Some writers get all the fun: Allan Guthrie and Denise Mina in Trinidad and Tobago. It's a hard life. Although, if you prefer, you could just relax at home with a tribute to Ian Rankin - the Rebus Rob Roy cocktail. Although...whisky, cherry liqueur, martini and lager? When I was five and my parents had a New Year's Eve party, I apparently got up early on New Year's Day, quietly went downstairs to a scene of apocalyptic devastation, ate a few soggy crisps and dried out cheese, pineapple and pickled onion on sticks and poured a few dregs into a glass and downed them. I think I invented the Rebus Rob Roy over 45 years ago. I felt awfully sick. But that might have been the cheese, pineapple and pickled onions. /anyway, I wonder if Ian drank a Rebus Rob Roy in honour of Bonham's auction of THE FLOOD. And I wonder how much it ended up going for.
And, talking about crime fiction authors in exciting places, Alexander McCall Smith goes to the opening of a meerkat enclosure. And a night out with Irvine Welsh and the Jesus and Mary Chain.
Charles Cumming on the cost of train tickets to Scotland for Edinburgh Spy Week.And on spying and writing.
Louise Welsh talks about all sorts of things, including the first in her dystopian crime thriller trilogy A LOVELY WAY TO BURN. And more from Louise here.And a review in the Independent.
More reviews - this time for Val McDermid's re-working of NORTHANGER ABBEY.And another one from girlwitherheadinabook.
Caro Ramsay on inventing an island.
Finally, man hijacks plane with a Toblerone. About as much use as a chocolate sword. And, in other sweet-toothed crime, methinks drugs were involved somewhere along the line.
Enjoy your Easter eggs, dear Reader.
Showing posts with label Louise Welsh. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Louise Welsh. Show all posts
Friday, 18 April 2014
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.
Thursday, 12 January 2012
Has it really been a week?
Hello, world, I'd forgotten what you look like. You're really rather lovely, aren't you?
Essays are done, but were swiftly followed by more whooshing deadlines. This week's involved me sitting on a bus listening to conversations. This almost led to me getting my wee head kicked in. But it was fun. I also spent two and a half hours going through a large bin of shredded paper trying to piece together something which should never have been shredded. Successfully, I may add. I felt like I was in a really long, very boring version of CSI Glasgow.
Anyway, just a wee Scottish crime fiction update.
Some Sherlock stuff first: a review of the film A GAME OF SHADOWS, and another one, and Steven Moffat on the TV Sherlock (which I'm really enjoying).
Alex Gray, Caro Ramsay, G J Moffat and Craig Robertson at the Pitlochry Festival from January 27th.
A review of Ian Rankin's THE IMPOSSIBLE DEAD, one of Kate Atkinson's STARTED EARLY, TOOK MY DOG, Josephine Tey's THE MAN IN THE QUEUE and reviews of Alexander McCall Smith's THE FORGOTTEN AFFAIRS OF YOUTH and THE RIGHT ATTITUDE TO RAIN.
Peter May on the Quercus Couch.
Peter Rozovsky at Detectives Beyond Borders gets into Allan Guthrie's shorts.
A really interesting interview with Louise Welsh about Scotland.
Hopefully, I will get back to normal posting some time soon...maybe by July...
Essays are done, but were swiftly followed by more whooshing deadlines. This week's involved me sitting on a bus listening to conversations. This almost led to me getting my wee head kicked in. But it was fun. I also spent two and a half hours going through a large bin of shredded paper trying to piece together something which should never have been shredded. Successfully, I may add. I felt like I was in a really long, very boring version of CSI Glasgow.
Anyway, just a wee Scottish crime fiction update.
Some Sherlock stuff first: a review of the film A GAME OF SHADOWS, and another one, and Steven Moffat on the TV Sherlock (which I'm really enjoying).
Alex Gray, Caro Ramsay, G J Moffat and Craig Robertson at the Pitlochry Festival from January 27th.
A review of Ian Rankin's THE IMPOSSIBLE DEAD, one of Kate Atkinson's STARTED EARLY, TOOK MY DOG, Josephine Tey's THE MAN IN THE QUEUE and reviews of Alexander McCall Smith's THE FORGOTTEN AFFAIRS OF YOUTH and THE RIGHT ATTITUDE TO RAIN.
Peter May on the Quercus Couch.
Peter Rozovsky at Detectives Beyond Borders gets into Allan Guthrie's shorts.
A really interesting interview with Louise Welsh about Scotland.
Hopefully, I will get back to normal posting some time soon...maybe by July...
Sunday, 20 November 2011
Call Me Irresponsible
Just a quick round-up post today. I've been out giving training all day and this evening we're off out to see The Vaccines. I have a soft spot for them, not least because last time we saw them they came on stage to the Ramones. This weekend's film viewing was THE HELP which I enjoyed more than I thought I was going to.
A review of Anthony Horowitz' new Sherlock Holmes story THE HOUSE OF SILK. It's also reviewed in The Telegraph, along with M C Beaton's AS THE PIG TURNS.
Louise Welsh and Zoe Strachan at Glasgow's Bibliocafe on 2nd December.
Alexander McCall Smith on the portrait of 'False Mary', as writers create imaginary lives for portraits with unknown sitters. What a lovely idea.
Allan Guthrie gets a mention in The Edinburgh Evening News.
Kirkus Reviews best 15 of 2011 (is it that time already?) includes Ian Rankin and Charles Cumming. Talking of Ian Rankin, The Hindustan Times reviews THE IMPOSSIBLE DEAD.
Reading Matters reviews Doug Johnstone's SMOKEHEADS. And Auntie Em reviews Denise Mina's THE END OF THE WASP SEASON.
Apparently, once you turn 40 you turn to biographies rather than fiction, economics books are going to be the big things next year (good grief, spare me), and it's irresponsible to read fiction in tough times. Well, call me irresponsible.
A review of Anthony Horowitz' new Sherlock Holmes story THE HOUSE OF SILK. It's also reviewed in The Telegraph, along with M C Beaton's AS THE PIG TURNS.
Louise Welsh and Zoe Strachan at Glasgow's Bibliocafe on 2nd December.
Alexander McCall Smith on the portrait of 'False Mary', as writers create imaginary lives for portraits with unknown sitters. What a lovely idea.
Allan Guthrie gets a mention in The Edinburgh Evening News.
Kirkus Reviews best 15 of 2011 (is it that time already?) includes Ian Rankin and Charles Cumming. Talking of Ian Rankin, The Hindustan Times reviews THE IMPOSSIBLE DEAD.
Reading Matters reviews Doug Johnstone's SMOKEHEADS. And Auntie Em reviews Denise Mina's THE END OF THE WASP SEASON.
Apparently, once you turn 40 you turn to biographies rather than fiction, economics books are going to be the big things next year (good grief, spare me), and it's irresponsible to read fiction in tough times. Well, call me irresponsible.
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'.
Thursday, 29 September 2011
Mmmmmm...bacon
First of all, thanks for the birthday wishes. I had a lovely day and my birthday is continuing into this weekend, with a night out, the cinema, and a gig (Bombay Bicycle Club).
Outtakes from Charles Cummings' conversation with Dominic West (The Wire) about The Trinity Six.
Alexander McCall Smith talks about manners in the 21st century. And gives an address on why society is broken. The Travel Game looks at Botswana. And is AMS really, really tall, or is that just a really tiny car?
