Write Up of @BloodyScotland Panel #VirtualEvent – Criminal Masterminds Ian Rankin and Lawrence Block @Beathhigh

Write up of Criminal Masterminds
At Bloody Scotland Online

This was a talk with Lawrence Block in Manhatten, New York and Ian Rankin in Edinburgh. It was informative with some poignancy about their careers, and above all, very entertaining and the atmosphere created, even online, was excellent.

It was interesting to hear this as it is so honest: Lawrence admitted he couldn’t remember his books precisely. His first story was written in 1957 and sold to a magazine. He knew he was going to be writer and decided this at 15 and was doing it a couple of years later. He hadn’t set-out to write crime fiction. He just wanted to write something that someone would be pleased with. Over time he evolved into writing crime fiction.

Ian Rankin asked what he wrote early on.
Lawrence said he would like to write Science Fiction, he wrote a couple that didn’t get published. He talked about not having the mindset really for this genre.

Early on he read some crime fiction and then more general fiction. He thought about writing great literary fiction and wanted to write an outstanding book.
He talked about William Campbell Galls, with affection.

Ian Rankin and Lawrence Block discussed that sometimes writers copy other writing styles and modes until own voices are found. Ian admitted to copying Lawrence and seemed to really admire his work.
Lawrence said that Jazz writers did that a bit and how he writes from some influences.
It’s interesting that he hadn’t realised that Baloo was going to be such a big part of his books and Ian had the same with Cafferty, who had a small part to begin with and then featured more with Rebus. It was fascinating that he left him out in one book, to please someone who had reviewed, who didn’t like him, but didn’t enjoy the process as much, by keeping him out.

The talk moved onto the Scudders series. An angst-ridden, ex-cop – Scudders has a lot of baggage – his marriage is down and out and he’s left the police force. At the time, it wasn’t too hard to get into his state of mind as Lawrence had split from his wife.

His character was a window to the world and at an unspecified age, but something happened that he had to evolutionise, but there was no reason to be specific with age. He has however written about evolution of ageing in his 12th book, so therefore he had to give an age.
The humour in the talk about age is great!

A Time to Scatter Stones was published in 2019 and it could be the last Scudder book, but then he thought the one before might have been the last.
Ian Rankin asked if he was tempted to go back in time, but Lawrence had done it a couple of times but didn’t want to do it again.

Lawrence Block and Ian Rankin discussed the films with big named actors like Liam Neeson, Whoopi Goldberg and more… but it was so fascinating hearing their views on the films and about contracts, which seem complex.

Ian Rankin talked of the Burglar books, that are about a cat burglar by night, an antiquarian bookshop by day. Ian Rankin talked about them having humour within them. It was interesting hearing Lawrence talk so candidly about not having a job and had self-esteem issues and all the jobs that have those words – experience required in the ads. It then occurred to him that he shouldn’t rule out crime and became quite inspired. His anecdotes were really entertaining as he thought about it all, only entertaining because he didn’t actually go into burgulary and decided to write a book instead.

They discussed being in lockdown and Lawrence thought he would write all the time, but he didn’t and doesn’t seem concerned about that.

Dead Girl Blues wasn’t a book he expected to write and thought it would be a short story and ended up being a short novel. He says he likes it enough

Ian Rankin was an early reader of the book and said he went self-publishing. He said it was going to be a problematic book to get published and his agent was industrious in submitting it to the best publishing houses and a lot liked it, but they didn’t see it as something that could be published profitably. After a couple of offers, he decided to self-publish. It wasn’t a book he expected to finish and so he wanted to publish it how he wanted it.
Ian Rankin talked about it being very dark, but there is a small light and said there is a very moral theme and says it is a book that is thought-provoking. It has got a lot of favourable reviews.

