00pm
Christopher Brookmyre
A FICTIONAL JOURNEY INTO GLASGOW’S GANGLAND
Thursday 18 August 11:30am - 12:30pm
Jasper Fforde
THE COMIC CRIME FANTASY GENRE IS IN SAFE HANDS
Thursday 18 August 6:30pm - 7:30pm
Val McDermid
WILL A DOTCOM MILLIONAIRE'S PAST COME BACK TO HAUNT HER?
Thursday 18 August 6:45pm - 7:45pm
Gavin Knight & Leif G W Persson
WHICH IS THE TRUE CRIME?
Friday 19 August 12:30pm - 1:30pm
Carol Ann Lee
WHAT TURNED MYRA HINDLEY INTO A KILLER?
Friday 19 August 3:00pm - 4:00pm
Quintin Jardine
CROSSING THE GLOBE IN SEARCH OF STARK TRUTHS
Friday 19 August 3:30pm - 4:30pm
The Baker Street Irregulars with Dan Boultwood & Tony Lee
AGE 10 - 14
Friday 19 August 4:30pm - 5:30pm
Stella Rimington
FORMER SPY BOSS TURNED THRILLER WRITER - AND JUDGE
Friday 19 August 8:00pm - 9:00pm
Alexander McCall Smith
THE SERIALLY-TALENTED EDINBURGH WRITER IS BACK
Saturday 20 August 6:30pm - 7:30pm
Alexander McCall Smith
AN AUDIENCE WITH ONE OF THE WORLD'S MOST CHARMING AUTHORS
Saturday 20 August 6:45pm - 7:45pm
Karen Campbell & G J Moffat
STEPPING DOWN THE MEAN STREETS
Monday 22 August 8:30pm - 9:30pm
Edward Docx & Andrew Miller
PASSION, AMBITION AND UNEXPLAINED EVENTS
Tuesday 23 August 6:30pm - 7:30pm
Ian Rankin
MEET THE NUMBER ONE BESTSELLING AUTHOR
Wednesday 24 August 3:00pm - 4:00pm
Jo Nesbø
ROARING INTO THE CRIME FICTION SUPERLEAGUE
Wednesday 24 August 6:45pm - 7:45pm
Gordon Ferris & Craig Russell
GLASGOW'S MEAN STREETS
Wednesday 24 August 8:00pm - 9:00pm
Ian Rankin
LIFE AFTER REBUS KEEPS GETTING BETTER
Thursday 25 August 4:30pm - 5:30pm
Gillian Philip
AGE 12 - 15
Thursday 25 August 6:45pm - 7:45pm
Louise Welsh
NAMINGS AND HAUNTINGS
Thursday 25 August 8:30pm - 9:30pm
David Leslie & Alexander Shannon
FROM GANG WARS TO ARMED CONFLICT
Friday 26 August 5:00pm - 6:00pm
The Western Mysteries with Caroline Lawrence
AGE 9 - 12
Friday 26 August 6:45pm - 7:45pm
Alex Gray & Stuart MacBride
SCOTTISH CRIME GETS A SHOT IN THE ARM
Friday 26 August 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Alan Bissett & Doug Johnstone
FIGHTING TALK
Saturday 27 August 4:00pm - 5:00pm
James Yorkston with Ian Rankin
ON THE ROAD WITH A SCOTTISH FOLK HERO
Saturday 27 August 6:45pm - 7:45pm
Denise Mina
TWO DEATHS CONNECTED BY A HANGING ROPE
Sunday 28 August 4:30pm - 5:30pm
Mark Billingham
THORNY ENCOUNTER WITH A HOSTAGE-TAKER
Sunday 28 August 5:00pm - 6:00pm
The New Scottish Writing
HOW FACT AND FICTION INFLUENCE OUR UNDERSTANDING OF OURSELVES
Sunday 28 August 9:30pm - 10:30pm
Eoin Colfer with Mark Billingham
CRIME THRILLER TO GET THE PULSE THUMPING
Monday 29 August 11:00am - 12:30pm
Writing Workshop
DRIVING THE PLOT
Monday 29 August 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Caro Ramsay & Craig Robertson
SNAPSHOTS OF GLASGOW
Saturday 13 August 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Alexander McCall Smith
AGE 7 - 9
Saturday 13 August 4:30pm - 5:30pm
T C Boyle
NATURE IS JUST AS MURDEROUS AS HUMAN BEINGS
Saturday 13 August 6:30pm - 7:30pm
Alexander McCall Smith
AN HOUR WITH ONE OF THE WORLD'S MOST CHARMING AUTHORS
Saturday 13 August 6:45pm - 7:45pm
Lin Anderson & Tony Black
CRIME AND THE FABRIC OF EDINBURGH AND GLASGOW
Sunday 14 August 3:30pm - 4:30pm
Megan Abbott & Kathleen Winter with Maggie O'Farrell
TEENAGERS IN TROUBLE
Sunday 14 August 6:45pm - 7:45pm
R J Ellory
INTENSE, COMPULSIVE, GUT-WRENCHING FICTION
Monday 15 August 11:30am - 12:30pm
