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For this, the inaugural Scots Whay Hae! Best Crime Fiction podcast Ali was joined by writer Callum McSorley to talk about some of the best books published this year, and to take a look at what's coming in 2026. Each picking six of their favourites, the chat turns to great debuts, superb sequels, welcome returns, award winners, new voices, whisky, weekenders, even werewolves, and so much more! Callum is always great to talk to ( check out his appearance on the SWH! podcast from earlier this year ) and this was a highly enjoyable conversation about a genre of Scottish writing which continues to go from strength to strength. The reason for our Best Of 2025 podcasts is the hope you'll hear about something you'd like to investigate yourself, and this crime chat offers plenty of choice. If you aren’t yet a subscriber to the Scots Whay Hae! podcast  you can do so, (or simply listen) at iTunes , on Podbean , with Spotify , on MixCloud , or wherever you get your podcasts. Or, if you want it right here, right now, you can listen on SoundCloud … ..or on YouTube … Click here to learn more about Callum McSorley Click here to hear Callum on the SWH! podcast Click here for the Scots Whay Hae! Best Books of 2025 podcast Coming Soon - Best Music of 2025 with Fiona Liddell... In the meantime you can always check out our back catalogue of over 400 interviews  with some of the most interesting names in Scottish culture.

As is traditional, the first of our Best of 2025 podcasts is all about books, when once again Ali is joined by Publishing Scotland 's Vikki Reilly (right) to talk about just a few of the standouts of the year, and to give a heads up as to what's coming in 2026. The two talk fantastic fiction, non-fiction, plenty of prose, and even a little poetry. There are debuts to Last Words , complicated families, celebrations of friendships, love, loss, what it means to be alive, examinations of the ancient world right up to the present day, and so much more, and we're certain you'll hear about something you'd like to investigate yourself. Always a SWH! highlight of the year, the aim of this podcast is to reflect, and celebrate, another exceptional 12 months in Scottish writing. It may be our longest podcast of the year, but it's always one of the best... And don’t forget to check out the Books from Scotland  website for more of the best of Scottish books. If you aren’t yet a subscriber to the Scots Whay Hae! podcast  you can do so, (or simply listen) at iTunes , on Podbean , with Spotify , on MixCloud , or wherever you get your podcasts. Or, if you want it right here, right now, you can listen on SoundCloud … ..or on YouTube … Coming Soon - Best Crime Fiction of 2025 with Callum McSorley... In the meantime you can always check out our back catalogue of over 400 interviews  with some of the most interesting names in Scottish culture.

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  selections are for the more discerning book lover, with something for everyone. This year we once again offer you three separate lists. O ur Crime a nd Non-fiction selections will be with you soon, but below are our pick of the Ten Best Fiction Books for 2025. Every year tells a different story and it’s always interesting to reflect upon that story as the year comes to a close. Over the last 12 months there have been notable debuts, existential explorations, contemplation of the past to learn lessons for the present day, first loves and losses, meditations on people and the places which shape them, addresses as to the state-of-the-nation, the dangers of technology, isolation, flesh, fantasy, grief, guilt, empathy, ecstasy, and so much more. These are the stories which we felt stood out against the stiffest competition in what was another outstanding year for Scottish literature. Taken as a whole they show the artistic diversity and cultural imagination at large in Scotland today and are proof that Scottish writing is in the finest fettle. With this is mind here are SWH!'s Ten Best Fiction Books of 2025. Click on the highlighted book titles to learn more & grab yourself a copy Karen Campbell - This Bright Life Few writers manage to capture human nature in the manner Karen Campbell does, with all it's complexities and contradictions, and This Bright Life is not just the latest example of this, but arguably the best. 12-year-old Gerard's life is a difficult one, looking after his sister as his mother is incapable. Pensioner Margaret lives a live of seclusion, and is settled with that, if not necessarily happy - trying to reconcile her self with her past. Solicitor Claire is coming to terms with an unexpected change in circumstances to find herself in a place she didn't expect to be. Three strangers whose lives are changed forever as their stories become intertwined in ways they neither want or expect, they move through initial suspicion and distrust towards a greater understanding, and a realisation that there is more that unites than divides us. At its heart this is a novel about compassion, empathy and kindness which speaks to all of us. This Bright Life is published by Canongate Click here to listen to Karen Campbell on the SWH! podcast Allan Radcliffe - Blurred Faces Allan Radcliffe's The Old Haunts was one of Scots Whay Hae!'s Best Books of 2023 , so there was huge excitement about his latest Blurred Faces . It's a novel which examines the past and how it casts a long shadow, the 'blurred faces' representing