Documentary charts the rise of Scottish crime fiction

A new short film charts the rise of Scottish crime fiction and sheds new light on the success of the UK’s bestselling genre. Including never before seen interviews with some of the biggest names in crime writing, it traces the origins of one of key influences on all of their work. Produced by Publishing Scotland…

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High spirits as The Alchemist opens first Scots restaurant

The Alchemist officially opens the doors to its first-ever Scottish site today. October 22. Based in the heart of Edinburgh’s St James Quarter – and it’s offering locals the chance to get in touch with their spiritual side. Teaming up with world renowned centre for spirituality, The Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Centre, The Alchemist will…

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Beloved books are given a new Scottish twist

Two beloved children’s books have been translated into Scots for the first time. A Bad Beginning is the first in the bestselling 13-part A Series of Unfortunate Events series by Lemony Snicket while award-winning author Matt Haig’s 2015 novel, A Boy Called Christmas, has also been given a new twist by Black & White Publishing.…

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The Glencairn Glass invites crime writers to enter short story comp

Are you an author with a murderous imagination, a crime that needs capturing or a deadly deed to document? Well here’s your chance … The Glencairn Glass – the world’s favourite whisky glass – and sponsor of the McIlvanney and Bloody Scotland Debut crime-writing prizes, is looking for crime short stories, launching the competition with…

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The Stillman is a novel packed with dark humour

The Stillman is Tom McCulloch’s first novel and the characterisation of protagonist Jim Drever surely draws on the author’s upbringing in the Highlands. We’re in 2010, the worst winter in years, and Jim, stillman at a Highland distillery, has just turned 50. His obsessions are his comfortingly predictable job, and the movies, full of fictional…

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A gripping mystery full of historical facts

Original Death is the third book in Eliot Pattison’s colonial mystery series – following on from Bone Rattler and Eye Of The Raven. It sees exiled Scottish clan chief Duncan McCallum attempting to solve the murder of an entire village of Native Americans during the pre-revolutionary era. Pattison’s writing incorporates historical fact and is all…

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The perfect companion for salmon fishing lovers

Salmon Flies: Past and Present is a fascinating guide for salmon fishing enthusiasts. It contains detailed dressings for 28 flies, including fully dressed flies, hairwings, Spey flies and shrimp patterns. As well as instructions on how to create these beautiful flies, the author has included possible alternatives to any hard to find, illegal or expensive…

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A fascinating look at Scotland’s eagles

Jim Crumley has been described as ‘the best nature writer working in Britain today,’ and this work on the return to Scotland of the magnificent white-tailed eagle – or sea eagle – certainly proves that point. Crumley’s beautiful, descriptive prose paints a magnificent picture of these most graceful and majestic creatures. Crumley has spent years…

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Viking-age treasure from the Galloway Hoard on show

One of the most important UK archaeological finds of the century, The Galloway Hoard, has gone on display from October at Kirkcudbright Galleries. The exhibition, Galloway Hoard: Viking-age Treasure, offers the first chance to see details hidden for over a thousand years, revealed by expert conservation, painstaking cleaning and cutting-edge research. The exhibition opened on…

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A fascinating look at the churches of Glasgow

Anyone who walks around Glasgow can’t fail to be impressed with its architecture. Despite being someone who has lived in the west of Scotland for the vast majority of his life, there are times when I forget to look around me and appreciate the beautiful buildings which are there. Some of the most impressive of…

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