If You Do One Thing…
The show must go online for Scotland’s international crime writing festival
Get involved with Bloody Scotland, the international crime writing festival
FANS of Tartan Noir were gutted to hear the news that Stirling’s macabre book festival, Bloody Scotland, which usually takes place in September, was cancelled this year, due to the Covid-19 crisis.
But thanks to the passion and determination of the organisers, audiences will still be able to get their annual crime fix online.
Festival co-founder and best-selling Scots novelist, Lin Anderson, says the festival is embracing the opportunity to reach people at homes across the globe.
“I think it’s all about using the circumstances that you’ve been given and trying to be as innovative as possible,” Lin says.
“Interestingly, before we had to cancel the physical festival, we’d already been talking about doing some things online, so that we could include people like Val Mcdermid who couldn’t physically attend otherwise.”
“The biggest challenge for us is capturing that famous Bloody Scotland’s spirit, because our festival really is unique. Many festivals are unique, but the atmosphere of Bloody Scotland is special and that’s as much to do with our audiences as it is the authors who entertain our crowds every year.
“Bloody Scotland is a participatory event,” Lin says, “so we’re doing everything we can to maintain that.”
One of the most exciting aspects of the annual event is the prize giving ceremony for the prestigious Mcilvanney Prize, the Scottish Crime Book of the Year.
This year, Lin’s 14th novel Time for the Dead, features on the longlist – decided by independent judges – alongside fellow authors Doug Johnstone and James Oswald. Lin’s book sees Rhona Macleod, who is recuperating in Skye after a traumatic experience, stumble upon a potential murder scene.
The gripping novel has thrilled fans and proven again, that Lin is a writer on top of her game. This success, along with her wealth of experience, makes Lin the perfect chair of the 2020 Scottish Crime Debut of the Year 2020, judging panel.
“I’m working my way through the shortlisted debut novels at the moment, and I’m really enjoying it.
“It’s great to see all of the fabulous, wonderful stuff coming out of Scotland. The prize is very difficult to judge. There are so many different kinds of crime novels, so making a comparison is tricky, but that’s also one of things that makes the process fascinating.”
To find out more about this year’s festival visit bloodyscotland.com, and for an insight into the Scottish Crime Debut of the Year 2020, turn the page...
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