how memory can be problematic, with recollections often unreliable. Davie and Jordan have shared history, although when they meet again it is as strangers. Only one recognises the other which brings memories flooding back, forcing him to relive a time and place which was traumatic, while the other is, initially, oblivious. The novel unfolds through alternating narratives as we get to see how they have both changed from their younger selves through other relationships and events, but there is no denying that the past is never too far away. Blurred Faces is published by Fairlight Books Graeme Macrae Burnet - Benbecula Graeme Macrae Burnet’s Benbecula  is the latest in Polygon Books’ Darkland Tales series of novellas which have quickly become not only essential reading, but a place where you’ll find some of Scotland’s finest authors. They concern dreadful tales from Scottish history, and this time around Benbecula  relates to the terrible true crimes committed by local labourer Angus MacPhee who, on the 9th of July 1857, brutally murdered his mother, father, and aunt on the titular Hebridean island. Events are recalled by Angus’s elder brother Malcolm who has chosen to remain on Benbecula, a place where the old ways may be dying, but alternatives are scarce. Haunted is the word which springs to mind, not just Malcolm but the island as a whole. A fascinating examination of place and people, Graeme Macrae Burnet goes beyond simplistic ideas of good and evil to explore the nature of madness, crime, and punishment, and there are comparisons between attitudes and understanding then and now. Benbecula is published by Polygon Books Click here to listen to Graeme Macrae Burnet on the SWH! podcast Alessandra Thom - Summer Hours Alessandra Thom’s debut novel Summer Hours  captures the madness & magic of those defining summers, the ones which never leave you, if you manage to survive. In an unusually hot Edinburgh every thought, emotion, and desire is heightened in a manner which encourages extremes, and which could be considered a form of madness. At the centre of this summer is Roisin, who is becoming increasingly obsessed with enigmatic best friend Eve. Eve appears to be her pass to a group of more interesting and arresting individuals than she would otherwise associate with, people who hold the promise of a life beyond the mundanity of a work/sleep/repeat cycle. A novel which packs a real punch, Summer Hours  is such an eloquent and evocative read that you can feel the heat coming off the page, and taste the warm wine. Summer Hours is published by Polygon Books A.L. Kennedy - Alive in the Merciful Country This is storytelling with purpose, if told with the writer’s wry and dry wit. In fact comedy, and laughter, are important in the most fundamental way. It is also a novel which has humanity at its heart, and which ultimately offers hope. Stories unfold across time through the memories of single mother Anna McCormick, and through the letters of her betrayer – whom she knows as ‘Buster’. The discovery of the latter makes Anna question herself and everything she believes she knows. Despite the series of events which threaten to define her, she finds she is part of a loving family, and a community. Previously defining herself as a ‘Fortress of Solitude’ she is surprised to realise she is no longer alone, and is determined to protect what she now has. Although it explores trauma on an individual and national level, Alive In The Merciful Country is ultimately a novel of strength and kindness, and is a reminder that A.L. Kennedy is a serious writer in terms of both style and substance. Alive in the Merciful Country is published by Saraband Books Ewan Morrison - For Emma There are few writers who are consistently ahead of the cultural curve in the manner of Ewan Morrison. Having written in the past about (among other things) sex, cults, shopping malls, and survivalists, all with the fierce intelligence for which he is renowned, his latest novel, For Emma , looks at the potential effects of AI, and what a future relationship between man and machine might mean. The novel is split into two distinct sections, with a few essential appendices. An editor is sent a suspicious email, which links to a folder of suspect recordings, each of which begins with an address to ‘Emma’. The transcripts of these recordings make up the majority of For Emma and they set out the thoughts and deeds of a man determined to avenge the death of his daughter, who he believes has been killed as part of an experiment to merge technology and human biology. His evidence comes from Emma herself, but not in the way you might expect Prophetic and profound in equal measures - think Black Mirror meets Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World , but with a human heart all of its own - For Emma confirms Ewan Morrison as one of the most interesting, thought-provoking, engaged, and frankly disconcerting, writers around. For Emma is published with Leamington Books Click here to listen to Ewan Morrison on the SWH! podcast Michael Pedersen - Muckle Flugga Muckle Flugga  is Michael Pedersen’s eagerly awaited debut novel, and it is a thing of magic and enchantment, with a deep humanity. Set mostly on the remote island of Muckle Flugga, it centres on the lives of three individuals. The Father is the lighthouse keeper who is paralysed with grief since the death of The Mother, the repetition of work and the isolation allowing him to exist in crisis. His son Ouse is both a comfort and an