News

My fourth novel, is now finished and I have started to work on the next one. Like my three previous crime novels the setting is Dundee, Scotland. Sad to say my first novel, a fishing saga, languishes in the bottom drawer and will never see the light of day.

March 2007

I had a super weekend at the SAW conference at Erskine Bridge. My knees had been quaking a bit before I did my adjudication speech on Saturday morning (I was first on) but it all went well. I awarded a first, second and third prize and recommended three other stories for the Unpublished Authors competition. The first prize (the Eastwood Trophy) went to Victoria Gemmell from Erskine, second prize went to Cathie Devitt, Erskine, and third prize to Christine Campbell, Edinburgh. Have a decco at the three prizewinners. Angus Writers also did well at the conference. Liz Strachan won the General Article competition (the Alastair Walker Trophy), and the Children's Short Story ( the Writers' News Trophy), and was commended for the Scholarship and the Book Review. Eleanor Fordyce came third in the Woman's Short Story competition and was commended for the Humorous Article. Gillian Blackmore came third in the Writers' News Mini Story . Joan Christie was commended for the Book Review and the Mini Story competitions. So between my adjudication and the Angus Writers' achievements it was a great success for Angus, and being in the company of all those who attended the conference made it a super weekend. Click link for More Photos

April 2007

My new novel is finally finished. I wrote the last chapter on 23rd April. Now for the hard slog of editing and final revisions.

2nd May 2007

I have spent years avoiding election to Angus Writers' Circle committee because it took me 8 years to wriggle my way out of being the club secretary. But last night I succumbed to the blandishments (read thumbscrews and other modes of torture) of the newly appointed president, and much to my disgust (only kidding Wilma) became vice president. I am convinced the club will live to regret my appointment because I am one of nature's control freaks. I am never convinced a job is well done unless I do it myself. I think that signifies a lack of trust which, being one of the stages of childhood development, I must have missed out on when I was growing up. The club may have created a monster.

14th May 2007

The Society of Authors visit to Lothian and Borders Police Headquarters was an unqualified success. Demonstrations were laid on by the police dog handling team, the mounted police team, the transport section and the armed response unit . This is me in the photo, all tooled up and getting ready to shoot. Maybe I should label it 'Wha daur meddle wi me'.

July 2007

Harrogate Crime Festival was excellent as usual. There were too many good speakers to go
into details but the highlights were - Simon Brett's murder mystery play (I almost died laughing) - Harlan Coben who has a super sense of humour and was very entertaining - and Mark Billingham who was excruciatingly funny. Frederick Forsyth didn't make it, he was flooded in, so a panel was set up to debate US crime v UK crime fiction. Lee Child and Harlan Coben defended the US and Mark
Billingham and Val McDermid defended the UK with various crime writers putting in their tuppence worth either for or against. It was hilarious. I also met up with quite a few old friends and had a lovely time with Alex Gray, Caro Ramsay and Aline Templeton.

March 2008

The SAW conference has come and gone yet again and a good time was had by all. Six of us from Angus Circle attended and most of us won prizes or commendations for the competitions we entered. I won the Pitlochry Award for the second time and came second for the Constable Trophy. Considering I only entered these two competitions I reckon that wasn't bad going. As usual I took oodles of photos and if you want to see them Click here