Books
The Good Books, Andrés N. Ordorica: ‘I have held onto The Wind in the Willows since I was a child, it’s a magical reading experience’
Andrés N. Ordorica on love, poetry and how James Baldwin continues to inspire him. The first book I remember reading: I don’t quite think it was the first book I read, but definitely one that has stayed with me from a young age: The Wind in the Willows. When I was quite young, my…
Read MoreThe Good Books, Gordon J. Brown: ‘Stephen King nearly got me fired from my job as a bar man because I couldn’t put his books down’
Founder of crime writing festival Bloody Scotland, Gordon J. Brown, talks about his love of Stephen King, why he could never finish Lord of the Rings, and the latest book from Denzil Meyrick after his death. The first book I remember reading: Although I read The Famous Five and The Secret Seven when I…
Read MoreThe Good Books, Rosie Walker: ‘I’m absolutely in awe of Taylor Jenkins Reid, her novels are incredibly well-researched’
Rosie Walker on her love of Taylor Jenkins Reid novels, the books she is most looking forward to this year, and what she read as a child. The first book I remember reading: My parents read a lot with me as a child and I loved books from a really young age. I remember…
Read MoreThe Good Books, Elissa Soave: ‘I am very lucky I grew up surrounded by books’
Elissa Soave on the book she always recommends, what she’s reading now, and the author who has inspired her. The first book I remember reading: I was very lucky that my mum was a reader so I grew up surrounded by books. I remember being particularly struck by Enid Blyton’s The Magic Faraway Tree.…
Read MoreA day at Aberdeen’s crime writing festival Granite Noir
Granite Noir, Aberdeen’s literary festival, has wrapped up after another successful year bringing crime and creativity to the Granite City. Grant Dickie spent a day at the Music Hall events to find out just what was on offer. Literature at Lunchtime with C.J. Cooke I have been a fan of C.J. Cooke’s writing for…
Read MoreThe Good Books, Lisa Ballantyne: ‘I am anticipating Margaret Atwood’s memoir, as I young writer I found great solace in her non-fiction’
Scottish writer Lisa Ballantyne on how she always tries to finish a book, the author who has inspired her and what’s she is reading now. The first book I remember reading: Before I even went to school, I remember ‘pretending’ to read Winnie the Pooh by AA Milne. Reading was definitely something I aspired…
Read MoreTributes paid to Scottish crime writer Denzil Meyrick who has died aged 59
The bestselling author Denzil Meyrick has died, aged 59, peacefully at his home in Loch Lomond, his agent and publisher have announced. Denzil Meyrick, who was born in Glasgow on November 28, 1965 and brought up in Campbeltown, became one of Scotland’s biggest-selling crime writers, and spent a varied career as a police officer, a…
Read MoreThe Good Books, Lynne McEwan: ‘Reading outside your comfort zone can definitely pay big dividends’
Scottish author Lynne McEwan on the classic novel she never finished, why crime fiction is a great way to experience other cultures, and the book she is reading now. The first book I remember reading: Once Upon a Time, a beautiful hardback book of fairy tales with some terrifying illustrations. It was translated into…
Read MoreThe Good Books, Kirsty Logan: ‘I am rereading Doppelganger by Naomi Klein, it’s the perfect brain food’
We speak to Scottish author Kirsty Logan about her favourite books, the authors who inspire her, and what she’s reading now, ahead of her appearance at Granite Noir. The first book I remember reading: The Dribblesome Teapots by Norman Hunter, a collection of quirky, weird, funny little fairytales set in the fantastical land of Inkrediblania. …
Read MoreBook Lovers Bookshop: We speak to the author behind the UK’s first brick and mortar romance-only bookshop
Romance may be one of the biggest money-making genres in the publishing industry, but it has historically been dismissed in literary circles due to outdated and biased opinions on its content and craft. We spoke to Caden Armstrong, the 24-year-old romance author of Truthfully, Yours and owner of the UK’s first brick and mortar romance-only…
Read More