Happy Happy, Merry Merry

No Cramps today, instead, some of my favourite alternative Christmas songs.
Merry Christmas (I Don't Want To Fight Tonight) - The Ramones
Stuff The Turkey - Alien Sex Fiend
Shot My Baby For Christmas - The Vaudevilles
The Christmas Song - The Raveonettes
Christmas Card From A Hooker In Minneapolis - Tom Waits
I Do, Dear, I Do - Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds
Il Est Ne Le Divin Enfant - Siouxsie and The Banshees
I Don't Believe In Christmas - The Tabaltix
There's Trouble Brewin' - Jack Scott
Fairytale of New York - The Pogues
There Ain't No Sanity Claus - The Damned
Run, Run, Rudolph - Humpers
I Want An Alien For Christmas - Fountains of Wayne
Merry Christmas You Suckers - Paddy Roberts
Black Christmas - Poly Styrene
Santa Doesn't Cop Out On Dope - Sonic Youth
All I Want For Christmas Is A Dukla Prague Away Kit - Half Man Half Biscuit

Over at Tony Black's Pulp Pusher a series of recommendations of, and by, Scottish authors and bloggers amongst others: Post 1, post 2 and post 3. And Tony has a lovely, heartwarming, wee Christmas story up too. Manky Christmas, ya bawjaws...

Groovy Daz reviews GUN by Ray Banks. And Paul Brazill on DEAD MONEY.

Sarah at Crimepieces reviews Val McDermid's A PLACE OF EXECUTION,

Lin Anderson recommends her favourite reads. And The Express recommends Anthony Horowitz' THE HOUSE OF SILK and Ian Rankin's THE IMPOSSIBLE DEAD.

Here's Russel McLean with his top 10 books of the year.

Denise Mina with Pepys Christmas.

Stuart MacBride has a wee pressie for Evening Express readers.

A story from Alexander McCall Smith in the Express, and one in The Scotsman (does the man have a team of elves writing for him, I wonder?).

A Christmas Day radio play penned by David Ashton. And Ian Rankin's also on the radio on The Jazz House on New Year's Day.

A muscular Conan Doyle? And is Sherlock Holmes more brawn than brains too? And a treasure trove from the doctor who was the inspiration for Holmes.

Peter May's THE BLACKHOUSE is Richard and Judy's top Autumn Book Club read. And a video trailer for the follow-up - THE LEWIS MAN.

I leave you with the genius that is Douglas Lindsay, talking about the 10 worst Christmas songs.

Have a lovely festive season, Dear Reader. xxx

I Was A Teenage Werewolf

Here's your daily gratuitous Cramps title for no reason at all.

A round-up of a couple of events at the Reading Crime Festival, including M C Beaton and Stuart MacBride.

The Nerd of Noir interviews Allan Guthrie. I don't know about the rest of you, but I really want to read BIG DUNC'S HAMMER. And you can catch Al at the Electric Bookshop tomorrow.

A David Ashton radio drama starring Billy Connolly and Brian Cox.

ON CONAN DOYLE - a new book about...errrrr...Conan Doyle.

The National Library of Scotland on Robert Louis Stevenson.

Damien Seaman on why Ian Rankin's Rebus is actually Batman, the Morning Star reviews THE IMPOSSIBLE DEAD, and Ian himself on being an accidental crime writer.

Helen Fitzgerald talks about book titles. And a nice review of THE DONOR over at Fair Dinkum Crime.

Just in case you missed out on free e-books from Blasted Heath, you can get them for the rock bottom bargain price of 99p/99c for the next week. 99p? I think those boys are crack addicts.

The Glasgow International Festival of Visual Arts sounds good. Although coming across a giant head on some wasteground is a typical Saturday night out in Glasgow.

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.

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.

The Sunday Round-Up Gets Later Every Week

Lots of videos in the round-up today. First of all, here's David Ashton talking about Inspector McLevy. Next, a quickie with Irvine Welsh on the filming of ECSTASY. 4 videos of Alexander McCall Smith at the Toronto Public Library. And here's Louise Welsh reading her short story Vanishing Point.