agonizing reminder of their shared loss. A gentle, artistic, soul, Ouse proves to be fragile yet fierce, and not the naif people believe him to be. The charismatic Firth is the cuckoo in the nest. A troubled soul, he comes to the island with one thing on his mind, but soon imagines an arresting alternative future. Through their unfolding relationships, with each other and with the natural and supernatural, mortality and morality are explored. Muckle Flugga is published by Faber Click here to listen to Michael Pedersen on the SWH! podcast Heather Parry - Carrion Crow The are modern gothic novels, and then there's Carrion Crow . Taking the trope of the 'madwoman in the attic' and bringing in the most fantastic and near unbearable body horror, Heather Parry asks us to reflect upon the relationship between mind and body. Marguerite Périgord's behaviour and relationships are of concern to her mother Cécile leading to her locking her daughter in the attic with a copy of Mrs Beeton's Book of Household Management, a sewing machine, and a crow for company. Marguerite manages to put all three to good use as distractions from her terrible predicament. Instead of creating the civilised noblewoman her mother desires, she becomes Other. Heather Parry seems incapable of writing a boring or bad sentence (see her previous publications if you need further proof), but Carrion Crow is her best book to date. A literary macabre masterpiece. Carrion Crow is published by Doubleday Kirsty Logan - No & Other Love Stories Short stories first brought Kirsty Logan to the attention of many readers – the 2014 collection The Rental Heart & Other Fairytales followed closely by A Portable Shelter in 2015. A new collection No & Other Love Stories is a reminder not only that this a master storyteller, but just what a great short story collection can offer. The overarching theme this time around may be love, but Logan eschews traditional ideas of romance to look at obsession, possession, the physical, psychological, and the supernatural. The condition of the heart is explored but so is the rest of the body, and soul. These stories look at love using fantasy and horror tropes to reinforce reality in that they are intense, powerful, voracious, violent, sexual, and sensual, often places where extremes meet. If you are not yet familiar with the work of Kirsty Logan then this is a perfect place to rectify that. Short stories are still an under-appreciated literary form. However, in recent years there have been numerous memorable publications, and No & Other Love Stories is not just the latest, but one of the finest. No & Other Love Stories is published with Harvill Secker Chris McQueer - Hermit Among the most eagerly awaited debuts in years, Chris McQueer's Hermit captured the zeitgeist as few others managed with this brutally honest, intense, and brave novel which looks at the world of incel culture and why it can be seductive to young men in particular. Teenager Jamie spends his time online looking to make some connection with others, something he cannot seem to manage in 'real life' (even within his own family), and he finds himself drawn into a world which quickly becomes increasingly dark and dangerous. Few writers manage to create memorable and complex characters as McQueer does, and while the themes are harrowing, it is the individuals and their stories which makes this such an empathetic read. Chris McQueer has been known previously for the superb short story collections Hings and HWFG , but Hermit sees his writing taken to another level. It's not only one of the best novels of 2025, but one of the most important. Hermit is published by Wildfire Click here to listen to Chris McQueer on the SWH! podcast Click here for the SWH! Best Books of 2025 podcast

📸 - credit Jim Lang For the latest Scots Whay Hae! podcast Ali spoke to theatre director and producer David Hewitson who is the co-founder and Artistic Director of Theatre 118 , a new fringe venue dedicated to grassroots, DIY and emerging theatre makers. David gave some background to Theatre 118, where they are based and why, and what their aims are. The two then talk about the work of the Outer Spaces charity and the work they do, before discussing the importance of place more widely, and the history of independent and grassroots theatre in Glasgow. David explains how he came to be involved in theatre, and what it was which attracted him to start Theatre 118, who else in involved, the importance of collaboration, before he goes through some of the shows they have put on to date, and what's coming in the future - including the forthcoming panto Jack & the Privately Owned Beanstalk . Theatre 118 is the latest in the long and fine tradition of DIY small theatre producers and makers, and this conversation with David is the perfect place to get acquainted and learn how to get involved. If you aren’t yet a subscriber to the Scots Whay Hae! podcast  you can do so, (or simply listen) at iTunes , on Podbean  and Pocket Casts , with Spotify , by signing up to our Substack , or wherever you get your podcasts. Or, if you want it right here, right now, you can listen on SoundCloud … ..or on YouTube … Click here to learn more about David Hewitson Click here to follow Theatre 118 Click here to learn more about Outer Spaces and their work Click here to get tickets for Jack & the Privately Owned Beanstalk Click here for our back catalogue of over 390 interviews  with some of the most interesting names in and around Scottish culture.

