Doug Johnstone

Here’s a lovely big interview with me in the weekend’s Courier, with lots of pics of me looking awkward, and one of me as a wee kid. Sweet.

Folks, I’m having an online launch for THE BIG CHILL on 20th August along with the mighty Val McDermid, whose latest Karen Pirie novel STILL LIFE is out the same day. We’ll be chatting about the books and everything else, and maybe even play a tune or two, all in The Portobello Bookshop, my local bookshop, streamed live. You can submit questions online too, and get signed and dedicated books. Tickets here. 😀

It’s only a very rough first draft, but I’ve written the final part of The Skelfs trilogy, The Great Silence. I started this a month after my stroke and it feels like writing it has been very much part of my recovery process.

The Big Chill is having a wee adventure, swanning around all the best book bloggers for the next few weeks. Check out all the stops below. Fun!

Haar sweeping in between Crow Hill and Arthur’s Seat

Here’s a thing I wrote for the Royal Literary Fund about my stroke and my time in lockdown.

I’m absolutely thrilled to have a new short story in this collection of writing to support the Homeless World Cup. The collection is only £1.99, and contains amazing authors like Nick Hornby, Ian Rankin, Denise Mina & Chris Brookmyre, and it’s edited by Val McDermid. My story is called ‘Find Yersel’ and it’s another adventure for the same two characters who appeared in my story ‘Moby Dickheads’, if anyone knows that one. Get it now, gang!

Absolutely thrilled that A Dark Matter is on the McIlvanney Prize longlist for best Scottish crime novel of the year. Some amazing writers (and friends) on the list too!

My twelfth novel, The Big Chill, is out in ebook today! Get it here. I just noticed that The Empire Strikes Back was released 40 years ago today, and weirdly both stories are the second instalments in trilogies, and both contain lots of existential soul-searching, Jedi mind tricks, lightsaber fights and people frozen in carbonite. Enjoy!