Category Archives: Scottish authors

June 6, 2024 · 9:22 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 9, 2024 · 10:20 am

Introducing Friend and Fellow Author Hamish Brown

Hamish Brown

Author Hamish Brown has 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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February 27, 2024 · 11:02 am

Diana’s February Review ~The Private Life of Spies by Alexander McCall Smith

Following on from my last blog post, when a friend claimed on Facebook that I told him that I had been a spy over a few glasses of wine once upon a time (in fact he is a member if my husband’s rock n roll band), I was amused to see The Private Life of Spies by Alexander McCall Smith on my bedside cabinet ready to read.

About the book

I have read several of McCall Smiths novels over the years, in fact I’ve dipped into three of his series, 44 Scotland Street, No 1 Detective Agency, and the Isabel Dalhousie novels, all of which were light, enjoyable reads. This one is a bit different, being a collection of short stories about quite diverse characters, located in different parts of the world, from the UK during WW2, to Italy and France and with backgrounds an eclectic mix including German, Russian and even the Ottomans!

I’m sure each tale required much research to give the reader a sense of authenticity. The book is quirky and tongue-in-cheek, but its humour and clever twists work surprisingly well; each tale giving just enough to get your head around in a most satisfying way, just before bed time!

I’m not usually a short stories fan, but I can certainly recommend this one.

available at Waterstones

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