More on the 'lost' first novel of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
Culture Northern Ireland reports on the Colin Bateman/Ian Rankin event. And a not so short review of a Rebus short story. And Ian curates a music festival (I want that man's job). He'll be in Manchester on October 13th talking about THE IMPOSSIBLE DEAD.
Catch Val McDermid at the upcoming Ilkley Literature Festival.
The Guardian looks at the best writing courses, which includes one run by Louise Welsh and Andrew Taylor.
Crime Central loves Kate Atkinson.
And, finally, burglary gives you an appetite.
And now, I am off to finish my essay on the Big Society and nip next door to cook some of my neighbour's food.
Outtakes from Charles Cummings' conversation with Dominic West (The Wire) about The Trinity Six.
Alexander McCall Smith talks about manners in the 21st century. And gives an address on why society is broken. The Travel Game looks at Botswana. And is AMS really, really tall, or is that just a really tiny car?
More on the 'lost' first novel of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
Culture Northern Ireland reports on the Colin Bateman/Ian Rankin event. And a not so short review of a Rebus short story. And Ian curates a music festival (I want that man's job). He'll be in Manchester on October 13th talking about THE IMPOSSIBLE DEAD.
Catch Val McDermid at the upcoming Ilkley Literature Festival.
The Guardian looks at the best writing courses, which includes one run by Louise Welsh and Andrew Taylor.
Crime Central loves Kate Atkinson.
And, finally, burglary gives you an appetite.
And now, I am off to finish my essay on the Big Society and nip next door to cook some of my neighbour's food.
Thursday, 1 September 2011
"Its fists are faster than its thoughts"
Greetings from chuffed and excited of Glasgow. I recently entered a competition run jointly by two fabulous sites - Pulp Press and For Books' Sake - who were looking for some pulp fiction short stories written by women. And I'm thrilled to say that my story DEPRAVITY LANE will be in their joint anthology coming out in November! I got carried away and entered a handful of stories, but this one is my homage to William Lindsay Gresham's NIGHTMARE ALLEY and is named after a song by Alien Sex Fiend. Now I need to think what to do with the other stories.
The lovely Bookwitch reports on an event with Karen Campbell.
Several reviews - first of all one of Denise Mina's THE DEAD HOUR, Crime Fiction Lover reviews Val McDermid's THE RETRIBUTION, A Penman's Manifesto looks at Gordon Ferris' THE HANGING SHED, a short review of Louise Welsh's Edinburgh Book Festival event, and one of the Ian Rankin event and a review of the TV version of Denise Mina's FIELD OF BLOOD, which is being repeated on BBC Scotland.
A German review of Tony Black's GEOPFERT (which translates as SACRIFICED, but is actually PAYING FOR IT). I actually did better struggling to read it in German, rather than relying on the always entertaining Babelfish, which gave me the title of this post, as well as the incomprehensible "There an evenly discovered, pleasing-blowing feature would be lost to us in the crime film world also equivalent again. Thus, fingers away of too much whisky."
Alexander McCall Smith (possibly the world's most travelled crime fiction author) will be appearing at a festival in Bali in October.
Peter May's THE BLACK HOUSE is one of Richard and Judy's Book Club Autumn Reads (I'm really happy to see Megan Abbott's THE END OF EVERYTHING on the list).
The Edinburgh Book Festival ELSEWHERE short stories will be published in a four-volume collection. See here for the list of authors - which includes Karen Campbell, Denise Mina, Doug Johnstone and Louise Welsh.
Renaissance Man is on a roll with Ian Rankin. And John Hannah is set to play Rebus again, but this time in a spoof. Talking of Ian Rankin, he performed in a play to close the Edinburgh Book Festival, but says it will be a one-off.
The lovely Bookwitch reports on an event with Karen Campbell.
Several reviews - first of all one of Denise Mina's THE DEAD HOUR, Crime Fiction Lover reviews Val McDermid's THE RETRIBUTION, A Penman's Manifesto looks at Gordon Ferris' THE HANGING SHED, a short review of Louise Welsh's Edinburgh Book Festival event, and one of the Ian Rankin event and a review of the TV version of Denise Mina's FIELD OF BLOOD, which is being repeated on BBC Scotland.
A German review of Tony Black's GEOPFERT (which translates as SACRIFICED, but is actually PAYING FOR IT). I actually did better struggling to read it in German, rather than relying on the always entertaining Babelfish, which gave me the title of this post, as well as the incomprehensible "There an evenly discovered, pleasing-blowing feature would be lost to us in the crime film world also equivalent again. Thus, fingers away of too much whisky."
Alexander McCall Smith (possibly the world's most travelled crime fiction author) will be appearing at a festival in Bali in October.
Peter May's THE BLACK HOUSE is one of Richard and Judy's Book Club Autumn Reads (I'm really happy to see Megan Abbott's THE END OF EVERYTHING on the list).
The Edinburgh Book Festival ELSEWHERE short stories will be published in a four-volume collection. See here for the list of authors - which includes Karen Campbell, Denise Mina, Doug Johnstone and Louise Welsh.
Renaissance Man is on a roll with Ian Rankin. And John Hannah is set to play Rebus again, but this time in a spoof. Talking of Ian Rankin, he performed in a play to close the Edinburgh Book Festival, but says it will be a one-off.
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.
Sunday, 21 August 2011
I'm a Thug and a Zombie
Hello, dear Reader, I hope you've had a splendid weekend. I've just spent a lovely day filming part of a short film for a charity I'm involved in. When I say 'filming', my involvement was minor, consisting mainly of fielding variations on the question "Haw, hen, is this part of that Brad Pitt zombie film they're making in George Square?" I'm trying to tell myself that they're mistaking me for Angelina Jolie, rather than a zombie, but...since I look as though I've eaten Angelina Jolie and still had room left over for dessert, I'm not exactly convincing anyone. My confidence was further dashed when we were filming in one of the stations. We had to get security passes, complete with photos, to be allowed to film there. Two of my colleagues - let's call them John Smith and Fred Jones - were first up to get their passes. They came back with nicely printed passes in the names of Mr J Smith and Mr F Jones. I was up next. I helpfully spelled my name. "Is that with an R E at the end?" said the official. I said that it was. I received my pass. All it said was "Donaldmuire". I didn't even get a Mr. I mean, the photograph wasn't particularly flattering but...still.
Allan Guthrie's Thuggish 13. And look at me, in there, nestled in such good company, looking all hard and mean and that.
A nice review of Len Wanner's DEAD SHARP: SCOTTISH CRIME WRITERS ON COUNTRY AND CRAFT. And a few more reviews - Denise Mina's THE END OF THE WASP SEASON, M C Beaton's DEATH OF A CHIMNEY SWEEP, Craig Russell's THE DEEP DARK SLEEP and BERTIE PLAYS THE BLUES by Alexander McCall Smith.
A short story by the brilliant Ray Banks over at Shotgun Honey.
I don't know whether Radio New Zealand have just put up these old radio interviews with Kate Atkinson and Val McDermid, but they just came up in my google alerts, so I thought I'd mention them.
Talking of Val, some reviews from the Edinburgh Book Festival, including one of Val's event. More book festival stuff with a review of the Iain Banks event, one of the William McIlvanney one I mentioned previously, and a podcast with Louise Welsh. And the Falkirk Herald chats to Alan Bissett.
The full line-up of the Soho Literary Festival, which includes Philip Kerr.
Allan Guthrie's Thuggish 13. And look at me, in there, nestled in such good company, looking all hard and mean and that.
