Douglas Skelton
27Oct

A weekend of murder and mayhem

Posted by: douglasskelton3
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It’s an attractive little town, like many in the highlands. Neat streets. Solid stone buildings. Stunning views to the mountains.

But for one weekend a year it becomes the focal point of murder and mayhem. A centre of dark acts and despicable deeds.

And that’s just the jokes in Carry on Sleuthing!

Yes, it’s time for the Wee Crime Festival in lovely Grantown-on-Spey (November 2-4).

This will mark the fourth year I’ve trekked northwards for this absolutely terrific event and one of these years they’ll find me out.

Once again the Crime Writers Associated Players (CWAP) will be debuting a brand new Carry on Sleuthing. There will be drama, horror and tears. And that’s just when Michael J. Malone can’t find his sporran.

Caro Ramsay will once again be taking the leading role. Spinster sleuth Letitia Luvibod is becoming very much her alter ego, I think.

But that’s just one event in the weekend of fun and fear.

There are top names attending this year.

Stuart McBride!

Alex Gray!

Craig Robertson!

Alex Sokoloff!

Neil Broadfoot!

Sandra Ireland!

Thomas Enger!

Margaret Kirk!

Helen Forbes!

Hugh Pugh, Barney McGrew!

Well, okay perhaps not the last two.

The events mostly take place in the Pagoda, a terrific venue in the town, while the Saturday night dinner takes over the Garth Hotel restaurant and the Sunday session will be found in Grantown Golf Club.

Come along and make a weekend of it. It is a truly great festival – Marjorie in the Bookmark and her willing band of volunteers really do a great job in pulling all this together.

 

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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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