Category Archives: Scottish authors

July 24, 2026 · 11:46 am

‘The Italian Chapel’ by Philip Paris ~ Diana’s July book review

This book caught my eye in Waterstones because I’ve visited The Orkneys and the beautiful Italian Chapel, lovingly created by Italian prisoners of war in WW2. It was an act of true devotion.

click cover for Amazon

This book was well researched, filling in many details of the life of the men on the tiny island of Lamb Holm, and a fitting tribute to them. The author describes how he has woven facts into fiction and is honest where he has embellished the truth for the sake of creativity.

I really enjoyed this novel, the characters were so well described, as was the sense of place, in contrast to their Mediterranean home.

It was quite a different style to Caroline Lea’s ‘The Metal Heart’ which I reviewed four years ago, but I believe both have a place amongst good Scottish Historical Fiction.

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May 15, 2025 · 10:11 am

Diana’s May Review ~ The Stolen Hours by Karen Swan

This is the second of Karen Swan’s novels set on St Kilda at the time of the evacuation, each from the point of view of one of the island girls. This time it is Mhairi Mac Kinnon who is in need of a husband and she is whisked of to the nearby island of Harris to look.

As you can imagine there are twists and turns as the islanders prepare for evacuation and life doesn’t quite turn out as expected for Mhairi. Add potential murder to the plot and it is quite a read, all the more special by its location on the remote island in the outer Hebrides.

I’ve really enjoyed immersing myself in both of these books, where the island has a character of its own.

Amazon

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May 8, 2025 · 10:09 am

Introducing Friend and Fellow Author Hamish Brown

Hamish Brown

Author Hamish Brown joined Eventispress for possibly his last book, at nearly 90 years of age. Having no access to the internet, a PC or a mobile phone, he was at a loss as to what to do with his completed manuscript when Sandstone Press closed as a publishing company last year ( they sell their back copies through other platforms now) Eventispress stepped in and offered to publish his new book and it is now for sale in all the Waterstones in Scotland.

Hamish Brown’s achievements and some interesting facts about him:

  • Hamish has published over 40 books (including updating his popular Fife Coastal Path by Birlinn)
  • Hamish has climbed all the Munros in the UK (the first one to climb them all in one go, only using public transport or foot between them.)
  • Hamish has led expeditions in Morocco
  • Hamish was born in Ceylon (Sri Lanka)
  • Hamish has spent most of his life living in Fife.
  • Hamish must have planted thousands of snowdrops over a period of over 40 years!

I think he is an amazing man and I am grateful to be his friend.

Here’s his latest book:

Available in Waterstones Scotland

I will be posting some Adventures with Hamish in the summer.

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