A nice review of Len Wanner's DEAD SHARP: SCOTTISH CRIME WRITERS ON COUNTRY AND CRAFT. And a few more reviews - Denise Mina's THE END OF THE WASP SEASON, M C Beaton's DEATH OF A CHIMNEY SWEEP, Craig Russell's THE DEEP DARK SLEEP and BERTIE PLAYS THE BLUES by Alexander McCall Smith.
A short story by the brilliant Ray Banks over at Shotgun Honey.
I don't know whether Radio New Zealand have just put up these old radio interviews with Kate Atkinson and Val McDermid, but they just came up in my google alerts, so I thought I'd mention them.
Talking of Val, some reviews from the Edinburgh Book Festival, including one of Val's event. More book festival stuff with a review of the Iain Banks event, one of the William McIlvanney one I mentioned previously, and a podcast with Louise Welsh. And the Falkirk Herald chats to Alan Bissett.
The full line-up of the Soho Literary Festival, which includes Philip Kerr.
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, 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.
Monday, 18 April 2011
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.
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.
Thursday, 10 March 2011
"Sherlock Holmes is an arrogant cokehead"
On Monday my lovely friend 27 (aka Kieran) and I went to see Allan Guthrie, Denise Mina and Louise Welsh in an event at Aye Write. The topic of the discussion was heroes and villains in Scottish crime fiction.
The moderator of the session - Glasgow University's Dr Matt McGuire - referred the panel to a TV programme which Sebastian Faulks had been on, where he had said that there are no heroes in literary fiction and he asked the panellists what they thought.
Denise Mina had seen the programme but she said that he did not define his term for 'hero' and was also not swayed by Faulks' absolute conviction that there is a distinction between 'high art and low art'. Louise Welsh said that when she thinks of a hero she thinks of someone like Bruce Willis, and is not really able to come up with a straightforward, uncomplicated 'hero' in fiction at all. Allan Guthrie noted that Sebastian Faulks wrote at least one James Bond novel and Bond is actually not a very nice character. Sam Spade is not particularly heroic and his motivations are dubious, similarly Mike Hammer. Al also said that the prevalent idea in publishing is that a book should have a character who is brave and good, but that readers are more sophisticated than publishers give them credit for. (Totally agree - I prefer my protagonists flawed, complicated, and often downright evil). He then called Sherlock Holmes an "arrogant coke head". At least, I think it was coke...
Denise Mina wondered whether Faulks meant a 2D character - she noted that if you don't read a lot of crime fiction, then you might think that crime fiction heroes are going to be 2D.
Louise Welsh added that a lot of crime fiction is a quest, and the reader is going on that journey with the protagonist.
Dr McGuire asked what crime fiction allowed the panellists to do as writers. Denise Mina said that crime fiction allows her to do anything she wants. She also added that books should be entertainment, no matter how highfalutin the book is.
Louise Welsh said that people perceive crime fiction as being about good and bad and the righting of wrongs, and she said this is untrue. Crime fiction is full of compromised characters and the challenge for the reader is how far you are going to go along with them (she gave the example of Ripley).
Al said that readers tend to put themselves in the shoes of the protagonist/narrator. In commercial publishing it's seen as very difficult to sell books with anti-heroes and he noted that both his books and his book sales reflect that! He said that it's much easier for readers to associate themselves with the detective. If you empathise with that character and then that character does something abhorrent, then you may push the reader away.
Denise noted that the attraction of a character like Ripley is the power they have.
Dr McGuire asked whether the idea of heroism has changed/is changing. Denise mentioned that the first hero was actually a woman - from the Goddess Hera. She said that what she finds heroic are communitarian ideas, and people making heroic decisions in their own lives.
Louise noted that, politically/culturally we appear to be going back to the 80s. What makes a central character interesting is the problems he or she faces and women face a lot of problems. Dr McGuire added that if male heroism is asserted through violence, women have to assert themselves in a different way. Al said that this was not necessarily the case and sometimes it's the other way round (Zoe Sharp's Charlie Fox, for example).
Denise said that people assume that a book with a masculine author name will be gender neutral, and that books with a female name on the front are going to be all about flower arranging. I have to say that I don't altogether agree with this. The sex of an author is never something that I take note of when trying a new to me author. If I'm browsing in a bookstore the first thing that makes me pluck a book off the shelf of books which are equally unknown to me is probably something about the title or the cover. And this might be something totally inconsequential. If the title is the same as the title or lyrics of a punk or indie song then I'm certain to pick it up. If it's a bizarre title then I'll probably pick it up - ISLAND OF THE SEQUINED LOVE NUN, or NIGHT OF THE AVENGING BLOWFISH for example. On the other hand, any puns involving food, flowers or pets will cause me to move on hurriedly. As will a cover with a syringe on the front. Or the word 'code' or 'conspiracy' in the title. After I've picked it up then I'll read the back cover. If it still appeals then I'll read the first paragraph. And that's it. What about you, dear Reader? What draws you to a book that you know nothing about?)
Anyway, back to the event. There were then some questions from the audience. I couldn't hear all of them but I got the responses.
Denise noted that the character who is most like her in all the books she has written is Lachie in SANCTUM. She said that the book wasn't much liked in the UK so when she meets someone who says they liked it, she says she feels like you would if someone kissed your ugly child.
Al said that things were changing in publishing and that with the explosion of ebooks, it's a great time to be a writer and a reader, but maybe not to be a publisher. When asked if he had figures to back this up he said that he had sold more ebooks in two months than he had sold print books in seven years. He said ebooks provide a lot of variety for readers and also a break for writers who might be bored with what they are writing. He said that the 'Big Book' now has to be very big indeed and a lot of publishers will only take something on if they feel it is going to sell fifty thousand copies.
An audience member asked if we need a fictional hero right now, given what is happening in the world.
Denise said that she is currently writing a book loosely based on the Tommy Sheridan story. She said that she always thought she would go into politics, but then she discovered that she had a really bad temper. Louise said that she would love to believe in heroes but finds that she can't. She said that you shouldn't invest too much in any single individual and that people are flawed. Her last hero was David Bowie and then she found out he had said all sorts of terrible things.
Al said that he tends to write the books he wants to read and that he can't buy into the hero type - there's something unrealistic about it. You know that faced with the fight or flight decision they're going to fight. Al's personal recommendation was that instead of going to self-defence classes, people should learn how to sprint :o)
One questioner asked whether the days of Miss Marple had gone forever. Denise said that people read and watch TV or many different reasons. She, herself, loves the magazine Take A Break, as well as the sorts of books that you're embarrassed to be seen reading. She also loves true crime.
Al said that according to statistics by publishers John Blake, of all the books they supplied to Waterstones,17.5% of true crime books were stolen, while only 1.5% of every other category were stolen.
They were asked whether they would ever write true crime. Al said that fiction is his forte and he always got marked down at school for using fiction where he should be using fact. However, a lot of true crime triggers his fiction. Louise said that when she was at university a history lecturer once said "I always like your essays because you always leave a wee cliffhanger."
The panellists were then asked who their own literary heroes are. Louise said that she is always wary of heroes because that anyone who looks too good to be true probably is - citing Ted Bundy as an example. She said that Jane Eyre is a brave character - she has no advantages and yet she goes out into the world, as is Allan Breck Stewart. Denise said that her literary heroes were George Orwell (because of his political writings) and Mikhail Bulgakov (because of the humourous way he writes about being a writer). Al cited Dashiell Hammett as being ahead of his time, and David Goodis, who gave a voice to losers - there are no heroes in any of his books.
