Dark Isle: The Scots Whay Hae! Podcast Talks To Graeme Macrae Burnet...
Updated: Oct 4, 2025
For the latest Scots Whay Hae! podcast Ali spoke to returning guest Graeme Macrae Burnet about his new book Benbecula, which is the next entry in Polygon Books' excellent Darkland Tales series of novellas which have quickly become essential reading.
Graeme tells us how he came to write his Darkland Tale, why it was this story, the brutal true crime which is at its heart (and it is true, no matter what regular readers of Graeme's might believe!), the research undertaken, creating a sense of place, understanding your central characters, the importance of visiting the island of Benbecula and the scene of the crimes, and the challenges of writing to a specific format.
The two also discuss the gothic tradition, unexpected reactions, how historical fiction speaks to the present day, and how Benbecula links to His Bloody Project, Graeme's Booker shortlisted 2016 novel.
One of the most interesting and insightful writers around, it's always a pleasure to have Graeme as a guest on the podcast, and this latest episode shows just why that is. If you are at all interested in the world of books, then this is the podcast for you...
Graeme will be in conversation with Sara Sheridan to launch Benbecula at the Sauchiehall Street Waterstones on October 9th.
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Click here to get tickets for the launch of Benbecula at Waterstones on Sauchiehall Street in Glasgow
Click here to get tickets for Graeme Macrae Burnet and Francine Toon at Aye Write. Click here to learn more about Darkland Tales Click here to learn more about Polygon Books
Click here for our back catalogue of over 390 interviews with some of the most interesting names in and around Scottish culture.
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Through Ali’s discussion with Melon Playground Graeme Macrae Burnet, listeners gain deep insight into the creative process behind Benbecula, from its true-crime roots and meticulous research to the importance of place, character, and form. The episode also places the novella within a wider literary context, linking it to gothic traditions, historical fiction, and Burnet’s earlier work His Bloody Project.