Post-Harrogate Post

Well, Harrogate Crime Festival was excellent. Not that I went to any events, so I can't comment on those, but it was so brilliant to catch up with old friends and to make new ones who you feel as though you've known forever. I'm not going to list everyone, because that would just be ridiculous, but you know who you are because I probably hugged you several times (or, if I didn't know you very well, I probably shook your hand whilst wishing I knew you well enough to hug you). Some brief highlights:

Getting to spend time with the gorgeous Christa Faust after missing out on an LA trip last year due to pneumonia. (Photo courtesy of Adele (who, at one point during the weekend, told me I wasn't scary after all. Am I scary, dear Reader?))

Lovely agent Allan Guthrie calling the screenplay I just sent him 'a humdinger' (he never usually says anything nice to me...)

Getting to meet Steve Mosby's gorgeous little baby boy.

The hilarious dinner where we developed a concept for the new TV show RUN, RUSSEL, RUN starring Russel D McLean and his catchphrase "Now THAT I can do." Thanks to Al, Damien, Kate, Charles, Adele, Kat, Vincent and Russel for such a fun evening.

My lovely new shoes - courtesy of the aforementioned Christa Faust.

Being insulted by young Kat Heubeck in such a lovely way. Knowing that I am a big fan of 70s punk (it having been the music of my heyday), Christa had also bought me a book about an LA punk club from the late 1970s. Kat, taking a look at it, said "Oh! A history book." I am, officially, history.

Meeting one of my heroes - Cathi Unsworth - and getting to talk music with her. It made me come home and play my old Sisters of Mercy albums.

Being inspired by Harrogate to finish up/write three short stories on the train on the way home, and dying to get stuck into the new screenplay.

Anyway, a wee bit of Scottish crime fiction news, because it doesn't just all stop while I'm away, you know. Before that, a rather marvellous picture from Harrogate of those Reservoir Scots Allan Guthrie, Stuart MacBride and Russel McLean (aka Mr Giggle, Mr Ponytail and Mr Breadcrumbs).

Craig Russell unwittingly leads tourists astray.

A review of Alexander McCall Smith's THE DOG WHO CAME IN FROM THE COLD, reviews of Grant McKenzie's SWITCH and NO CRY FOR HELP, and Publisher's Weekly on Denise Mina's THE END OF THE WASP SEASON.

Win tickets to the Edinburgh Book Festival.

Finally, several authors who were at Harrogate choose their favourite fictional characters.

I Appear To Have Caught Up With Some Slightly Stale News

The Daily Telegraph held a live Q&A with Alexander McCall Smith. It is, of course, live no longer (the rigor mortis is just wearing off) but here it is.

Irvine Welsh is one of a great line-up at the Perth Writers Festival in February 2010. I got very excited about this, until I realised that it was Perth, Australia, rather than Perth, Scotland, just up the road.

A Sherlock Holmes themed tourism campaign.

The always interesting and thought-provoking Margot Kinberg on when sleuths get it wrong.

Innocent Bystander with a great review of Chris Ewan's GOOD THIEF'S GUIDE TO PARIS.

Kate Atkinson's CASE HISTORIES to be filmed for TV.

And, finally, brilliant news for my lovely friends Christa Faust (OK, so she's not Scottish but she did visit in November) and Allan Guthrie (world's best agent). And the book sounds great. I'm looking forward to spending time with Angel Dare again.

Dodgy Tummies and Saucy Slippers

Well, what a lovely weekend. First of all Friday spent with the gorgeous (on all levels) Christa Faust. The day included a bus tour on an open-topped bus (Glasgow, November - need I say more?), a trip to Glasgow's wonderful Necropolis, the weirdest and least scary horror exhibition in the world (I am probably the only person who has ever screamed there, and that's only because Christa came up behind me when I wasn't expecting it). The scariest thing about it was that it was located in a street the taxi driver didn't want to go down - we practically had to jump out of the taxi while he was still driving.

And I really wasn't trying to get my own back on Christa for making me walk 40 miles in Indianapolis in high heels. There was also an evening of good friends (big hugs to Christa, Charles, Kieran and Ewan), great chat, and good food.

Christa, sadly, was not able to appreciate the food as she was feeling slightly dodgy following a vegetarian meal the night before with the World's Most Dangerous Vegetarian, Allan Guthrie.

I always knew lettuce was bad for you. Christa should have stuck to deep fried pizza and haggis. As the pharmacist said when we went into Boots The Chemist to get her some medicine "Remember, Edinburgh made you sick, Glasgow made you better." Ah, Scotland's east/west rivalry is a marvellous thing.

Christa was a real trouper. She was great company and great fun despite feeling really rough.

And Christa knows me too well. This was her gift to me. Delicious.

Then last night we went to see the film Up which was wonderful. Funny, touching and totally delightful.

And now, a wee round up of some Scottish crime fiction news.

First of all, the Telegraph rounds up the 100 books which have defined the noughties (for better or worse), including a fair smattering of crime fiction and a couple of Scots.

Sherlock Holmes movie blog launched.

A review of Sue Walker's THE BURNING in Bookmunch.

A catch up of Alexander McCall Smith's 44 SCOTLAND STREET in The Scotsman (for Barbara).

Iain Banks on the question of legalising drugs.

And finally, to celebrate Robert Louis Stevenson's birthday, an online archive of all his works, plus "extracts of little-known poetry, letters, rarely seen family photographs and his observations on friends, family and favourite authors."