And there we go. A great time was had by all.
The moderator of the session - Glasgow University's Dr Matt McGuire - referred the panel to a TV programme which Sebastian Faulks had been on, where he had said that there are no heroes in literary fiction and he asked the panellists what they thought.
Denise Mina had seen the programme but she said that he did not define his term for 'hero' and was also not swayed by Faulks' absolute conviction that there is a distinction between 'high art and low art'. Louise Welsh said that when she thinks of a hero she thinks of someone like Bruce Willis, and is not really able to come up with a straightforward, uncomplicated 'hero' in fiction at all. Allan Guthrie noted that Sebastian Faulks wrote at least one James Bond novel and Bond is actually not a very nice character. Sam Spade is not particularly heroic and his motivations are dubious, similarly Mike Hammer. Al also said that the prevalent idea in publishing is that a book should have a character who is brave and good, but that readers are more sophisticated than publishers give them credit for. (Totally agree - I prefer my protagonists flawed, complicated, and often downright evil). He then called Sherlock Holmes an "arrogant coke head". At least, I think it was coke...
Denise Mina wondered whether Faulks meant a 2D character - she noted that if you don't read a lot of crime fiction, then you might think that crime fiction heroes are going to be 2D.
Louise Welsh added that a lot of crime fiction is a quest, and the reader is going on that journey with the protagonist.
Dr McGuire asked what crime fiction allowed the panellists to do as writers. Denise Mina said that crime fiction allows her to do anything she wants. She also added that books should be entertainment, no matter how highfalutin the book is.
Louise Welsh said that people perceive crime fiction as being about good and bad and the righting of wrongs, and she said this is untrue. Crime fiction is full of compromised characters and the challenge for the reader is how far you are going to go along with them (she gave the example of Ripley).
Al said that readers tend to put themselves in the shoes of the protagonist/narrator. In commercial publishing it's seen as very difficult to sell books with anti-heroes and he noted that both his books and his book sales reflect that! He said that it's much easier for readers to associate themselves with the detective. If you empathise with that character and then that character does something abhorrent, then you may push the reader away.
Denise noted that the attraction of a character like Ripley is the power they have.
Dr McGuire asked whether the idea of heroism has changed/is changing. Denise mentioned that the first hero was actually a woman - from the Goddess Hera. She said that what she finds heroic are communitarian ideas, and people making heroic decisions in their own lives.
Louise noted that, politically/culturally we appear to be going back to the 80s. What makes a central character interesting is the problems he or she faces and women face a lot of problems. Dr McGuire added that if male heroism is asserted through violence, women have to assert themselves in a different way. Al said that this was not necessarily the case and sometimes it's the other way round (Zoe Sharp's Charlie Fox, for example).
Denise said that people assume that a book with a masculine author name will be gender neutral, and that books with a female name on the front are going to be all about flower arranging. I have to say that I don't altogether agree with this. The sex of an author is never something that I take note of when trying a new to me author. If I'm browsing in a bookstore the first thing that makes me pluck a book off the shelf of books which are equally unknown to me is probably something about the title or the cover. And this might be something totally inconsequential. If the title is the same as the title or lyrics of a punk or indie song then I'm certain to pick it up. If it's a bizarre title then I'll probably pick it up - ISLAND OF THE SEQUINED LOVE NUN, or NIGHT OF THE AVENGING BLOWFISH for example. On the other hand, any puns involving food, flowers or pets will cause me to move on hurriedly. As will a cover with a syringe on the front. Or the word 'code' or 'conspiracy' in the title. After I've picked it up then I'll read the back cover. If it still appeals then I'll read the first paragraph. And that's it. What about you, dear Reader? What draws you to a book that you know nothing about?)
Anyway, back to the event. There were then some questions from the audience. I couldn't hear all of them but I got the responses.
Denise noted that the character who is most like her in all the books she has written is Lachie in SANCTUM. She said that the book wasn't much liked in the UK so when she meets someone who says they liked it, she says she feels like you would if someone kissed your ugly child.
Al said that things were changing in publishing and that with the explosion of ebooks, it's a great time to be a writer and a reader, but maybe not to be a publisher. When asked if he had figures to back this up he said that he had sold more ebooks in two months than he had sold print books in seven years. He said ebooks provide a lot of variety for readers and also a break for writers who might be bored with what they are writing. He said that the 'Big Book' now has to be very big indeed and a lot of publishers will only take something on if they feel it is going to sell fifty thousand copies.
An audience member asked if we need a fictional hero right now, given what is happening in the world.
Denise said that she is currently writing a book loosely based on the Tommy Sheridan story. She said that she always thought she would go into politics, but then she discovered that she had a really bad temper. Louise said that she would love to believe in heroes but finds that she can't. She said that you shouldn't invest too much in any single individual and that people are flawed. Her last hero was David Bowie and then she found out he had said all sorts of terrible things.
Al said that he tends to write the books he wants to read and that he can't buy into the hero type - there's something unrealistic about it. You know that faced with the fight or flight decision they're going to fight. Al's personal recommendation was that instead of going to self-defence classes, people should learn how to sprint :o)
One questioner asked whether the days of Miss Marple had gone forever. Denise said that people read and watch TV or many different reasons. She, herself, loves the magazine Take A Break, as well as the sorts of books that you're embarrassed to be seen reading. She also loves true crime.
Al said that according to statistics by publishers John Blake, of all the books they supplied to Waterstones,17.5% of true crime books were stolen, while only 1.5% of every other category were stolen.
They were asked whether they would ever write true crime. Al said that fiction is his forte and he always got marked down at school for using fiction where he should be using fact. However, a lot of true crime triggers his fiction. Louise said that when she was at university a history lecturer once said "I always like your essays because you always leave a wee cliffhanger."
The panellists were then asked who their own literary heroes are. Louise said that she is always wary of heroes because that anyone who looks too good to be true probably is - citing Ted Bundy as an example. She said that Jane Eyre is a brave character - she has no advantages and yet she goes out into the world, as is Allan Breck Stewart. Denise said that her literary heroes were George Orwell (because of his political writings) and Mikhail Bulgakov (because of the humourous way he writes about being a writer). Al cited Dashiell Hammett as being ahead of his time, and David Goodis, who gave a voice to losers - there are no heroes in any of his books.
And there we go. A great time was had by all.
Sunday, 20 February 2011
Cinematic Sunday Round-Up
This weekend's film viewing was a real mixture. First of all, we saw a fast paced thriller called LONDON TO BRIGHTON which was excellent, if sometimes very uncomfortable viewing. A low key British thriller which has a prostitute and a young female runaway fleeing London for the safety of Brighton. The first scene has the young girl - her face tear-stained and make-up streaked - hiding out in a grubby public toilet, while the prostitute - one eye blackened a swollen - goes out onto the street to get some money for their train journey. Right from the start I knew this wasn't going to be easy viewing. And it wasn't. It was brutal, hard-hitting and pretty bloody grim, but not unrelentingly so. Good job we watched it at home, since I cried. The acting was excellent - particularly from the actress playing the runaway (Georgia Groome). If you do see the film, watch the outtakes - it lightens the mood and makes you remember it's just a film.