It was so poignant about how Lawrence Block may be coming to the end of his writing career and as Scudder comes to the end of his. Ian Rankin is at a different stage in writing career.
They talked about travel and Lawrence seems like he was quite the explorer and yet, now seems different. He enjoy cruises and train travel. Ian Rankin talked about taking The Blue Train in Africa. Neither of them sound in any hurry to actually travel at the moment, due to the virus of course.

The Darkling Halls of Ivy is edited by Lawrence Block. Ian Rankin has a story in this anthology, set in Edinburgh. Lawrence enjoys doing the anthology and is doing one now.

Ian Rankin said he enjoys writing short stories and he likes a set of rules that come with it, such as a setting or a time of year.
Ian Rankin tried to enthuse Lawrence into writing more short stories to reinvogorate him.

Ian Rankin asked a question that covered settings and NYC. Lawrence Block said what he likes about Manhatten is familiarity and has lived there a long time and knows a few people there. He finds the energy of the city extraordinary. He talked about leaving NYC for Florida in 1985 at that time for awhile, but still set books in NYC.

Ian Rankin, when he lived in France thought he would go off and set his books there, but found he still wanted to set his books in Edinburgh.

It was fascinating hearing Ian Rankin talking about how he has writing heroes who he wished had books signed by.

Write up by Lou of Five Continents of Crime – @LinAnderson @atticalocke @JPPomare @ShaminiFlint @OyinBraithwaite @BloodyScotland #CrimeFiction

Write Up of Five Continents of Crime
Featuring
Lin Anderson, Oyinkan Braithwaite, Attica Locke, Shamini Flint and J.P Pomare

Lin Anderson was chairing and says Bloody Scotland will be 10 years old in 2021, which is exciting!

Ian Rankin once said “if you’re about to visit the country for the first time, go and look for the crime writer and read their books”. Basically because they tell you a lot about the places and the streets etc. I’ve certainly read some crime fiction novels, where I’m now pretty sure I would recognise, at least some streets within different places.

Places where the authors were doing their panel piece from:

Lin Anderson is in her writer’s bothy in the Highlands of Scotland in the Cairngorms National Park at 3pm.

Attica (Writer of page and screen. She is also NYT best-selling author of 5 books), is in LA and it is 7am in the morning. Incredibly, she is online, even though she is tired. Her goal was to work in the movies and she took a break from Hollywood for a time and began a writer and has now found a way to manage both. She came to writing books through writing on-screen.

Josh (Author of Call me Evie and Tell me Lies) is in Melbourn and it has just passed midnight and is about the latest he has done a writer’s festival.

Shamini (writer, lawyer, environmentalist) is in Singapore and it is some time past 10pm and has a dog called Beastie.

Oyinkan Braithwaite (writer and bookworm) is in Lagos in Nigeria and it’s hot and in the rainy season.
Lin Anderson talked about being in Nigeria and talked about the rain falling in sheets.

Starting Writing and Being A Writer

Shamini knew she was going to be a creative person. She started writing picture books for her children and then wrote more complex children’s books. She then wanted to write crime novels.

Oyinkan wanted to be an author since around aged 10. She took a degree in creative writing and got a job in a publishing house. She started calling herself a writer in 2015 and wanted to own it.

Josh studied creative writing and read and wrote a lot. He wrote some short stories for a time. He is 2 books in and feels confident in putting that he is a writer.

Lin talked about how she wouldn’t ever admit to being a writer and didn’t feel like one. She talked about it being a really big moment in the writing life to say to the world that’s what you are.

Lin Anderson read a little bit from the books. They all sound intriguing with families, blackmail, people who don’t fit in, policing and courtcases abound within them.

The Books

Josh – In the Clearing – inspired by a cult, until around the late 90’s. It accrued a large following and was led by a woman. He was interested why so many academics were drawn to “The Family”. He wanted to answer the questions that remained unanswered as secrets went with the founder, when she died. There’s a mixture of small town and the bush. He talks of there being a heightened sense of anything could happen as there is drought, fires, snakes and isolation. He wanted to tap into the feelings of being trapped and to show how nature can quickly turn.

