'Queen of Crime' stops off at Stirling hotel ahead of Bloody Scotland festival

The ‘Queen of Crime’ - internationally renowned Scottish author Val McDermid - recently discussed her new book ‘Queen Macbeth’ at a special event in Stirling’s Golden Lion Hotel.

The occasion was part of the launch event of the Bloody Scotland International Crime Writing Festival, which takes place in Stirling from Friday, September 13, to Sunday, September 15.

Also at the launch, the five shortlisted authors for the festival’s Bloody Scotland Debut Prize were unveiled, along with the full festival programme.

Val’s ‘Queen Macbeth’ volume rediscovers the life of one of Scotland’s most notorious female characters.

Whilst Shakespeare fed us the myth of the Macbeths as murderous conspirators, Val McDermid now drags the truth out of the shadows, exposing the patriarchal prejudices of history.

Bloody Scotland International Crime Writing Festival, which launched in 2012, has been described as one of ‘Stirling’s cultural crown jewels’.

It is a cornerstone in the 900th anniversary celebrations of Stirling as a Royal Burgh in 2024.

The 13th festival begins appropriately on Friday 13th and has a stellar line-up of international crime writers and fun events, including a Friday 13th Fright Night, The Wickedest Link, Karaoke at the Coo and The True Crime Walking Tour.

The opening reception at The Golden Lion Hotel will include the presentation of two major literary prizes – The McIlvanney Prize and The Bloody Scotland Debut Prize - with Bloody Scotland cocktails courtesy of Stirling Distillery. Afterwards the Stirling & District Schools Pipe Band will lead a procession from the Golden Lion to the Albert Halls.

The shortlist of authors for The Bloody Scotland Debut Prize is: Suzy Aspley (from near Aberfoyle, Stirlingshire) with her book ‘Crow Moon’; Daniel Aubrey (from Moffat in Dumfriesshire) with ‘Dark Island’; Allan Gaw (from Cumbernauld) with ‘The Silent House of Sleep’, Doug Sinclair (from Armadale) with “‘Blood Runs Deep’ and Martin Stewart (from South Ayrshire ) with ‘Double Proof’.

The rest of the programme has been revealed including authors Elly Griffiths, Imran Mahmood, Frank Gardner, Chris Brookmyre, Janice Hallett, Peter James, Vanda Symon, Irvine Welsh, Tove Alsterdal, Ben Aaronovitch, AA Chaudhuri, Andrew Child, Louise Welsh, JD Kirk, Marisa Haetzman (aka Ambrose Parry), Abir Mukherjee, Mark Billingham, Hugo Rifkind and Erin Kelly are amongst those joining Richard Armitage, Ann Cleeves, Peter May, Louise Minchin and Ruth Ware in Stirling this September.

For a full list of all the authors appearing at the festival visit www.bloodyscotland.com/whats-on/

The festival will include the usual opportunities for aspiring crime writers. Pitch Perfect – which is free but ticketed at Central Library – this year offers a £1000 prize provided by Scottish communications agency Spey in memory of broadcast journalist and crimewriter Rae Stewart.

His widow, Vicki Young, BBC deputy political editor, will be on the panel alongside Natasha Harding, publishing director at Bookouture, and Camilla Bolton, literary agent.

‘Crime in the Spotlight’ – sponsored by the Open University in Scotland - is where newly-published authors can bid to read their work to the audience in the Albert Halls ahead of the more established names and will open for applications on July 1.

Graeme Macrae Burnet was famously ‘in the spotlight’ for Sir Ian Rankin and went on to be shortlisted for the Booker Prize.

Bloody Scotland is also introducing a new free but ticketed event at Central Library - How To Get Published. An experienced panel of industry experts, including a commissioning editor, a literary agent and an author will offer advice and answer questions.

The 2024 festival will begin at 3pm on Friday, September 13, with JD Kirk and Rachel Abbott in the Albert Halls and it will conclude at 1.30pm on Sunday, September 15, with Chris Brookmyre and Stuart Turton on the main stage.

Alan Bett, head of literature and publishing at Creative Scotland, said: “Alongside bringing a strong programme of internationally-recognised crimewriters to Stirling, Bloody Scotland continues its aims to both discover and nurture new voices and ensure a strong future for the genre.

“They not only platform unpublished authors and connect them to literary agents, but allow emerging writers to share audiences with the bigger names. Bloody Scotland celebrates the strength and success of our crimewriting and projects it to loyal readers from Scotland and beyond.”

Bob McDevitt, festival director of Bloody Scotland, said: “In what has been a turbulent year for festivals up and down the country, I’m looking forward to what I hope will be an classic Bloody Scotland weekend, filled with brilliant writers, topical panels, a hilarious quiz and some terrible singing - as long as Jason from Friday the 13th doesn’t make an appearance.”

Tickets for the whole programme are now on sale, see www.bloodyscotland.com for more information.