Author Archives: Doug Johnstone

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About Doug Johnstone

I write things

THE BEACHCOMBER – An Old Short Story

Posted on January 15, 2014 by Doug Johnstone

I was going through some old files on the computer and found this lurking at the back. It’s a piece of flash fiction I wrote that first appeared in The Herald in October 2006. I had completely forgotten about it. … Continue reading →

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My review of Bending Adversity by David Pilling

Posted on January 10, 2014 by Doug Johnstone

Aye so, here’s my review of Bending Adversity by David Pilling in the Independent on Sunday, a really interesting look at Japanese society, culture and the way they’ve coped or otherwise with recent tragedies.

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An awesome story by Aidan (8)

Posted on January 10, 2014 by Doug Johnstone

Just asked my son to tell me a quick story using his imagination before he got to play computer games. This is what he said: ‘ Once upon a time you were doing really well in your writing career, Dad, … Continue reading →

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Books to look out for in the next six months

Posted on January 8, 2014 by Doug Johnstone

Here are a handful of books I can’t wait to read over the next few months. I’ve already read a couple, actually, including Willy Vlautin’s amazing The Free, which is in the running to be my book of the year. Talented … Continue reading →

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THE FUNERAL CRASHER – a brand new short story

Posted on January 4, 2014 by Doug Johnstone

OK, so there’s a brand new short story written by me in today’s Scotsman. It’s called THE FUNERAL CRASHER, a typically cheery wee thing, and they managed to find a miserable picture of me in their archives to go along … Continue reading →

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I’m on the radio this afternoon

Posted on January 3, 2014 by Doug Johnstone

Hey folks, Happy New Year and all that. I’m gonna be on BBC Scotland’s Culture Studio with Edi Stark today at 2pm, talking about books and some other stuff that I don’t know much about. Listen up if you dare. … Continue reading →

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The best Christmas song ever

Posted on December 20, 2013 by Doug Johnstone

This is so amazing – best vocal harmonies in the world. Happy Festivus, peeps!

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Five albums I’ve loved this year

Posted on December 18, 2013 by Doug Johnstone

I don’t do music journalism anymore, and one of the nice upshots of that is that I’ve reverted to loving music like a fan again. I’ve listened to tons of stuff old and new, not being arsed about whatever is … Continue reading →

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My Top Ten Books of the Year

Posted on December 17, 2013 by Doug Johnstone

OK, so here are my top ten novels of the year. Lemme know what you think, and what your own favourites are. I won’t write much about each here, but you can click on the book covers for my reviews … Continue reading →

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My reviews of Sarah Pinborough and Kelly Braffet novels in The Big Issue magazine

Posted on December 16, 2013 by Doug Johnstone

Aye so, here are my last proper book reviews of the year in The Big Issue, before all the ‘books of the year’ shenanigans start. Very different novels from Sarah Pinborough and Kelly Braffet, but both mighty impressive in their own … Continue reading →

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