On Saturday it was off to the Glasgow Film Festival to see two films. The first of these was ATTENBERG - a Greek film from the same director as the weird and wonderful DOGTOOTH. It's about a naive young woman - Marina - who tries to make sense of the world around her by watching the animal documentaries of David Attenborough and listening to the band Suicide. She has one friend - Bella - who she practises kissing with, as well as spitting out of windows and doing weird walks. The only other characters are Marina's father, who's dying of cancer, and a man visiting the town who Marina drives around. I quite liked bits of it but there were a lot of scenes that seemed pointless and only there for padding. There was no real plot, and not enough other stuff to replace a plot, if that makes sense. It doesn't have enough soul. OK, but not as good as Dogtooth.
The second film was an altogether much more satisfying experience - a Danish film called NOTHING'S ALL BAD. Like Attenberg, it focuses on four main characters - each of them has their own problems, all of them have experienced pain and their wounds are raw - be they physical, psychological or emotional, all of them are lonely and isolated, and all of them have needs and desires. Their stories really draw you in, and none of them are as you expect. Funny, touching, sad, compelling, witty, understated. It's sometimes shocking, sometimes grim, sometimes hilarious - I really loved this film. Dad - it's not one for Mum. There's a fair bit of sex in it. In fact, you'd better not watch it either.
Onto the crime fiction news. Loads of reviews today. First of all, Publisher's Weekly review Gerald Hammond's ILLEGAL TENDER, oneregard enjoyed Kate Atkinson's STARTED EARLY, TOOK MY DOG and The Guardian liked Charles Cumming's THE TRINITY SIX, relishing the 'tweedy warmth of an old school spy thriller'
Peter May is getting lots of ink - both print and virtual. Lovereading reviews THE BLACKHOUSE, as does The Scotsman, while the LitWitch reviews BLOWBACK.
The Scotsman has an article on Gordon Ferris' THE HANGING SHED - apparently a Kindle hit. I downloaded it to my lovely new Kindle last week and am looking forward to reading it.
Join The Pelican Post for An Afternoon With Alexander McCall Smith on March 3rd. And Itchy Coo, publishers of Alexander McCall Smith's Scots language books, are to close.
Talking of events, I was gutted to discover that both Women On The Dark Side events at Aye Write, with Karen Campbell, Denise Mina, Caro Ramsay, Louise Welsh, Alice Thompson and Alex Gray are sold out. However, on the plus side, my friend Twenty-Seven and I have tickets for this event with Allan Guthrie, Denise Mina and Louise Welsh, and I'm hoping to go to this one with Doug Johnstone.
On Saturday it was off to the Glasgow Film Festival to see two films. The first of these was ATTENBERG - a Greek film from the same director as the weird and wonderful DOGTOOTH. It's about a naive young woman - Marina - who tries to make sense of the world around her by watching the animal documentaries of David Attenborough and listening to the band Suicide. She has one friend - Bella - who she practises kissing with, as well as spitting out of windows and doing weird walks. The only other characters are Marina's father, who's dying of cancer, and a man visiting the town who Marina drives around. I quite liked bits of it but there were a lot of scenes that seemed pointless and only there for padding. There was no real plot, and not enough other stuff to replace a plot, if that makes sense. It doesn't have enough soul. OK, but not as good as Dogtooth.
The second film was an altogether much more satisfying experience - a Danish film called NOTHING'S ALL BAD. Like Attenberg, it focuses on four main characters - each of them has their own problems, all of them have experienced pain and their wounds are raw - be they physical, psychological or emotional, all of them are lonely and isolated, and all of them have needs and desires. Their stories really draw you in, and none of them are as you expect. Funny, touching, sad, compelling, witty, understated. It's sometimes shocking, sometimes grim, sometimes hilarious - I really loved this film. Dad - it's not one for Mum. There's a fair bit of sex in it. In fact, you'd better not watch it either.
Onto the crime fiction news. Loads of reviews today. First of all, Publisher's Weekly review Gerald Hammond's ILLEGAL TENDER, oneregard enjoyed Kate Atkinson's STARTED EARLY, TOOK MY DOG and The Guardian liked Charles Cumming's THE TRINITY SIX, relishing the 'tweedy warmth of an old school spy thriller'
Peter May is getting lots of ink - both print and virtual. Lovereading reviews THE BLACKHOUSE, as does The Scotsman, while the LitWitch reviews BLOWBACK.
The Scotsman has an article on Gordon Ferris' THE HANGING SHED - apparently a Kindle hit. I downloaded it to my lovely new Kindle last week and am looking forward to reading it.
Join The Pelican Post for An Afternoon With Alexander McCall Smith on March 3rd. And Itchy Coo, publishers of Alexander McCall Smith's Scots language books, are to close.
Talking of events, I was gutted to discover that both Women On The Dark Side events at Aye Write, with Karen Campbell, Denise Mina, Caro Ramsay, Louise Welsh, Alice Thompson and Alex Gray are sold out. However, on the plus side, my friend Twenty-Seven and I have tickets for this event with Allan Guthrie, Denise Mina and Louise Welsh, and I'm hoping to go to this one with Doug Johnstone.
Sunday, 23 January 2011
Aye, Right, it's Aye Write
First of all, this weekend's film viewing. First was a French film called Harry, un ami qui vous veut du bien. The English title - although sticking reasonably close to the French - was the rather rubbish - Harry, He's Here To Help. Don't let the title put you off. It's a lovely little witty psychological thriller. A French family, on the way to the holiday home which they are doing up, meet up with an old school-friend of the husband, Michel. Michel has only the vaguest memories of Harry, but Harry seems to be rather more...obsessed... with Michel. Hitchcockian suspense, black comedy, and nicely low-key. Our next film was The Disappearance of Alice Creed - a claustrophobic British thriller with a cast of three and which mostly takes place in one room - a room where two men take a young woman and hold her hostage, in order to extract a large ransom from her rich father. A good (but not great) thriller - gritty and twisty but lacking in something. I didn't care enough about any of the characters. Well worth a watch, though.
The Aye Write programme is up. From a quick look through, the crime related events are (I've put a * by the ones I'm planning on attending, if anyone fancies meeting up):
Friday March 4th
Jasper Fforde - 18.00 - 19.00
Saturday March 5th
Alexander McCall Smith - 10.30-11.30
Denise Mina, Karen Campbell, Caro Ramsay - 14.00-15.00 *
Alex Gray, Louise Welsh, Alice Thompson - 15.30-16.30 *
Mark Billingham and Jo Nesbo - 19.00-20.00
Sunday March 6th
Val McDermid - 17.00-18.00 *
Monday March 7th
Allan Guthrie, Denise Mina, Louise Welsh - 19.30-20.30 *
Tuesday March 8th
Kevin MacNeil - 18.00-19.00 (not sure if it's crime fiction but one description calls it a 'dark, maniacal thriller'. It looks excellent. *
Doug Johnstone - 19.30-20.30 *
Friday March 11th
Christopher Brookmyre - 21.00-23.00
Saturday March 12th
Iain M Banks and Ken MacLeod 14.00-15.00 (although this one is more SF)
Neil Forsyth - 15.30-16.30 (more his comedy than crime fiction)
I think that's it, but if I've missed anything, please let me know.
And another event, on 4th February Louise Welsh at the GFT talking about Robert Louis Stevenson and the Theatre of The Brain.
And now, a few reviews. First of all, a very thoughtful and interesting review of Stuart MacBride's SHATTER THE BONES, The Star Online reviews Ian Rankin's THE COMPLAINTS, and the lovely Dorte enjoys John Buchan's THE THIRTY-NINE STEPS.