And an audio interview with Philip Kerr.

Talking of whom - Tzer Island reviews FIELD GRAY by Philip Kerr, as does TheRecord.com. Oregon Live reviews Charles Cumming's THE TRINITY SIX. And a couple for Kate Atkinson's STARTED EARLY, TOOK MY DOG. While MmegiOnline reviews Alexander McCall Smith's THE SATURDAY BIG TENT WEDDING PARTY.

An interesting article on Denise Mina's work in progress - GODS AND BEASTS.

And, finally, the BBC is coming under fire for sneering at genre fiction during World Book Night.

Alternative World Book Night

First of all, over at Confessions of A Mystery Novelist, Margot Kinberg is holding a book raffle in aid of the Christchurch earthquake relief.

Next, a reminder of Alternative World Book Night on Saturday. Just in case you can't be bothered to click, it's all about a book that you love and that you wish was better known. The idea is simple. If you're a blogger, post on Saturday (or Sunday, or Monday...) about a book you love to recommend to people and which you wish everyone knew about because it's so good. Tell us what it's about, and why you love it. Then give a copy of it away on your blog, in any way that you like. Let me know when you've posted and I'll link to them all here. If you're not a blogger, then I'm happy to host your book rave here at Badsville. Send it to me any time - just a paragraph about the book, and also let me know how you want to give it away. I'll then post yours when I post mine on Saturday (or Sunday, or Monday if you like - I'm not good with rules :o)). It's all about loving crime fiction and wanting to share our favourites.

And now, the crime fiction news.

The intrepid Douglas Lindsay changes a light bulb.

Win a copy of M C Beaton's DEATH OF A CHIMNEY SWEEP over at Mystery Scene Magazine.

The Badly-Behaved Guest - a short story by Alexander McCall Smith.

Several reviews of Scottish authors over at the wonderful Crimesquad HQ - Alex Gray's SLEEP LIKE THE DEAD, Doug Johnstone's SMOKEHEADS (which is next on my TBR list too), and Chris Ewan's THE GOOD THIEF'S GUIDE TO LAS VEGAS. Mysterious Reviews on Louise Welsh's NAMING THE BONES. And a review of Craig Robertson's RANDOM.

An excellent post from Nigel Bird over at Sea Minor, including a lovely wee charity book from a class of six-year olds.

Ian Rankin on writing comic books.

David Ashton's McLEVY on the radio.

Val McDermid will be appearing at the Brisbane Writers Festival. I feel that there should be an apostrophe in there...

Blogger Alyssa looks at how Kate Atkinson writes characters. And the FT reviews STARTED EARLY, TOOK MY DOG.

And now, I'm off for a lie down to try and recover from a yoga class in which we did the Cobra, the Cat, the Downward Dog, the Cow Face, the Warrior and the Eagle. Although, if you happened to be looking at me through the door you would think we did the Baby Hippo, the Baby Hippo, the Baby Hippo, the Baby Hippo With A Face Like A Cow, the Baby Hippo and the How The Hell Did The Baby Hippo Tie Herself In That Knot?

Tata for now, dear Reader.

Thanks And Things

First of all, a huge thank you to everyone who has e-mailed me or DM'd me about my Lefty Award nomination for OLD DOGS. I am really, really honoured and chuffed to be nominated and haven't stopped smiling and hugging myself since. I wish I could hug the people involved in the nomination, but, since I don't know who it is/they are, I shall just thank three very special people - my lovely agent Allan Guthrie, Maxim Jakubowski of Maxcrime and the late - and much missed - David Thompson of Busted Flush. He would have been very happy.

Ian Rankin has been named an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland. That's brilliant Ian - well done. Errrrr...any chance you could come round and give me a quote for a loft conversion? Might be a few wee hitches - I actually live in a flat, so my upstairs neighbour might not be too chuffed.