For the latest Scots Whay Hae! podcast Ali spoke to returning guest, writer Tom Brogan to talk all about his latest book Dalglish: The Fifty Matches That Made the Player which is published by Pitch Publishing . This was a real treat for Ali as Kenny Dalglish is his first, and arguably greatest, hero, and the two talked about what the player, and the man, means to them both (and they are remarkably similar stories). Tom then sets out the structure of the book, the inspiration behind wanting to write it, the research involved, and why the timing of publication was perfect. Ali then picks 10 matches/chapters to discuss to try and give an overview of the book, the stories told, and give part of the picture of the man himself from schools and amateur days, through his time at Celtic, the move to Liverpool, European success, playing for Scotland, becoming a player/manager, and beyond. It's always a pleasure to have Tom on the podcast and this became an hour of celebration of, and adoration for, a player who is conceivably the best footballer to come out of Scotland, but whose story is about much more than simply the game. If you aren’t yet a subscriber to the Scots Whay Hae! podcast  you can do so, (or simply listen) at iTunes , on Podbean  and Pocket Casts , with Spotify , by signing up to our Substack , or wherever you get your podcasts. Or, if you want it right here, right now, you can listen on SoundCloud … ..or on YouTube … Click here to order a copy of Dalglish: The Fifty Matches That Made the Player Click here to learn more about Tom Brogan Click here to learn more about Pitch Publishing Click here for our back catalogue of over 390 interviews  with some of the most interesting names in and around Scottish culture.

📸 - credit Stephen McGuigan For the latest Scots Whay Hae! podcast Ali spoke to writer, broadcaster and campaigner Darren McGarvey (also known as rapper Loki ) to talk about his book and live show, Trauma Industrial Complex , and the album Not Funded By Creative Scotland , which are three central strands of the same multi-media project, and the two discuss how they work together, but also stand alone. Darren talks about the challenges of taking the show to the Fringe, but why it was important to do so, before talking about the differences, and similitude, in writing the book, album, and for a live performance, and the responses to each. The two then discuss each strand in detail - how the album was recorded, the research behind the book, the difference between committing words to the page, and saying them on stage, and where his love of language comes from. Darren explains what the Trauma Industrial Complex is, talks about the contradiction at the heart of the book, the difference between sharing and oversharing, the freedom that his music brings, and why. He also reflects on the changes in Scotland's hip-hop community over the years, and what being nominated for Best Hip Hop artist for this year's Scottish Alternative Music Awards means. It was a privilege and a pleasure to be able to sit down with Darren and talk about not only his current work, but also to reflect on his varied and rightly celebrated past, and to consider the future. SWH! consider him one of Scotland's most thoughtful, reflective, and necessary, cultural figures, and we hope you enjoy listening to this podcast as much as we did recording it. If you aren’t yet a subscriber to the Scots Whay Hae! podcast  you can do so, (or simply listen) at iTunes , on Podbean  and Pocket Casts , with Spotify , by signing up to our Substack , or wherever you get your podcasts. Or, if you want it right here, right now, you can listen on SoundCloud … ..or on YouTube … Click here to learn more about Darren McGarvey Click here to learn more about Loki Click here to order a copy of Trauma Industrial Complex Click here to order a copy of Not Funded By Creative Scotland Click here to follow Darren McGarvey on Instagram Click here to learn more about this year's SAMAs Click here for our back catalogue of over 390 interviews  with some of the most interesting names in and around Scottish culture.

📸 credit - Susan Hay For the latest Scots Whay Hae! podcast Ali spoke to choreographer and dancer Himadri Madan to hear all about The Gaze – you, me, us, and them a new interactive installation with live performances which premieres at The Tramway in Glasgow on November 22nd before it goes to The Studio, Capital Theatre in Edinburgh on 28th February in the new year. Himadri expands on the brief description above, before breaking down the title, talking about the themes and ideas explored, the inspirations behind it, its academic origins, and just what audiences can expect. The two then talk about how The Gaze relates to Himadari's previous work, the importance of collaboration, and her continued work as part of Theiya Arts , before she tells her own engaging story about how she game to dance and choreography. Himadri Madan is among the most exciting voices in theatre today, and it was fascinating to learn about the ideas behind The Gaze – you, me, us, and them, and the practicalities and challenges in bringing such a personal piece to the stage. Here are a few images from rehearsals - Tramway, Glasgow - August 2025 (📸 credit - Susan Hay) If you aren’t yet a subscriber to the Scots Whay Hae! podcast  you can do so, (or simply listen) at iTunes , on Podbean  and Pocket Casts , with Spotify , by signing up to our Substack , or wherever you get your podcasts. Or, if you want it right here, right now, you can listen on SoundCloud … ..or on YouTube … Click here for tickets for the premiere of The Gaze – you, me, us, and them at The Tramway Click here to learn more about Himadri Madan Click here to follow Himadri Madan on Instagram Click here to learn more about Theiya Arts Click here for our back catalogue of over 390 interviews  with some of the most interesting names in and around Scottish culture.