Shamini has now written the 7th in the Inspector Singh series. She wrote the Inspector Singh series because she found, when she started, that there were all the tropes of what was expected in Western nations and also wanted something contemporary. She transposed a body into each room to get her characters talking and Mr Singh has a battle with his wife for battles of supremacy.
Her latest book is set in London. There seems to be some humour within the books. She has set books in various places, with her latest being in London. Her view on Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie, especially, was certainly different, but brought about her wanting to set her book in London. Her “revenge” was certainly interesting, that she talked about, as was the use of that word. I felt Lin Anderson got it though and talked about how people are or how certain things seem out of place when in a different country or city and how certain things can seem more pronounced than in your own home town.

Attica wrote Heaven My Home – a detective series, set in a highway that runs in Texas and is fascinated by all sorts of places around it. Darren Matthews is on the hunt for a boy who’s gone missing – but it’s the boy’s family of white supremacists who are his real target. 9-year-old Levi King knew he should have left for home sooner; now he’s alone in the darkness of vast Caddo Lake, in a boat whose motor just died.
She recommended people looked up Caddo Lake to see the expanse of it. It certainly lends itself to a crime fiction series.

Oyinkan’s debut novel is – My Sister the Serial Killer.
She talks about there being a lot of heavy literature from Nigeria and wanted to write something fun. She tries not to come into stories too heavy and has short chapters. It’s a thriller, with some pretty dark humour about sibling relationships and she also became fascinated by this.
It sounds good for today’s readers, who at times, at least, like short chapters.

The Innocent Dead by Lin Anderson is the latest in the Rhona McLeod series.

Mary McIntyre’s disappearance tore the local community apart, inflicting wounds that still prove raw for those who knew her.

So when the present-day discovery of a child’s remains are found in a peat bog south of Glasgow, it seems the decades-old mystery may finally be solved…

Authors in Lockdown

It was so interesting to hear about how the pandemic has affected different people in different parts of the world and about lockdowns. There was talk about how there were challenges in work, in creating new routines, the intensity of lockdowns, especially in Singapore at the beginning, running out of inspiration and later, gaining it. When it comes to the USA, well, there were no holding back about how the country is handling it
The authors talked candidly about their experiences.

Write-up by Lou of Peter May and Ann Cleeves talk about their series and writing @BloodyScotland @authorpetermay @AnnCleeves #VirtualEvent #CrimeFiction

A Write-up of a talk by Peter May and Ann Cleeves

LOCKDOWN by Peter May Peter May talked about Lockdown – a book about a pandemic he set in 2005 and dug it out and hadn’t thought it would actually get published and he discovered that some of it was parallel to what is happening now. He had tried to get it published before, but unfortunately or fortunately, depending on your point of view, it wasn’t back then. It certainly seems very apt for these times.

The Darkest Evening by Ann Cleeves Ann Cleeves talked about The Darkest Evening and about the being so atmospheric and how snow changes a landscape. It’s set in a big house in Northumberland. She talked about class and the responsibilities to those who live in the cottages and about Vera’s past and her relationship to the people in the house. She says she always knew Vera was haunted by Hector and the “country-crimes” he was involved in and neglecting Vera.

Peter talked about place as in his first book written in Spain and became aware of another side to Andalucia.

Peter wrote a non-fiction book about the Hebrides and had lived there for a considerable time and says the islands now feel like “home” and says there’s that sense of homecoming that he wanted to convey. He was, for his book, sent lots of photos by photographer David Wilson. It sounds a beautiful book.

Ann Cleeves says she found writing about Shetland really challenging, more so that Peter. She says she loves Shetland, but didn’t enjoy doing the research at all and readers were warned that there may not be another like this, although sounds a good companion book.