Ian Rankin, amongst others, talks about turning fifty.
And, finally, David Thomas in The Mail on The Pitbull of The Baskervilles.
The Aye Write programme is up. From a quick look through, the crime related events are (I've put a * by the ones I'm planning on attending, if anyone fancies meeting up):
Friday March 4th
Jasper Fforde - 18.00 - 19.00
Saturday March 5th
Alexander McCall Smith - 10.30-11.30
Denise Mina, Karen Campbell, Caro Ramsay - 14.00-15.00 *
Alex Gray, Louise Welsh, Alice Thompson - 15.30-16.30 *
Mark Billingham and Jo Nesbo - 19.00-20.00
Sunday March 6th
Val McDermid - 17.00-18.00 *
Monday March 7th
Allan Guthrie, Denise Mina, Louise Welsh - 19.30-20.30 *
Tuesday March 8th
Kevin MacNeil - 18.00-19.00 (not sure if it's crime fiction but one description calls it a 'dark, maniacal thriller'. It looks excellent. *
Doug Johnstone - 19.30-20.30 *
Friday March 11th
Christopher Brookmyre - 21.00-23.00
Saturday March 12th
Iain M Banks and Ken MacLeod 14.00-15.00 (although this one is more SF)
Neil Forsyth - 15.30-16.30 (more his comedy than crime fiction)
I think that's it, but if I've missed anything, please let me know.
And another event, on 4th February Louise Welsh at the GFT talking about Robert Louis Stevenson and the Theatre of The Brain.
And now, a few reviews. First of all, a very thoughtful and interesting review of Stuart MacBride's SHATTER THE BONES, The Star Online reviews Ian Rankin's THE COMPLAINTS, and the lovely Dorte enjoys John Buchan's THE THIRTY-NINE STEPS.
Ian Rankin, amongst others, talks about turning fifty.
And, finally, David Thomas in The Mail on The Pitbull of The Baskervilles.
Sunday, 16 January 2011
From Zombies to Superheroes
Fancy some graphic novels? Geeks.co.uk reviews Denise Mina's A SICKNESS IN THE FAMILY, as well as some Sherlock Holmes adventures, including VICTORIAN UNDEAD: SHERLOCK HOLMES VS ZOMBIES. And Broken Frontier also reviews SICKNESS.
If you live in Tyneside, how about an evening with Stuart MacBride on February 3rd? No zombies...probably.
A review of Graham Moore's THE SHERLOCKIAN, and THE HOLMES AFFAIR and the blog In Which I Read Vintage Novels reviews John Buchan's THE THREE HOSTAGES. Keith Walters really enjoyed Craig Robertson's RANDOM, and reviews over at Eurocrime for M C Beaton's AGATHA RAISIN AND THE BUSY BODY and Grant McKenzie's SWITCH.
Talking of John Buchan, here's his grandson on the 39 steps to writing the perfect thriller.
Louise Welsh will be giving a reading at the University of Glasgow on Tuesday 18th January.
Allan Guthrie has a new blog E-Books That Sell.
It looks as though Alexander McCall Smith is going to be busy again next year. As well as the Aye Write gig, there's a musical night with him in Edinburgh on March 4th, and he's appearing at the William and Mary College in Colonial Williamsburg on April 7th.
Better hurry up if you want tickets for a special screening of TRAINSPOTTING on 2nd February.
And, finally, I do wish Glasgow could have its own Superhero like Seattle does. Given the latest bizarre twist to the Tommy Sheridan perjury trial, I think Glasgow's should be a wee yellow and black striped hero called Spelling Bee.
If you live in Tyneside, how about an evening with Stuart MacBride on February 3rd? No zombies...probably.
A review of Graham Moore's THE SHERLOCKIAN, and THE HOLMES AFFAIR and the blog In Which I Read Vintage Novels reviews John Buchan's THE THREE HOSTAGES. Keith Walters really enjoyed Craig Robertson's RANDOM, and reviews over at Eurocrime for M C Beaton's AGATHA RAISIN AND THE BUSY BODY and Grant McKenzie's SWITCH.
Talking of John Buchan, here's his grandson on the 39 steps to writing the perfect thriller.
Louise Welsh will be giving a reading at the University of Glasgow on Tuesday 18th January.
Allan Guthrie has a new blog E-Books That Sell.
It looks as though Alexander McCall Smith is going to be busy again next year. As well as the Aye Write gig, there's a musical night with him in Edinburgh on March 4th, and he's appearing at the William and Mary College in Colonial Williamsburg on April 7th.
Better hurry up if you want tickets for a special screening of TRAINSPOTTING on 2nd February.
And, finally, I do wish Glasgow could have its own Superhero like Seattle does. Given the latest bizarre twist to the Tommy Sheridan perjury trial, I think Glasgow's should be a wee yellow and black striped hero called Spelling Bee.
Monday, 20 December 2010
Now My Mum's At It...
It's not just my Dad who can be confusing. My Mum was sitting reading the paper - which is always a fraught time of the morning, since her conversation is interspersed with such gems as "Barbara Windsor is no better than she should be" and "I don't know why they don't just set fire to it" (don't ask). Today's discussion went like this:
Mum: I don't understand that Looky-Loo thingy.
Me: That what?
Mum: You know. That Justin LeStrange thing.
I, of course, am still none the wiser.
Mum: The com-poo-ter thing. [That is how computer is pronounced, by the way]
Me: WikiLeaks? Julian Assange?
Mum: Yes, that's what I said.
I mentioned in my previous post that my parents live in a wee retirement community. It's lovely, and very friendly. Every Christmas, there is a very detailed Christmas display with lights and snowmen and Santas and elves. Here's a picture of it.
But wait - let's get a close-up of Scary Santa and Evil Elf, shall we? Yep, that's right. It's a good job this place is full of pensioners, rather than children. I've only been here 2 nights and both of them have been filled with nightmares about that elf.
I think Evil Elf is saying to Scary blue eyeshadow-wearing Santa "Watch it, perv. You do that again and it won't just be your thumb I'll tie around your pipe."
My Mum goes for a walk up the corridor a few times a day. When the display was in the process of being built she was shocked to see what she thought was half a naked body lying in the corridor. It was Evil Elf when he was without his Elf costume. So, just Evil then.
I am staying upstairs while I'm here, in the building's guest room. In the room is a camp bed which was taken downstairs for my brother to sleep on. We had a little discussion about who was to carry it:
Mum: I'll send your Dad up for it.
Me: Dad's nearly 80. Darren (my brother) and I will bring it down.
Mum: Darren can help your Dad. But don't let Darren walk backwards down the stairs.
Me: Why?
Mum: I don't want him falling and breaking his neck.
Me: What about Dad? What about an 80 year-old man falling downstairs and breaking his neck?
My Mum shrugged, thought for a moment and said: Your Dad and Darren can carry the campbed. You walk downstairs in front of them, then you'll break their fall.
Cheers, Mater.
However, I finally saw her get her come-uppance today. She introduced me to one of her neighbours today. A dear, tiny 90 year-old lady who said to me "How do you put up with your mum, dear? She's a bit..." and then she made a face that I wish I could have bottled and dragged out to show my Mum from time to time.
Since I am currently writing a screenplay about a retirement community, this is all invaluable research...
Anyway, I promise I won't bore you with family tales any more. On to the Scottish Crime Fiction news.