For the latest Scots Whay Hae! podcast we welcome back writer Peter Ross to talk to Ali about his latest book Upon A White Horse: Journeys in Ancient Britain and Ireland - published by Headline - and which is the last in the 'fox trilogy' (and to find out what that refers to, you'll have to listen in). Peter gives an overview of the book, and how it fits alongside previous publications A Tomb With A View and Steeple Chasing , before discussing the structure, the quotes in the epigraph, the importance of people as much as place (carefully considering who to include and why), his thoughts on recounting personal stories in this latest volume, and so much more. The two also mull over why it is that ancient times and places continue to cast a spell over modern life, and if that interest fluctuates depending on the state of the nation, and the world at large, before Peter expands on his working process, how he overcomes any initial suspicion, and then connects with those he meets. We have recorded a number of podcasts with Peter over the years, but, as with Upon A White Horse , we feel this the best yet, and it was fascinating, and thought-provoking, to hear this writer reflect not only on his latest book, but his writing more widely. If you know the work of Peter Ross then you'll want to listen to this one. If you don't, what a perfect place to get aquatinted. Peter Ross will be appearing at Aye Write on Saturday 15th November, 12.45pm, in conversation with Dawn Geddes If you aren’t yet a subscriber to the Scots Whay Hae! podcast  you can do so, (or simply listen) at iTunes , on Podbean  and Pocket Casts , with Spotify , by signing up to our Substack , or wherever you get your podcasts. Or, if you want it right here, right now, you can listen on SoundCloud … ..or on YouTube … Click here to order a copy of Upon A White Horse Click here to learn more about Peter Ross Click here to get tickets for Peter Ross at Aye Write Click here for Peter Ross' Substack Click here to follow Peter Ross on Instagram Click here to learn more about Headline Click here for our back catalogue of over 390 interviews  with some of the most interesting names in and around Scottish culture.

Moving from Spring to Autumn - running from 6th to 16th November - Glasgow’s Book Festival Aye Write offers something for everyone. Lovers of fact, fiction, poetry, prose, autobiography, biography, crime (real and fictional), memoir, music, food, and any other form of writing that takes your fancy, are all well catered for. The festival is mostly split between the Mitchell Library and Glasgow's Royal Concert Hall with plenty of guests from home and abroad, perfectly suiting a book festival which has always been international in scope, but with its roots firmly planted in the city. You can find what's on and when by downloading the full programme which will help you plan your festival, and you can also keep up to date with events as they unfold by following Aye Write on Twitter , Instagram,  or on Facebook . But before you do that, below are SWH!’s carefully selected Top 10 highlights to give you something to think about. Click the orange titles and links below for further details on our selected events, and to go to relevant interviews and reviews. Graeme Macrae Burnet and Francine Toon: Benbecula and Bluff Thursday 6th Nov 2025 7:45pm In Benbecula, Booker-shortlisted author Graeme Macrae Burnet writes a fictionalised account of a real-life triple murder on the remote Hebridean island and its subsequent aftermath. A story of darkness, violence, and madness, lightened by moments of black humour and absurdity. Meanwhile, Francine Toon transports her readers to a little corner of Fife in her new book, Bluff . Set amongst the ancient cobblestone of a Scottish coastal town, Francine blends the tension of a mystery with the chill of a modern gothic. This is a story where every shadow holds a secret, and every revelation brings her characters closer to a truth that could shatter their worlds. Click here to listen to Graeme Macrae Burnet on the SWH! podcast Click here to read Ali's review of Benbecula in SNACK magazine Ambrose Parry and Allan Gaw: The Death of Shame & To the Shades Descend Friday 7th Nov 2025 6:00pm Ambrose Parry returns with a fifth instalment of his acclaimed crime series. The Death of Shame sees heroine Sarah Fisher investigate the disappearance of a young woman in a plotline based on disturbing real events. When a relative seeks her help in searching for her missing daughter, Sarah is thrust into a lurid mystery that takes her to some of the darkest and most depraved corners of the capital. Joining Ambrose is Allan Gaw, author of To the Shades Descend . Visiting from London, Dr Jack Cuthbert unexpectedly finds himself at the centre of a horrifying crime in Glasgow. Cuthbert must navigate a political minefield, with British fascists and the city’s notorious razor gangs in the frame. To solve the case, he needs to gather all the expertise he can from those around him. But, out of his usual surroundings and working with strangers, who can he trust? Click here to listen to Ambrose Parry on the SWH! podcast Click here to listen to Allan Gaw on the SWH! podcast Glasgow’s Greatest Hits : Alison Stroak, Fiona Shepherd & Jonathan Trew with Bandeoke Friday 7th Nov 2025 7:45pm Dive into Glasgow’s vibrant musical heritage