William McIlvanney
ACCLAIMED SCOTTISH WRITER RETURNS
Monday 15 August 6:45pm - 7:45pm
Judith Flanders
WHEN MURDER WAS AN HONOURABLE PRACTICE
Tuesday 16 August 11:00am - 12:30pm
Writing Workshop
CREATING A WEB OF CHARACTERS
Tuesday 16 August 12:00pm - 1:00pm
Tim Bowler & Mike Lancaster
AGE 10 - 14
Tuesday 16 August 6:45pm - 7:45pm
David Ashton
THE ACTOR GIVES VOICE TO INSPECTOR MCLEVY
Tuesday 16 August 8:00pm - 9:00pm
Christopher Brookmyre
A FICTIONAL JOURNEY INTO GLASGOW’S GANGLAND
Thursday 18 August 11:30am - 12:30pm
Jasper Fforde
THE COMIC CRIME FANTASY GENRE IS IN SAFE HANDS
Thursday 18 August 6:30pm - 7:30pm
Val McDermid
WILL A DOTCOM MILLIONAIRE'S PAST COME BACK TO HAUNT HER?
Thursday 18 August 6:45pm - 7:45pm
Gavin Knight & Leif G W Persson
WHICH IS THE TRUE CRIME?
Friday 19 August 12:30pm - 1:30pm
Carol Ann Lee
WHAT TURNED MYRA HINDLEY INTO A KILLER?
Friday 19 August 3:00pm - 4:00pm
Quintin Jardine
CROSSING THE GLOBE IN SEARCH OF STARK TRUTHS
Friday 19 August 3:30pm - 4:30pm
The Baker Street Irregulars with Dan Boultwood & Tony Lee
AGE 10 - 14
Friday 19 August 4:30pm - 5:30pm
Stella Rimington
FORMER SPY BOSS TURNED THRILLER WRITER - AND JUDGE
Friday 19 August 8:00pm - 9:00pm
Alexander McCall Smith
THE SERIALLY-TALENTED EDINBURGH WRITER IS BACK
Saturday 20 August 6:30pm - 7:30pm
Alexander McCall Smith
AN AUDIENCE WITH ONE OF THE WORLD'S MOST CHARMING AUTHORS
Saturday 20 August 6:45pm - 7:45pm
Karen Campbell & G J Moffat
STEPPING DOWN THE MEAN STREETS
Monday 22 August 8:30pm - 9:30pm
Edward Docx & Andrew Miller
PASSION, AMBITION AND UNEXPLAINED EVENTS
Tuesday 23 August 6:30pm - 7:30pm
Ian Rankin
MEET THE NUMBER ONE BESTSELLING AUTHOR
Wednesday 24 August 3:00pm - 4:00pm
Jo Nesbø
ROARING INTO THE CRIME FICTION SUPERLEAGUE
Wednesday 24 August 6:45pm - 7:45pm
Gordon Ferris & Craig Russell
GLASGOW'S MEAN STREETS
Wednesday 24 August 8:00pm - 9:00pm
Ian Rankin
LIFE AFTER REBUS KEEPS GETTING BETTER
Thursday 25 August 4:30pm - 5:30pm
Gillian Philip
AGE 12 - 15
Thursday 25 August 6:45pm - 7:45pm
Louise Welsh
NAMINGS AND HAUNTINGS
Thursday 25 August 8:30pm - 9:30pm
David Leslie & Alexander Shannon
FROM GANG WARS TO ARMED CONFLICT
Friday 26 August 5:00pm - 6:00pm
The Western Mysteries with Caroline Lawrence
AGE 9 - 12
Friday 26 August 6:45pm - 7:45pm
Alex Gray & Stuart MacBride
SCOTTISH CRIME GETS A SHOT IN THE ARM
Friday 26 August 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Alan Bissett & Doug Johnstone
FIGHTING TALK
Saturday 27 August 4:00pm - 5:00pm
James Yorkston with Ian Rankin
ON THE ROAD WITH A SCOTTISH FOLK HERO
Saturday 27 August 6:45pm - 7:45pm
Denise Mina
TWO DEATHS CONNECTED BY A HANGING ROPE
Sunday 28 August 4:30pm - 5:30pm
Mark Billingham
THORNY ENCOUNTER WITH A HOSTAGE-TAKER
Sunday 28 August 5:00pm - 6:00pm
The New Scottish Writing
HOW FACT AND FICTION INFLUENCE OUR UNDERSTANDING OF OURSELVES
Sunday 28 August 9:30pm - 10:30pm
Eoin Colfer with Mark Billingham
CRIME THRILLER TO GET THE PULSE THUMPING
Monday 29 August 11:00am - 12:30pm
Writing Workshop
DRIVING THE PLOT
Monday 29 August 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Caro Ramsay & Craig Robertson
SNAPSHOTS OF GLASGOW
Wednesday, 15 June 2011
Wednesday Allsorts
Chris Ewan guest blogs over at Martin Edwards' place. And here, Martin talks about Paul Johnston. Lovely man that Martin Edwards (as well as being supremely knowledgeable about crime fiction).
