Douglas Skelton
6Oct

Dark Nights and Dark Deeds in Grantown-on-Spey

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It’s autumn so that means it’s time to return to Grantown for the Halloween weekend.

This is always a high spot on my calendar, not the least because we get to do Carry on Sleuthing.

OK, maybe audiences don’t share our enthusiasm but the cast enjoy themselves. Well, most of them.

And this year, it’s a BRAND NEW show, entitled A MURDER IS MISPRONOUNCED!

Regular cast mates Caro Ramsay, Michael J. Malone and I will the joined by guests stars SG MacLean, Lesley Kelly, Olga Wojtas and James Oswald in the comedy. For want of a better word.

Shona MacLean has walked the boards before, so she should know better. Lesley Kelly has also appeared in a previous show. Olga and James are fresh meat…sorry, newcomers.

The play kicks off the festival weekend during which all the above will be joined by author Mark Leggatt for panels and chats and, on Saturday night, a quiz being concocted by Caro Ramsay.

It really is a fun weekend and if you can get to this lovely town nestling at the foot of the Cairngorms, then we’d love to see you.

See the poster illustrations for details. All events will take place in the newly refurbished Grantown YMCA Community Centre on the Main Street.

jtasjtas

 

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10Oct

Dark Nights, Dark Deeds – and some jokes – in Grantown

Posted by: douglasskelton3
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What am I doing right now, I hear you say?

Well, I’ll tell you – I’m trying to think up (Skelton speak for steal) as many jokes as I can for the opening event of this year’s crime writing festival in sunny Grantown-on-Spey.

For the past three years we have presented a new Carry on Sleuthing on the Friday night but this year is different.

Letitia Luvibod, the real-life alter ego of the fictional Caro Ramsay, has a subsequent appointment and has managed to avoid the show this year.

Frankly, we couldn’t do it without her. She told us.

So, Michael J. Malone and I have put our heads together. It was quite painful and I don’t know why we did it.

Anyway, the upshot is the opener this year will be a pot pourri of comedy. And if you have some pot, it might help.

Rather confidently called You’ll Die Laughing, the show will feature the aforementioned Mr Malone and myself, along with special guests.

I’m scribbling away right now. Well, not right now because I’m typing this, but you know what I mean. However, the only thing I can say with any measure of confidence is that the show will feature a Sherlock Holmes parody.

We think.

But the festival as a whole is super exciting. OK, no Caro Ramsay this year but we do have Theresa Talbot, Lesley Kelly, Margaret Kirk, Hania Allen, Olga Wojtas, Gillian Galbraith, Denzil Meyrick as well as, of course, Michael and your current correspondent.

All the events take place in the Pagoda, which is a superb venue, and the festival kicks off on Friday November 1.

Now – back to writing some original comedy.

I say, I say, I say….my dog has no nose…

I’m laughing already.

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19Jun

Crime Writers Room 101

Posted by: douglasskelton3
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A very serious Caro Ramsay, Neil Broadfoot and myself. I think we’d just been told Michael J. Malone was going to sing his selection of The Krankies Greatest Hits. We promise to be jollier for Room 101.

Caro Ramsay is in the chair (unless we pull it out from under her) for what promises to be an entertaining evening of likes and dislikes and the sending of items, phrases and whatever comes to mind to Room 101.

I’ll be joining Lesley Kelly, Michael J. Malone, Neil Broadfoot, Mason Cross and Frank Muir to help raise funds for the RNIB and launch the short story collection ‘Ten Year Stretch’.

Come along and see us, raise money for a good cause, have some tablet and a Pringle (one each), maybe a wee glass of wine. And a laugh.

 

More details here:

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/crime-writers-room-101-in-glasgow-argyle-st-tickets-46929104214

 

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3Jul

Surprised and honoured by prizelisting

Posted by: douglasskelton3 Categories: blog entry
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Something amazing happened this week.

If you follow me on Twitter or Facebook you may have noticed I’ve mentioned it once or twice. Maybe more. No, definitely more.

On Thursday the longlist for the very first McIlvanney Prize for Scottish Crime Book of the Year was announced.

And my name was on it, for ‘Open Wounds’.

Can I tell you that my flabber was well and truly ghasted?

I mean, look at the names on there – Ian Rankin, Val McDermid, Lin Anderson, Chris Brookmyre, Stuart MacBride, James Oswald, Doug Johnstone, Lesley Kelly, ES Thomson!

I mean, jings. I was the only name I had to Google!

To say I’m honoured is something of an understatement and not just because of the scribblers with whom I’m figuratively rubbing shoulders.

The Late William McIlvanney was a giant among writers, not just those of us down there in the mean streets of crime.

laidlaw

I recall reading ‘Laidlaw’ for the first time, way back in 1977. I got my copy from the Mystery and Thriller Guild, remember them? I discovered so many great writers through mail order book clubs and it’s a shame they have now passed into oblivion.

I still have that hardback because I hate parting with books, although by necessity I’ve had to unload a number recently.

But my favourites will never go.

My regret is that I never met Mr McIlvanney, although I did stand beside him one evening as darkness fell during Bloody Scotland. We were outside the Royal Highland Hotel and I didn’t pluck up the courage to speak to him. I wish I had.

It’s fitting the Scottish Crime Book of the Year is now awarded in his name.

Every writer on the list owes him a debt. He didn’t create what later became Tartan Noir (a term I hate but it’ll do for now). He said that himself. But he did pave the way for the rest of us to come along like a Celtic charge, a swarm of tough Scots careering towards shelves with pens and PCs held like claymores.

Whoever wins come September will be doubly proud. First that their work has been recognised. And then because the winning title will be forever associated with greatness.

When the announcement is made at Bloody Scotland, I like to think that, wherever the greats go when the writing is done, the man himself will smile and raise an approving glass.

 

 

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