with the founders of Glasgow Music Tours, Alison Stroak, Fiona Shepherd, and Jonathan Trew, as they discuss their new book, Glasgow’s Greatest Hits . Covering folk to funk, pop to punk, this bite-sized book celebrates the significant gigs, beloved venues and famous (and infamous) musicians who have stayed, played and made music in the UK’s first UNESCO City of Music. From Simple Minds to Sydney Devine, The Blue Nile to Belle & Sebastian, Alex Harvey to the Apollo, Glasgow’s Greatest Hits gathers a host of tall tales and fascinating facts, big names and lesser-known legends in one pocket compendium. This event includes live performances — and maybe one from you? Sign up for ‘Bandeoke’ and give us a song from one of your favourite Glasgow artists. Click here to listen to Fiona Shepherd on the SWH! podcast Mae Diansangu, Louise Welsh, Lewis Hetherington: Who Will Be Remembered Here - Queer Spaces in Scotland Saturday 8th Nov 2025 7:45pm Mae Diansangu, Louise Welsh, and Lewis Hetherington are just some of the authors who contributed to Who Will Be Remembered Here: Queer Spaces in Scotland. In this special discussion, author and journalist Carrie Marshall sits down with the trio to discover how the book reconsiders and reimagines the built and natural world through a queer lens. Queerness weaves through Scotland’s past, but it’s largely intangible and absent from accounts of what came before. In this collection of stories, fourteen authors explore the places and spaces which define their queer history, from theatres and hillsides to amusement arcades and libraries — wherever they’ve found meaning. By making invisible stories visible, Who Will Be Remembered Here captures something of the richness, complexity and beauty of a history that belongs to all of us. Click here to hear Carrie Marshall on the SWH! podcast Click here to hear Louise Welsh on the SWH! podcast Justin Currie: The Tremelo Diaries Saturday 8th Nov 2025 7:45pm Four years ago, at the age of 56, Justin Currie was having problems playing guitar on one of Del Amitri’s best-known and most popular songs, “Nothing Ever Happens”. Something wasn’t right. After the tour, he went to see a neurologist. So begins The Tremolo Diaries , Currie’s poetic, self-deprecating journal as he deals with his Parkinson’s diagnosis and an epic US tour. Part meditative memoir, part fascinating travelogue of life on the road in the 21st century, Justin guides us from gig to gig via art galleries, parks, bars, and sites of natural beauty. As he contemplates the long-term ramifications, both personally and professionally, of this incurable and little-understood condition, he allows us into a world of love and friendship, life and loss. Tom Newlands, Margaret McDonald and Callum McSorley: Only Here Only Now , Glasgow Boys and Paperboy Sunday 9th Nov 2025 4:15pm Tom Newlands won the McKitterick Prize for Only Here, Only Now , a mid-90s coming-of-age tale that follows 14-year-old Cora Mowatt, stuck on a seaside council estate full of dafties, old folk and seagulls. Drawn from life but written with riotous imagination, Tom explores what it means to grow up in a forgotten corner of Scotland and dream of a life that feels out of reach. Margaret McDonald won the Carnegie Medal for Glasgow Boys , a tender story of young masculinity, friendship and growing up in foster care. Finlay is studying for a nursing degree, against all the odds. But coming straight from care means he has no support network. Banjo is trying to settle in with his new foster family, but he can’t forget all that has happened, and his anger and fear keep boiling over. Can the pair let go of the past before it drags them under? Callum McSorley won the McIlvanney Prize for Squeaky Clean and follows it up with the raw, darkly comic Paperboy . DCI Alison McCoist is back: newly promoted and even less popular. Chuck Gardner is the proud owner of a confidential paper-shredding business and a serious betting habit. When Chuck finds some scandalous paperwork and McCoist investigates a corpse under a flyover, they’re sucked into a deadly stramash of gangland wars and police corruption. Click here to listen to Callum McSorley on the SWH! podcast Click here to read Ali's interview with Margaret McDonald in SNACK magazine Malachy Tallack and Andrew Meehan: That Beautiful Atlantic Walt z and Best Friends Sunday 9th Nov 2025 12:45pm In That Beautiful Atlantic Waltz by Malachy Tallack, Jack is an old man, living alone in the cottage where he grew up. It’s here where, one evening, something appears on his doorstep. Something that throws off the rhythm of his solitary existence in the most profound way. This is a story of unlikely friendship, longing, the power of music and the pull of home. It is about a life revisited — and reimagined. In Andrew Meehan’s Best Friends , we’re introduced to Ray and June. After lives spent picking up the pieces, he's not romantic material, and she's not even friend material. When it comes to learning how to be with other people at the age of 70-plus, they’re unlikely companions. Yet, as understanding blossoms into friendship, June and Ray find themselves slowly rediscovering the joy that's been missing from their lives for so long. The right person at the right time. Click here to hear Malachy Tallack on the SWH! podcast Click here to listen to Andrew Meehan on the SWH! podcast