They talked about how they keep track of characters and evolution of them.
Ann Cleeves says she knows Matthew quite well and isn’t a planner and plotter and writes like a reader. She always has to then write the next scene to find out more. For 20 years she didn’t make any commercial success, so wants it to be fun to write and discover.
Initially Vera wasn’t going to be a series, due to the publisher and then she ended writing more. There’s been a break because she wanted to concentrate on the Shetland series.

Peter has written 3 series and says the China Thriller series wasn’t intended for a series and got a 2 book deal and were a voyage of discovery. The Enzo series was more planned and were originally published in the States, but it took 6/7 years to finish it.

It was fascinating to hear her talk about having anorexia and another having down syndrome and also about how the young are not always good at communication and all the responsibility.
Peter wrote a character who was deaf and blind and talked about the research that went into it and how he found a book about it that seemed to of had a profound effect on him.

They talked about Murder and how it is a starting point and is important, but sounds like other things like the journey and the victims are also important and there’s a structure to work within to explore other characters.

They talked about how crime writing is maybe in a new “Golden-Age” and how so much more can be explored and written about and readers are also more open to writers from across the world with “Scandinoir” being popular. Crime Fiction can go into smaller, intricate details of crime fiction.

It can be watched on You Tube. Books are also available to buy.

LOCKDOWN by Peter May The Darkest Evening by Ann Cleeves

Write-up of #Ruth Jones In Coversation with @hannahbeckerman #PenguinUKBooks @TransworldBooks @hannahbeckerman #UsThree

Write-up of Ruth Jones In Conversation
With Hannah Beckerman

Organised By Penguin

Ruth Jones was in conversation with journalist and author – Hannah Beckerman on Publication Day (3rd September 2020) of her new book Us Three. The talk was sparkling with enthusiasm and fun, covering her new book, writing and TV.

Lockdown

Ruth, during lockdown, was with her husband in Cardiff, Wales, unsuccessfully growing plants and reassessing her life with plans that never happened, like learning the piano or guitar. It was a great opener to the conversation and was witty, with an air of down-to-earthness. This down-to-earthness came across again, later in the talk, when she spoke of being so happy about Never Greener doing so well in the charts, which she had not expected, like she hadn’t expected to be on TV either. Now, having a bit more understanding of publishing, seems even happier about Us Three. She sounds like she is enjoying it.

Us Three

The book – Us Three is about 3 friends – Laura, Judith and Catrin and there are talks of them making a pact together on a curly-wurly wrapper. There are three because she decided it would create more interest than just two.
The book spans over 4 decades of this friendship and she chose this as her focus, to move away from the toxic relationship within Never Greener, which soared through the charts for over 10 weeks.

It was so lovely to hear that Ruth herself has been blessed with such good friendships that have spanned over so many years and seen so many milestones of life together, since primary school and says there’s a bit of each of them and herself within the book as they inspired her characters journey, but essentially it’s all made-up. It was however more interesting when she expanded in talking about how there’s a certain dynamic between friends who have been together through life for such a long time and a certain part that can feel child-like in a sense and also sibling-like in another sense. The thing with Ruth Jones, is, what she was sharing was pretty relatable to. She was pretty honest as well, about having to delve into her own friend’s and sister’s memories and for inner detailing of the likes of Cyprus and talked of her own holidays abroad and the very south of England.

The parenting in the book takes on a different dynamic with Catrin and her over-protective dad and Judith and her step-dad, who has a gentler relationship with his step-daughter. She divulged how she, herself is a step-mum. I must say, I loved her attitude, that she didn’t set-out to be celebratory of blended-families and that, instead, she is more of a fan of just getting on with life together. From what she talked about, she does come across as being a great step-mum and sounds like a great family.

Upon being asked about ensemble writing, by Hannah, from her writing great main and secondary characters, she says with both prose fiction and screen-writing, she starts with characters and then works ut the chemical reaction of them coming together and loves the chaos that brings. She tries to write realistically, which I must say, comes across in her books. She balances good stuff with the bad stuff and under-pins it with humour as that’s what can happen in real-life.