Noirboiled Notes has a quickie with Allan Guthrie.
The Globe and Mail reviews Louise Welsh's NAMING THE BONES, the Irish Independent reviews Kate Atkinson's STARTED EARLY, TOOK MY DOG, the Book Faerie reviews Ian Rankin's THE COMPLAINTS and Shelf Abuse reviews Denise Mina's A SICKNESS IN THE FAMILY, as does Blogging For A Good Book.
See Lin Anderson, Karen Campbell and Aline Templeton at Edinburgh's Waterstone's West End on February 3rd. And Tony Black is in Florida on January 20th. Lucky Tony.
The Guardian talks about authors twittering.
Scriblets looks at Philip Kerr's Berlin Noir trilogy.
Ian Rankin on Deutsche Welle.
Bertie's Christmas by Alexander McCall Smith in The Scotsman. And an article in the Telegraph on McCall Smith and online novels.
The Guardian talks about the difficulties of bringing crime fiction to TV, particularly in terms of casting (I love the line "It's like coming home for Christmas and finding your Nan has been replaced by Dougray Scott.")
Mum: I don't understand that Looky-Loo thingy.
Me: That what?
Mum: You know. That Justin LeStrange thing.
I, of course, am still none the wiser.
Mum: The com-poo-ter thing. [That is how computer is pronounced, by the way]
Me: WikiLeaks? Julian Assange?
Mum: Yes, that's what I said.
I mentioned in my previous post that my parents live in a wee retirement community. It's lovely, and very friendly. Every Christmas, there is a very detailed Christmas display with lights and snowmen and Santas and elves. Here's a picture of it.
But wait - let's get a close-up of Scary Santa and Evil Elf, shall we? Yep, that's right. It's a good job this place is full of pensioners, rather than children. I've only been here 2 nights and both of them have been filled with nightmares about that elf.
I think Evil Elf is saying to Scary blue eyeshadow-wearing Santa "Watch it, perv. You do that again and it won't just be your thumb I'll tie around your pipe."
My Mum goes for a walk up the corridor a few times a day. When the display was in the process of being built she was shocked to see what she thought was half a naked body lying in the corridor. It was Evil Elf when he was without his Elf costume. So, just Evil then.
I am staying upstairs while I'm here, in the building's guest room. In the room is a camp bed which was taken downstairs for my brother to sleep on. We had a little discussion about who was to carry it:
Mum: I'll send your Dad up for it.
Me: Dad's nearly 80. Darren (my brother) and I will bring it down.
Mum: Darren can help your Dad. But don't let Darren walk backwards down the stairs.
Me: Why?
Mum: I don't want him falling and breaking his neck.
Me: What about Dad? What about an 80 year-old man falling downstairs and breaking his neck?
My Mum shrugged, thought for a moment and said: Your Dad and Darren can carry the campbed. You walk downstairs in front of them, then you'll break their fall.
Cheers, Mater.
However, I finally saw her get her come-uppance today. She introduced me to one of her neighbours today. A dear, tiny 90 year-old lady who said to me "How do you put up with your mum, dear? She's a bit..." and then she made a face that I wish I could have bottled and dragged out to show my Mum from time to time.
Since I am currently writing a screenplay about a retirement community, this is all invaluable research...
Anyway, I promise I won't bore you with family tales any more. On to the Scottish Crime Fiction news.
Noirboiled Notes has a quickie with Allan Guthrie.
The Globe and Mail reviews Louise Welsh's NAMING THE BONES, the Irish Independent reviews Kate Atkinson's STARTED EARLY, TOOK MY DOG, the Book Faerie reviews Ian Rankin's THE COMPLAINTS and Shelf Abuse reviews Denise Mina's A SICKNESS IN THE FAMILY, as does Blogging For A Good Book.
See Lin Anderson, Karen Campbell and Aline Templeton at Edinburgh's Waterstone's West End on February 3rd. And Tony Black is in Florida on January 20th. Lucky Tony.
The Guardian talks about authors twittering.
Scriblets looks at Philip Kerr's Berlin Noir trilogy.
Ian Rankin on Deutsche Welle.
Bertie's Christmas by Alexander McCall Smith in The Scotsman. And an article in the Telegraph on McCall Smith and online novels.
The Guardian talks about the difficulties of bringing crime fiction to TV, particularly in terms of casting (I love the line "It's like coming home for Christmas and finding your Nan has been replaced by Dougray Scott.")
Sunday, 5 December 2010
"I went outside for a fag and my snowman was gone"
Saturday 5th March 2011 is World Book Night. I think it's a brilliant idea. 1 million books to be given away by passionate readers. 20,000 readers who apply will be chosen to give away 50 copies of their chosen book from a list of 25 titles. As I say, brilliant. I was, however, a bit disappointed by the list of books. Not because they're bad books. But because they are, on the whole, big, well-known books. They've either won awards, or had a lot of press for one reason or another, so most readers will at least already have heard of them, even if they haven't read them.
So, dear reader, how about an Alternative World Book Night? Now, I don't know about the rest of you, but I can't afford to give away a million books. Or 50 books. But I can afford to give away one book. A book that maybe isn't so well known but which I love and which deserves to be far better known - maybe Eddie Muller's THE DISTANCE, or Donald Ray Pollock's KNOCKEMSTIFF, or John Welter's NIGHT OF THE AVENGING BLOWFISH, or one of Douglas Lindsay's Barney Thompson novels, or one of Paul Johnston's Quintilian Dalrymple series, or Declan Burke's EIGHTBALL BOOGIE or...or...or... So many choices. Books I have either bought copies of for people, or thrust my copy into peoples' hands saying "Here, you have to read this book."
Any bloggers fancy joining me on 5th March and giving away a book you love which other people may not have heard of? I know it's a long way away, but I'll remind you :o) All you have to do is post on 5th March with a summary of the book, why you love it and offer it to someone (however you want, competition, draw it out of a hat...whatever). If you're joining in, let me know, and I'll link to them all here. Anyone without a blog who wants to join in, also let me know and I'll host your book rave here. So, what do you think? Anyone in?
And now, some Scottish crime fiction stuff.
Ian Rankin on family. Lovely stuff.
The Times Colonist on Kate Atkinson's STARTED EARLY, TOOK MY DOG. And Book Bird Dog reviews M C Beaton's BUSY BODY.
Over at Type M For Murder, Peter May introduces Aline Templeton. And Murder By Type takes a look at Peter Turnbull.
An article on Alexander McCall Smith at Jumeirah.
New of the Danny Boyle Trainspotting sequel.
Congratulations to Louise Welsh, who has been appointed Writer In Residence at Glasgow University.
And, finally, a couple of snow stories. I'm just imagining my mum's reaction to the video one...
So, dear reader, how about an Alternative World Book Night? Now, I don't know about the rest of you, but I can't afford to give away a million books. Or 50 books. But I can afford to give away one book. A book that maybe isn't so well known but which I love and which deserves to be far better known - maybe Eddie Muller's THE DISTANCE, or Donald Ray Pollock's KNOCKEMSTIFF, or John Welter's NIGHT OF THE AVENGING BLOWFISH, or one of Douglas Lindsay's Barney Thompson novels, or one of Paul Johnston's Quintilian Dalrymple series, or Declan Burke's EIGHTBALL BOOGIE or...or...or... So many choices. Books I have either bought copies of for people, or thrust my copy into peoples' hands saying "Here, you have to read this book."