One Regard enjoyed Kate Atkinson's STARTED EARLY, TOOK MY DOG, which View From Carmine Superiore calls "a damn fine read", while Shelf Love reviews BEHIND THE SCENES AT THE MUSEUM.

A BBC radio crime drama by David Ashton for your delectation.

BooksPlease picks Christopher Brookmyre for letter C of the crime fiction alphabet.

The lovely Ayo over at Shots blog continues her 'looking forward to' series of posts.

Advance warning of a literary lunch with Alexander McCall Smith on June 2nd. And Books To The Ceiling reviews CORDUROY MANSIONS.

I wish I lived in Wisconsin. They get to study Scottish crime fiction. Lucky sods. I wonder whether Professor Bob Nowlan does a distance learning version.

I Meant To Read That blog with a great review of Allan Guthrie's HARD MAN.

And, finally, talking of Super Agent Al, the wonderful Anthony Neil Smith (if you haven't read his stuff and like dark, perverse and twisted, then do yourself a favour) has an 'imaginary' conversation with his agent - the aforementioned Allan Guthrie (who looks scarily like a bald Nick Cave (although not in real life)) . Well, Neil says it's imaginary, but I can hear Al saying everything - including the "I want to make dirty, sassy love to it." In fact, especially that line.

Turds and Treasures

First of all, I want to say a big, huge, ginormous apology to everyone I've sent ARCs of OLD DOGS to (they've all been sent out, by the way). I said that it was, as yet, unedited. Today, I got the edits back from the wonderful Peter Lavery (John Blake/MaXcrime). The man is an eagle-eyed genius - an artisan of the apostrophe, a craftsman of the comma, and a guru of grammar. He has taken his talented pencil to my manuscript and it is now strewn with obvious improvements. He has, shall we say, polished the turd until it shines. It may well still be a turd, but, lo, 'tis verily a very shiny one. So, I am very sorry to all those who received the unpolished, still-steaming, foul-smelling turd.

And now, the news.

A huge congratulations to Val McDermid who wins the Cartier Diamond Dagger, and pronounces herself gobsmacked.

Peter May sets up a private detective agency in the name of research.

Alexander McCall Smith talks about 44 Scotland Street on the iPlayer.

Minnesota Reads top 10 of 2009 - includes Allan Guthrie's SAVAGE NIGHT. The rest of his list looks excellent too. I shall be searching out the ones I haven't read.

CBC Radio talks to William McIlvanney.

The executors of Conan Doyle's estate threaten to withdraw permission for a sequel.

A blog about David Ashton's McLevy.

The Minneapolis Star Tribune reviews Charles Cummings' TYPHOON. And an interesting idea (but one which sadly won't load for me) THE 21 STEPS is a Charles Cumming story which unfolds as you follow it across a map of the world.

Snowy Sunday Summary

Well, I'm sure everyone's completely fed up of snow pictures by now, but this is the first time I've really been able to get out in it and I get as excited as a five year old, so to accompany this post are some pictures of a snowy Glasgow, including one which is recognisably Glasgow - a park bench with a bottle of the aptly named Frosty Jack cider, a fag packet, a 'carry-oot' bag, an Irn Bru bottle and, touchingly, a couple of flower bouquets.

All the snow has reminded me how much I miss the children and teachers in the small villages of the Kuspuk School District in Alaska. So I have decided to go back in May - if they'll have me. At that time, the snow will be melting, the river will be unfreezing and the runways (ie small strips of potholed gravel) will be flooding. Last time I got to fly a plane and drive a snowmobile, on my first trip I drove an ATV to a glacier, this time maybe I'll get to row a boat. And now, on to the links:

The FT reviews Catriona McPherson's DANDY GILVER AND THE PROPER TREATMENT OF BLOODSTAINS, Sons of Spade with a small, but perfectly formed, review of Russel McLean's THE LOST SISTER, the wonderfully named Thoughts From An Evil Overlord reviews Ian Rankin's DOORS OPEN, and the Washington Times reviews Alexander McCall Smith's THE UNBEARABLE LIGHTNESS OF SCONES.