Fifty Edinburgh Book Festival short stories. (Most of them are from last year's festival). Stories by Scottish crime fiction authors are from Gillian Philip, Karen Campbell, Denise Mina, Doug Johnstone, Louise Welsh,
A review of Craig Robertson's SNAPSHOT at Eurocrime.
If you're near Middlesbrough tomorrow, why not spend An Evening With Val McDermid? Or, if you're in Aberdeen on Sunday, you can see Stuart MacBride tossing a caber. Or talking about books. I'm not quite sure which. A bit further in advance, how about Christopher Brookmyre in North Berwick on August 9th?
The Telegraph offers audio chapters of Alexander McCall Smith's A CONSPIRACY OF FRIENDS read by Andrew Sachs.
BookDagger has an interview with Quintin Jardine.
Fifty Edinburgh Book Festival short stories. (Most of them are from last year's festival). Stories by Scottish crime fiction authors are from Gillian Philip, Karen Campbell, Denise Mina, Doug Johnstone, Louise Welsh,
A review of Craig Robertson's SNAPSHOT at Eurocrime.
If you're near Middlesbrough tomorrow, why not spend An Evening With Val McDermid? Or, if you're in Aberdeen on Sunday, you can see Stuart MacBride tossing a caber. Or talking about books. I'm not quite sure which. A bit further in advance, how about Christopher Brookmyre in North Berwick on August 9th?
The Telegraph offers audio chapters of Alexander McCall Smith's A CONSPIRACY OF FRIENDS read by Andrew Sachs.
BookDagger has an interview with Quintin Jardine.
Monday, 13 June 2011
You'll Thank Me...
First of all, some delicious treats for you. Those lovely Radgepacket boys and girls have put Radgepacket 1 and Radgepacket 2 online for the kindle for a few pennies. How good is that? And if that's not good enough, how about a freebie? Mulholland Books (always impressive and this is no exception) have got a short story collection called L.A. NOIRE to go along with the video game of the same name. And, for a short while, it's free. And if you're in the UK, it's also free. Still not happy? Then how about the new Crimefactory 6? Well, that's my reading schedule sorted out for the rest of June, anyway.
The Tucson Citizen reviews Morag Joss' AMONG THE MISSING.
Douglas Lindsay - comedy genius. Two for the price of one - cats and Cameron.
Looks like Toronto's International Festival of Authors is being taken over by the Scots - Rankin, MacBride and Mina. Nice one.
Val McDermid talks to Virtual Granny.
Lin Anderson has a new blog all about eBooks.
Finally, your humble blogger is looking for help. If anyone has any ideas for creative writing exercises which are fun/work well for a) young people, b) adult literacy learners, or c) in prisons please let me know!
The Tucson Citizen reviews Morag Joss' AMONG THE MISSING.
Douglas Lindsay - comedy genius. Two for the price of one - cats and Cameron.
Looks like Toronto's International Festival of Authors is being taken over by the Scots - Rankin, MacBride and Mina. Nice one.
Val McDermid talks to Virtual Granny.
Lin Anderson has a new blog all about eBooks.
Finally, your humble blogger is looking for help. If anyone has any ideas for creative writing exercises which are fun/work well for a) young people, b) adult literacy learners, or c) in prisons please let me know!
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