Any bloggers fancy joining me on 5th March and giving away a book you love which other people may not have heard of? I know it's a long way away, but I'll remind you :o) All you have to do is post on 5th March with a summary of the book, why you love it and offer it to someone (however you want, competition, draw it out of a hat...whatever). If you're joining in, let me know, and I'll link to them all here. Anyone without a blog who wants to join in, also let me know and I'll host your book rave here. So, what do you think? Anyone in?
And now, some Scottish crime fiction stuff.
Ian Rankin on family. Lovely stuff.
The Times Colonist on Kate Atkinson's STARTED EARLY, TOOK MY DOG. And Book Bird Dog reviews M C Beaton's BUSY BODY.
Over at Type M For Murder, Peter May introduces Aline Templeton. And Murder By Type takes a look at Peter Turnbull.
An article on Alexander McCall Smith at Jumeirah.
New of the Danny Boyle Trainspotting sequel.
Congratulations to Louise Welsh, who has been appointed Writer In Residence at Glasgow University.
And, finally, a couple of snow stories. I'm just imagining my mum's reaction to the video one...
Sunday, 21 November 2010
"Don't bring me a fat one"
Alexander McCall Smith's Precious Ramotswe would not be happy. I particularly love this quote from Botswana's President (amazingly, he's single):
"He then turned to the corpulent Botlhogile Tshireletso, a female minister, and said: "I don't want one like this one. She may fail to pass through the door, breaking furniture with her heavy weight and even break the vehicles' shock absorbers.""
Damn - it looks like I should give up those girlish dreams of being queen of Botswana, then.
Some videos have been posted by the Edinburgh Book Festival with some of the events - including ones with Louise Welsh, Denise Mina and Karen Campbell. Each one of those has a Part 2.
And, talking of Louise Welsh, here's an excellent review of THE CUTTING ROOM.
Ian Rankin on the best Scottish albums of 2010. I'm looking forward to seeing Mogwai in January. But before that, I have a second Black Rebel Motorcycle Club gig to look forward to. Oh, and while we're on the subject of gigs - Sonic Youth - next time you play a gig in the UK, please could you let me know before all the bloody tickets sell out. Thanks. Grumpy of Glasgow.
But I digress - back to Ian Rankin - he's in conversation with Phil Jupitus at the Edinburgh Bookshop on 16 December.
Supporter of the arts? Fan of Glasgow Celtic? Like William McIlvanney? Unbelievably rich? Then this is the gift for you.
I've said it before, and I'll say it again. Douglas Lindsay's blog - brilliant stuff.
Christopher Brookmyre talks about what makes a good title on BBC Radio 4.
Over at the excellent Psycho-Noir, Heath Lowrance has invited various crime fiction luminaries and ne'er-do-wells to come up with their Essential 20 Noirs. The lovely Nigel Bird of Sea Minor weighs in with his list, which includes several great Scots (plus several other favourites of mine - KNOCKEMSTIFF by Donald Ray Pollock, a Joe Lansdale, and Camus' L'Etranger). I've been watching this series of posts and noting down with glee the noir suggestions that I haven't read. And, by the way, Mr Lowrance, I am awaiting with some impatience a tap on the shoulder from THE BASTARD HAND.
And, finally, huge congratulations to my friend Michael Malone. Looking forward to reading BLOOD TEARS and putting your name on the roster of Scottish writers, our Michael!
"He then turned to the corpulent Botlhogile Tshireletso, a female minister, and said: "I don't want one like this one. She may fail to pass through the door, breaking furniture with her heavy weight and even break the vehicles' shock absorbers.""
Damn - it looks like I should give up those girlish dreams of being queen of Botswana, then.
Some videos have been posted by the Edinburgh Book Festival with some of the events - including ones with Louise Welsh, Denise Mina and Karen Campbell. Each one of those has a Part 2.
And, talking of Louise Welsh, here's an excellent review of THE CUTTING ROOM.
Ian Rankin on the best Scottish albums of 2010. I'm looking forward to seeing Mogwai in January. But before that, I have a second Black Rebel Motorcycle Club gig to look forward to. Oh, and while we're on the subject of gigs - Sonic Youth - next time you play a gig in the UK, please could you let me know before all the bloody tickets sell out. Thanks. Grumpy of Glasgow.
But I digress - back to Ian Rankin - he's in conversation with Phil Jupitus at the Edinburgh Bookshop on 16 December.
Supporter of the arts? Fan of Glasgow Celtic? Like William McIlvanney? Unbelievably rich? Then this is the gift for you.
I've said it before, and I'll say it again. Douglas Lindsay's blog - brilliant stuff.
Christopher Brookmyre talks about what makes a good title on BBC Radio 4.
Over at the excellent Psycho-Noir, Heath Lowrance has invited various crime fiction luminaries and ne'er-do-wells to come up with their Essential 20 Noirs. The lovely Nigel Bird of Sea Minor weighs in with his list, which includes several great Scots (plus several other favourites of mine - KNOCKEMSTIFF by Donald Ray Pollock, a Joe Lansdale, and Camus' L'Etranger). I've been watching this series of posts and noting down with glee the noir suggestions that I haven't read. And, by the way, Mr Lowrance, I am awaiting with some impatience a tap on the shoulder from THE BASTARD HAND.
And, finally, huge congratulations to my friend Michael Malone. Looking forward to reading BLOOD TEARS and putting your name on the roster of Scottish writers, our Michael!
Thursday, 11 November 2010
Pizza, Mice and Magic Mushrooms
Literary Kicks has an excellent article on the authors bringing "a new level of violence and linguistic excellence to the craft and giving life to some of the darkest visions put to paper since Poe was found floating in a Baltimore gutter." Some of my favourite authors there, plus a couple I've never tried (William Christopher Baer and Roger Smith - I'm now eager to try both- especially Baer). I can also think of a longish list of authors I would include. Does anyone have any other suggestions? (she asks, rubbing her hands in dark, warped anticipation).
And, at completely the other end of the spectrum, a review of M C Beaton's A SPOONFUL OF POISON.
Ian Rankin and Lin Anderson are to be part of Edinburgh's Hogmanay celebrations.
A crime fiction event with Louise Welsh and Zoe Beck (whose latest novel is set in Berlin and Edinburgh) at the Mitchell Library on 30th November.
If you're a writer, you could do worse than have a look at these tip sheets from Highlands and Islands Arts, including an excellent one from the actually just almost lovely Allan Guthrie on pleonasms.
And, almost finally, I can just imagine the robber turning up stuffing his face with a slice of pizza.
Absolutely finally, talking of stuffing... (Dad, I wouldn't bother reading that link if I were you). With thanks to Steve Mosby for posting that link on Twitter.
And, at completely the other end of the spectrum, a review of M C Beaton's A SPOONFUL OF POISON.
Ian Rankin and Lin Anderson are to be part of Edinburgh's Hogmanay celebrations.
A crime fiction event with Louise Welsh and Zoe Beck (whose latest novel is set in Berlin and Edinburgh) at the Mitchell Library on 30th November.
If you're a writer, you could do worse than have a look at these tip sheets from Highlands and Islands Arts, including an excellent one from the actually just almost lovely Allan Guthrie on pleonasms.
And, almost finally, I can just imagine the robber turning up stuffing his face with a slice of pizza.
Absolutely finally, talking of stuffing... (Dad, I wouldn't bother reading that link if I were you). With thanks to Steve Mosby for posting that link on Twitter.
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