It doesn’t seem like a year since I was last in Stirling for Bloody Scotland and yet, here we are again.

This coming weekend crime writers will descend on the town for another round of debauchery…sorry, entertaining and informative programme of crime-related events.

And debauchery. But not me, because I am clean-living soul.

My weekend will be busy, which is the way I like it.

I am part of a panel with Lucy Foley and CL Taylor on Murder in Scotland’s Wild Places (Saturday September 21 11.45am), more details here.

I’m also chairing a panel, on dysfunctional families, featuring Doug Johnstone, Iain Maitland and Michael J, Malone. Details here

But what’s really going to keep me busy is YOU THE JURY, the drama project I’ve been involved in with a talented group or lawyers, scientists and staff from the Faculty of Advocates, the James Hutton Institute and the Scottish court service.

You may recall from a previous episode that we had to increase the number of performances of this dramatized peek into a real courtroom from two to three because of demand. Click here for more details on the show itself and how I became involved.

That means on the Saturday I will be rehearsing, panelling, being a luvvie, trying to grab something to eat, then being a luvvie again. And on Sunday, it will be being a luvvie then trying to corral those pesky writers on their panel.

But before all that, I’ll be in the audience to find out who has won this year’s McIlvanney Award – Denise Mina, Ambrose Parry, Manda Scott or Doug Johnstone.

I was long-listed again this year, which is an honour. As you can see, didn’t make the short-list.

I think they got their Doug’s mixed up, frankly.

(I’m kidding! Doug’s book deserves to be on the list. I’ll still kick him during his panel, though).