There are plenty of ‘Books Of The Year’ lists around this time competing for your time and attention, but we like to think that Scots Whay Hae!’s selection is one for the more discerning book lover with something for everyone. It’s a good old-fashioned Top Ten which this year features dystopian sci-fi, historical fiction, northern noir, coming-of-age, unconventional travelogue, environmental thrills, the birth and death of love, psychological mystery, politics, pop music, per

Pic credit: Becky Duncan For the latest podcast Ali spoke to writer Kirstin Innes about her acclaimed novel Scabby Queen. The two discuss the origins of the title and why it fits with the structure of the book, where the initial idea came from, who and what inspired her characters, and how the central figure of Clio Campbell drives events despite being absent for much of the book. Kirstin also talks about how writing the novel helped her to make sense of recent and current ev

To call Kirstin Innes’s Scabby Queen one of the most eagerly awaited novels of 2020 is a sizeable understatement. She had the not insignificant task of following up her ‘Not The Booker Prize’ winning novel Fishnet which introduced readers to a writer unafraid to tackle complex subjects, and do so with considerable style to match the substance. Scabby Queen doesn’t just build on the promise of Fishnet it surpasses it with consummate ease. It’s a brave writer who kills their ce