Robert Elms: Blitz: The Club That Created The 80s Tuesday 11th Nov 2025 7:45pm The short-lived Blitz club in London’s Covent Garden was more than just a place to hang out or be seen: it was the catalyst for a counter-culture explosion, rallying against all that Thatcher’s leadership had ushered in by the dawn of the 80s. Tuesday nights boasted a fearless cast – from Boy George and Spandau Ballet to Grayson Perry, Wham!, and Alexander McQueen. They were the vanguard of a very different England; socially liberal, loud and proud, celebrating diversity, but also fiercely individualistic. If Britain stood in black and white, the Blitz Kids switched on the colour. In Blitz , Elms reflects on a club night founded by working-class kids, one whose impact reverberated beyond its doors, through the worlds of art, literature, fashion and music, and into the present day. Julie Lin & Ferrier Richardson: Sama Sama and Glasgow on a Plate Thursday 13th Nov 2025 6:00pm The third edition of Glasgow on a Plate by the legendary Ferrier Richardson features 20 of the best chefs and restaurants in Glasgow. Intelligently written and beautifully illustrated, each page reveals another example of the exciting culinary possibilities available in the city. This book will inspire you to explore the vibrant and creative Glasgow restaurant scene and try out some of the superb recipes from the city’s top chefs. Meanwhile, restaurateur and Saturday Kitchen favourite Julie Lin celebrates all parts of her identity with Sama Sama: Comfort food from my Malaysian-Scottish Kitchen . Encouraging simplicity for maximum joy in the kitchen, Julie teaches us to cook with soul, trust our palates and broaden our ideas of authenticity. Enjoy accessible dishes with explosive flavours, such as Chilli Crisp Puttanesca, Steak au Sichuan Poivre and Kaya Croissant-and-Butter Pudding. Grant McPhee, Katy Lironi & Douglas MacIntyre: Action Time Vision Thursday 13th Nov 2025 9:15pm Douglas MacIntyre cut his teeth (and his first record) as an 18-year-old guitarist in Hamilton band Article 58. MacIntyre established his own label, The Creeping Bent Organisation, in 1994. Creeping Bent: A Leap Into The Void is MacIntyre’s written account of running an independent label, working with an array of artists, and releasing his own music. Creeping Bent will cease operations in December 2025 after 30 years of active service. In Katy Lironi’s memoir Matilda in the Middle , she documents her time as the vocalist of Edinburgh C86 group The Fizzbombs — part of a scene that included Shop Assistants, Jesse Garon & the Desperadoes, and Rote Kapelle. Katy has been involved with Creeping Bent from its inception, making fanzines and releasing records as the vocalist of The Secret Goldfish. Caledonia Screaming , by award-winning filmmaker Grant McPhee, explores punk’s effect on Scotland circa 1976/77, with groups in towns throughout the country learning three chords, forming bands and self-releasing 7” singles. The book features interviews with over 100 Scottish punk musicians and London contemporaries, as well as promoters, label owners, music journalists and fanzine writers. Click here to listen to Katy Lironi talking about Matilda In The Middle on the SWH! podcast Click here to hear Grant McPhee on the SWH! podcast Click here to download the full Aye Write 2025 programme

For the latest Scots Whay Hae! podcast Ali spoke to crime writer Marion Todd to learn all about Dead Man's Shoes (published by Canelo ), the latest in the DI Clare Mackay series of thrillers. Marion talks about the challenges in, and advantages to, writing a long-running series ( Dead Man's Shoes is the ninth entry) before giving a spoiler-free breakdown of the novel, explains what comes first - plot or people - and the difficulties in hitting that balance between cosy and gritty crime. The two then discuss some of the series' characters (including Clare Mackay herself) and Marion's imaginative way of creating them, before moving onto the importance of place, and the setting of St Andrews in particular. Marion then sets out what attracted her to writing in the crime genre, the importance of book festivals, talks about the next novel and how far she works ahead, before revealing something which will be exciting to Marion's many fans. This is a discussion which will appeal to readers, but also to writers old and new as Marion offers real insight into how and why she writes, and it was such a pleasure to be able to talk in depth about all things Clare Mackay, and much more. Marion Todd will be at Aye Write alongside Russell D Maclean, Andrew Lowe and Arusa Qureshi on Saturday 8th November. If you aren’t yet a subscriber to the Scots Whay Hae! podcast  you can do so, (or simply listen) at iTunes , on Podbean  and Pocket Casts , with Spotify , by signing up to our Substack , or wherever you get your podcasts. Or, if you want it right here, right now, you can listen on SoundCloud … ..or on YouTube … Click here to learn more about Marion Todd Click here to order a copy of Dead Man's Shoes Click here for the whole DI Clare Mackay series Click here to get tickets for Marion's Aye Write event Click here to follow Marion Todd on Instagram Click here to learn more about Canelo Click here for our back catalogue of over 390 interviews  with some of the most interesting names in and around Scottish culture.