TV Talk

Ruth Jones talked of TV as well. In terms of script-writing, she had wondered if she could write a book, although the approach is different. She discovered she loved going into the psychology a bit more than in a script. She isn’t a planner, she said, as she intimated she works at all sorts of hours. This is interestingly, in complete contrast to Hannah, who is a plotter and a planner. It just shows that people work so differently and yet still do so well.

Of course Hannah asked the question on everyone’s lips – “Will there be more Gavin and Stacey”. It was entertaining hearing her almost skirt around this as she talked about the Christmas special that drew in a huge audience, which neither her nor James Corden predicted and had instead been preparing for the worst. They also kept it so quiet. It was nice she credited the BBC for also doing so. They had a master-plan, which worked, for how people would find out and not through leaks in the press. She talked about how hard it is for her and James Corden to be together and they prefer to write in each other’s physical company due to Covid and also being busy, rather than via Zoom. It does sound a spectacular working relationship. She mentioned there may or may not be a story-line. There were lots of teasers. So, in other words, only her and James Corden will know the answer.

She came across as so grateful for her acting success and even the times when she had a line in May to December and a line and a look in the Gwyneth Paltrow version of Emma, siting that everything is important and she ensure in her writing too that nothing is wasted.

Excitingly she is working on 3 TV projects from her own company and has started writing her 3rd novel

Us Three is available to buy now!

Write up of a Richard Osman and Alexander Armstrong Online Talk – Organised by Penguin/VikingBooks and Waterstones @richardosman @XanderArmstrong @VikingBooksUK @Waterstones #ThursdayMurderClub

Write up of a Richard Osman and Alexander Armstrong Online Talk
Organised by Penguin/VikingBooks and Waterstones

A treat of a talk/virtual online event.

I reviewed the book a couple of months ago and saw a talk at Bloody Scotland a year ago. Yes, waited a year for this. And now I have seen this very enthusiastic talk by Alexander Armstrong interviewing Richard Osman. The joy was over-spilling in a way that was infectious and incredibly heartwarming. Perhaps one of the most heartwarming talks I’ve ever seen! The comaraderie was fantastic.

Richard Osman talked about always wanting to write. He wrote 20,000 words for a book and kept going. Six years ago he had an idea for a book and told Alexander Armstrong (but not it all), but then he kept it all in secret, deciding “who wants to hear of a game show host writing a book?” I must say he has a point, although the real point, I must say is, his talent is incredible and his writing, well, you would never guess it was a debut novel.

Richard Osman went to a retirement village, where people seemed to actually be enjoying themseleves still. It also had a very English countryside feel to its backdrop and, he decided, the perfect murder setting…
He thought about the new relationships that had been formed between the residents and how the place felt like a university halls of residence, but with the bonus of no homework.

Then, in The Thursday Murder Club, he wrote of the most unlikely of friendships forming and created his 4 characters, which are quite wonderful. He talked very fondly of his characters, as did Alexander Armstrong, who definitely approves of the book, and of the stories unfolding and using cakes as a device and the fact they were somewhat overlooked, to get themselves right to the heart of the police case and used the layers that built up of their expertise.

Alexander Armstrong then talked of the book being beautifully observed (I agree that it most certainly is) and of being in Agatha Christie and Alan Bennett territory. Both seemed to enjoy Joyce as she is written unsentimentally and has the freedom to say and do what she likes, which is where the being overlooked comes into it and means she, and the others can get away with a lot with little consequence.

Alexander Armstrong talked about the kindness, warmth and modern world within the book. They discussed the technology of the modern world and crime and how Richard Osman wanted to also keep the book very real.

About writing the book – Richard Osman talked of the characters running away with him and of the scenes/chapters of the book. He had a setting and knew who his characters were immediately, who then came alive when they interacted and reacted to each other and to situations.