Ian Rankin vows to hunt downEdinburgh wheelie bin arsonists. And, for those of you on Twitter who don't already follow Ian Rankin (@Beathhigh), you should do - this was his Tweet when the police came to see him about the fires "Filth at door this afternoon; flushed the drugs ‘n’ buried the gun in compost heap, then remembered: they were here re wheelie-bin fires." Brilliant.

My Writing Life with an excellent summary of Iain Banks at an Edinburgh City Reads event.

The Wall Street Journal with an interesting article about Conan Doyle and the burden of Sherlock Holmes.

Alexander McCall Smith at the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair in March. And you can hear McCall Smith talking about 44 Scotland Street.

You can also hear a McLevy story from David Ashton here, although only for the next 17 hours. Whoops. And, talking of David Ashton, here's a New Year story in The Scotsman.

Internationally Flavoured Sunday Summary

Posh people can be neds too.

More on the Mma Ramotswe Cookbook.

Un orage dans une tasse de thé? And, continuing the European theme, I think this article about the filming of Craig Russell's book BROTHERS GRIMM - or Wolfsfährte in German - says that Craig Russell leaves his corpses in Hamburg. Or maybe not. My German is slightly rusty.

David Ashton has written a screenplay about Shah Jahan, which is being filmed with Ben Kingsley.

Trainspotting author Irvine Welsh visits an Edinburgh project which helps to get people off drink and drugs.

It's All About Dundee...Except For The Bits That Aren't

Ewan McGregor has apparently ruled out any possibility of starring in Trainspotting 2 (based on Irvine Welsh's Porno).

Here's a great post from Martin Edwards about David Ashton's Inspector McLevy. Whilst a young Conan Doyle was still toddling about in the 1860s, real-life detective James McLevy, who had a reputation for always getting his man, published collections of the cases he solved. When actor and writer David Ashton (who appeared in the excellent filmThe Last King of Scotland, as well as Dr Who and Monarch of The Glen) discovered the stories he developed the character of McLevy and his colleagues into a radio play and then two (so far) novels. In addition, Ashton is also adapting the books for a film starring Dundee actor Brian Cox (who plays McLevy in the Radio plays).

'Dundee, you say, Donna?' 'Why yes, Dundee.' How serendipitous, since that segues nicely into more Scottish book events (Scotland is, I am happy to say, getting all crime fiction-y these days - and long may it last). First of all, Russel D McLean and GJ Moffat are doing a new writers panel at the Dundee Literary Festival on Fri 26 June. And for those of you thinking of holidaying in Dundee (and why not, indeed) David Peace is appearing the day before.

I read Russel's first book THE GOOD SON at the end of last year and it was excellent. It's a gritty PI novel set in Dundee, featuring an intriguing protagonist called J McNee, who is struggling to come to terms with the death of his fiance (sorry can't work out how to do accents). He's hired by a man who has found the dead body of his estranged brother hanging from a tree and doesn't agree with the suicide theory the police are going with. There's a great interview with Russel on Pulp Pusher.

As for Russel's partner in crime fiction at the event, I'd never heard of G J Moffat before, so did a bit of digging. He's a lawyer and he has been described as 'the Scottish John Grisham'. His first novel - DAISYCHAIN - is set in Glasgow. You can read the prologue here.

Dundee is going to be up to its oxters in crime writers over the next month, as I understand that Stuart MacBride and Aline Templeton may be appearing at Waterstones in Dundee on June 16th. More details to follow.

No blog post tomorrow (no, please, at least pretend you will miss me). I have a busy day, culminating in a visit to the theatah dahling to see Ibsen's Ghosts - a tale about 'an upstanding woman in Norwegian society haunted by her dead husband’s adulterous past. Having sent her son Oswald away to protect him from his father’s treachery, his return makes the issues of incest, venereal disease and euthanasia stark realities in her life.' Yes indeedy - I know how to enjoy myself, don't I? :o)

Have a lovely weekend.