For the latest Scots Whay Hae! podcast Ali caught up with Donald Smith , the director and founder of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival , to hear all about this year's programme , which features over 120 events and which will take place in Edinburgh and all across Scotland from 22nd October - 1st November. Donald breaks down the title Lights Of The North and how that relates to the international aspect of the festival, before going through the themes and strands for this year and explaining the nationwide scope in terms of people and place. This, the festival's 36th year, is also Donald's last (at least as director) and he looks back not only to previous festivals but also how he came to be involved, as well as the inspirational individuals and moments which fired his passion for storytelling - and for sharing that passion with others. The two then discuss the communal nature of storytelling and how that fundamentally leads to greater empathy, understanding and generosity. It was such a pleasure to be able to talk at length with Donald, not only about this year's festival, but also about his life and work to date, and we hope you find it as fascinating and inspiring as we do. If you aren’t yet a subscriber to the Scots Whay Hae! podcast  you can do so, (or simply listen) at iTunes , on Podbean  and Pocket Casts , with Spotify , by signing up to our Substack , or wherever you get your podcasts. Or, if you want it right here, right now, you can listen on SoundCloud … ..or on YouTube … The Scottish International Storytelling Festival (SISF)  is organised by TRACS (Traditional Arts and Culture Scotland)  and has taken place annually, in various venues across Scotland since 1989. It is the world’s largest celebration of storytelling, encompassing a wealth of cultures, traditions and styles. Click here to learn more about this year's Scottish International Storytelling Festival and get tickets Click here for the full programme Click here to learn more about Donald Smith Click here to learn more about TRACS Click here for our back catalogue of over 390 interviews  with some of the most interesting names in and around Scottish culture.

For the latest Scots Whay Hae! podcast Ali spoke to writer Foday Mannah to hear all about his award-winning debut novel The Search for Othella Savage , which is published by Quercus Books , and which was shortlisted for this year's Bloody Scotland Debut Prize. Foday gives a brief synopsis of the novel, spoke about the real-life incident which inspired him to write it, and why it was important to set events in both Scotland and Sierra Leone. He also explains the quote from Mongo Beti which is the novel's epigraph. The two then talk about the themes of the novel (which include power, corruption & lies - but also friendship and family), some of the central characters, and the challenges in writing about politics and religion. They also discussed the changing face of the crime genre and attitudes towards it, the importance of crime writing festivals such as Bloody Scotland, literary awards, and creative writing courses, before Foday offers some advice to prospective writers, and book recommendations to anyone looking for a new read. It's always a pleasure to talk to Foday ( you can still listen to our podcast with all of the Bloody Scotland Debut Prize shortlisted authors ) and The Search For Othella Savage is not only a gripping and exciting (and thought-provoking) thriller, it offers a representation of a community rarely, if ever, portrayed in Scottish literature. For readers and writers alike, this is a must-listen episode. If you aren’t yet a subscriber to the Scots Whay Hae! podcast  you can do so, (or simply listen) at iTunes , on Podbean  and Pocket Casts , with Spotify , by signing up to our Substack , or wherever you get your podcasts. Or, if you want it right here, right now, you can listen on SoundCloud … ..or on YouTube … Click here to learn more about Foday Mannah Click here to order a copy of The Search For Othella Savage Click here to listen to the podcast with the Scottish Crime Debut Prize Shortlist 2025 Click here to learn more about Quercus Books Click here for our back catalogue of over 390 interviews  with some of the most interesting names in and around Scottish culture.