It was interesting to hear about how drafts change, characters chopped and it was all honed down to the final copy that you will see in Waterstones and many Independent bookshops.

What really came across is the fact that he had fun writing it and really wants to entertain people. He seems like a man who genuinely cares about his craft, whether it is on TV on the likes of Pointless or writing novels. He intimated that he could go on writing forever. The passion really did appear.

Book 2 and more…

Currently, book 2 is in the drafting stage. Book 2 of which I also cannot wait to read (and hopefully review). There is a film deal with Steven Speilberg. Richard Osman signed over the rights to him, partly at least because he is excellent at making movies and may never heard of him and what he does here in the UK. He intimated he may not have anything to do with the script as the same writer for The Exotic Marigold Hotel (great films), has so far been commissioned to do this and Richard Osman also feels like he would know what he is doing.
I would more than likely go and see the film. The book is on my books of the year short-list and I can tell you it would lend itself very well to a film.

He talked of liking Inspector Morse and also the novels by Kate Atkinson. He talked also of making more Pointless.

Thank you to Richard Osman and Alexander Armstrong for giving such an enlightening and entertaining talk. Thank you also to the team at Viking Books/ Penguin for arranging such a fabulous event in such strange, unpredictable times.
I wish everyone well and hope that all stay safe.

The Thursday Murder Club is published Thursday 3rd September 2020 and can be bought from Independent Bookshops and Waterstones.
I pre-ordered mine, even though I had a review copy as I enjoyed it so much.

Shaping A Better Future – A talk from the Edinburgh Book Festival Online. #EdBookFest #ValMcDermid #JoSharp #Leila Aboulela #JoClifford #DougJohnson

Shaping A Better Future
An Edinburgh Book Festival Talk

I love the Edinburgh Festivals and thought I would write some of the events up as they are now online, some pre-recorded and others live.

Imagine a country in some way that you would like it to be, seemed to be the theme. There was talk and short bursts of song (at speaking level). It was an interesting and thought-provoking and in some ways, encouraging talk by a diverse panel. It was all socially distanced, some in the same room in Charlotte St. Gardens and others on screens from their homes. The only audience was that of whom were watching online.
I have written a piece of who the hosts and panelists are and then about what they discussed for the book they have been involved in producing – Imagine A Country.

Hosts – Val McDermid and Jo Sharp
Panelists – Leila Aboulela, Jo Clifford, Doug Johnson.

Val McDermid is one of the biggest names in crime writing. (latest book is Still Life). Her novels have been translated into 40 languages, sold over 16 million copies worldwide. She has won many awards. Has been elected a Fellow of both the Royal Society of Literature and the Royal Society of Edinburgh. She is the recipient of six honorary doctorates and is an Honorary Fellow of St Hilda’s College, Oxford. She writes full-time and divides her time between Edinburgh and East Neuk of Fife.

Jo Sharp – A University Professor of Geography and also editor, along with Val McDermid of the book – “Imagine A Country.

Leila Aboulela – A critically accalimed author, whose work has been also included in some cultural education programmes.

Jo Clifford – A successful playwright who is credited for “putting the Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh on the map.”

Doug Johnson – A successful author (latest book is The Big Chill). Johnstone has a degree in physics, a PhD in nuclear physics and a diploma in journalism. Before embarking on his literary career, he designed radar and missile guidance systems for military aircraft.

