Tag Archives: Scotland

Hunter’s Chase, Val Penny, and Edinburgh…

Posted on March 28, 2018 by

Like most people who grew up in Glasgow, I always look on Edinburgh as my second favourite Scottish city. It’s picturesque, historical, quirky… and it’s the setting for Val Penny’s novel Hunter’s Chase. Val’s an American writer who lives in … Continue reading →

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Memories…

Posted on March 18, 2018 by

We’ve been looking at a lot of old photos recently, sorting out my father’s collection after his death in January. The photo of Dad that terribly hot summer in Switzerland – the one and only time I remember him wearing … Continue reading →

Posted in books, Life in Switzerland, Scotland | Tagged , , , , , , | 8 Comments

If wishes were horses…

Posted on August 20, 2017 by

When I was a child, my greatest wish was to own a pony. Unfortunately, we lived in the middle of Glasgow, and a pony would have decimated the family finances anyway. I had to make do with a budgie, and … Continue reading →

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Up the Scott Monument…

Posted on August 13, 2017 by

Every time the boys and I go to Edinburgh, someone says, ‘Shall we go up the Scott Monument?’ We don’t often – sometimes it’s shut, sometimes the weather isn’t suitable, and then there’s that narrow spiral staircase with 287 steps … Continue reading →

Posted in Scotland, travel | Tagged , , , , , | 11 Comments

The Perfect Location…

Posted on May 7, 2017 by

A couple of weeks ago I was on Facebook, and noticed this recently-published novella by my fellow-Fabrian Books writer Jo Bartlett. That cottage is almost exactly like the one friends used to have on The Isle Of Arran – I … Continue reading →

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Scotland the Noir

Posted on April 11, 2017 by

Today on the blog I’m really pleased to welcome Owen Mullen. Like me, he’s a crime writer from Scotland who lives abroad and is published by Bloodhound Books. Owen’s books feature Glasgow PI Charlie Cameron, and the third, Before The … Continue reading →

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Lost: the weather. A Very British Blog Post…

Posted on June 5, 2016 by

Here in Switzerland, it’s a well-known fact that British people like talking about the weather – and let’s face it; the weather gives us something different to say several times a day. But this year, it’s conversation topic number one … Continue reading →

Posted in Life in Switzerland | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

Zeppelins, Highland Cows, and 38 Reasons you should never visit Scotland…

Posted on March 13, 2016 by

Continuing with the Facebook Scenic picture challenge: Day Five and we’re in Friedreichshafen in Germany, which I can see across the lake from my flat in N.E. Switzerland. Friedreichshafen is the home of the Zeppelin – book your flight here. … Continue reading →

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A week in (sunny) Scotland…

Posted on September 27, 2015 by

A week isn’t a long time when you want to cram in family stuff, visiting friends, and book events – not to mention shopping in lovely UK shops. Highlight number one was meeting my brand new great-nephew, who was obliging … Continue reading →

Posted in Scotland, travel | Tagged , , , , , , | 12 Comments

Pictures and places…

Posted on August 9, 2015 by

It’s been a long journey, but the best bit about writing The Attic Room was the fact that I could revisit the book locations in my head. I especially enjoyed the Scottish ones – the lovely Isle of Arran on … Continue reading →

Posted in My books, The Writing Life, travel, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 6 Comments