Imagine a Country cover

Synopsis

The first step on the road to change is to imagine possibility. Imagine A Country offers visions of a new future from an astonishing array of Scottish voices, from comedians to economists, writers to musicians. Edited, curated and introduced by bestselling author Val McDermid and geographer Jo Sharp, it is a collection of ideas, dreams and ambitions, aiming to inspire change, hope and imagination. Featuring: ALI SMITH, PHILL JUPITUS, A.L. KENNEDY, ALAN CUMMING, KERRY HUDSON, GREG HEMPHILL, CAROL ANN DUFFY, CHRIS BROOKMYRE, ALISON WATT, ALASDAIR GRAY, LEILA ABOULELA, IAN RANKIN, SELINA HALES, SANJEEV KOHLI, JACKIE KAY, DAMIAN BARR, ELAINE C. SMITH, ABIR MUKHERJEE, ANNE GLOVER, ALAN BISSETT, LOUISE WELSH, JO CLIFFORD, RICKY ROSS,

Imagine a Country cover

About the Book – Imagine A Country From Discussion

Imagine A Country sounds like a good conversation starter. It has many contributers, who were invited to write something about what they would like to see. It is essentially a short essay collection, that is quite eclectic in some ways, with the range of subjects, under this one title. There was a brief given and as far as I could tell, it also had to be positive. It may also have been dreamt up in the pub, but let’s face it, maybe there are a number of people who have ideas in places, where you might not expect, I know I do. Contributors were given one month to submit their work. They wanted many writers to come up with something, so it became a collection of ideas and not just 1 story. No politicians were asked to contribute as it was decided not to have the sort of political agenda that they would likely give. They chose people that had a range of “voices”, Jo Sharp says and that you may encounter some that you haven’t before.

The proceeds of the book goes towards some charities, such as The Book Trust and more.

Val read from Ali Smith’s contribution. It’s interesting about young people forging ahead in time and old songs. It’s moving and has passion within it. It’s also about rebellion and restarting anew to create a better place. It is about people and nature starting anew and creating something better and remembering the things that have been lost. It serves as reminder that there’s “Only One Planet Earth” (sang by Val McDermid to the tune of Guantanamera). It’s a story for those who care.

Some of the contributions include:

Stuart Cosgrove, wrote why there is no public to mourn and thinks there ought to be.

Chris Brookmyre did a piece about wanting philosophy to be taught in primary schools.

Lin Anderson wrote about a landscape for all. Some other writers also echoed this.

Doug Johnson thinks the care for landscape should include more outdoor learning.

Some think there should be more done with the arts.

There are people who talk about creating better places for pedestrians and cyclists.

There are people who talk in the book about disability, homeless and more…

What the guests for the purpose of the talk discussed.

Leila Aboulela – she talked about holidays and public holidays. I love that she loves all of the holidays and reckons more public holidays for a better life and seems to really understand the benefits. She talks about how we don’t need to shop 24/7 and how more days off gives people a good break. She thinks the 4 day working week would be better for sustainability. She compared the UK with different countries and how those with 4 day working weeks have better productivity and how the UK work more for less.

She talked about how working from home works and wonders if there is a need for the commute. It’s interesting how it is debatable as work and home can merge a lot. Val McDermid chipped in about how it could be good to share out the work as there is less to go around.

Jo Clifford – discussed what if you can imagine a country, even if it is hard, that doesn’t have people disrespecting each other and being angry. The piece is about respect the words we use and that everyone has a right to be different. It is also about the origin of some words and how this has changed over the years, such as the word “idiot” wasn’t always a word of insult. It is also about the beauty of some words too.

Doug Johnston talked about being a writer and how to combat being stuck in a rut and can easily get out to improve his mental health. It’s more an essay of how he thinks regular exposure and some outdoor learning and talks about his own children going to one of those outdoor places from a primary 7 trip for a week. He thinks more needs to be done, so it isn’t just once and unaffordable for some.
He said it came about by his own lifestyle and how easily it can be for him as a writer to not go out and about as it were. His wife also works for an outdoor learning place.

It seems to be a sort of motivational book, to at least think about what sort of world you want and Val McDermid then says people “should hold politician’s feet to the fire”.

All in all, it was a better talk than what I was expecting, in terms of content. I knew it would most likely be delivered well, which it was. The book can be bought from the Edinburgh Book Festival Bookshop, Amazon, Waterstones