scots whay hae interview

Posted on April 18, 2011 by Doug Johnstone

Some new bits and bobs on the press and events pages, most notably a sizeable interview which appeared over the weekend at the wonderful Scots Whay Hae blog, in which Alistair Braidwood grills me about writing, influences and booze. At least one of which I know something about.

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daft smokeheads animation

Posted on April 15, 2011 by Doug Johnstone

OK, so here’s me and Ewan Morrison discussing Smokeheads.

[Please note: Not actual footage of a real conversation.
Please also note: Not suitable for non-sweary types.]

If you liked this, please spread the word.

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eurocrime know what they’re on about

Posted on April 11, 2011 by Doug Johnstone

I love Europe. And I love crime. Therefore I love Eurocrime. And so should you. Not least because Amanda Gillies has given Smokeheads a fantastic review over on their website, check it here.

To summarise her review:

…a brilliant and disturbing tale…

Yes, indeed. Thanks Amanda. That list of reviewers who are owed a whisky is getting longer and more costly by the minute. Oof.

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barrel bullshit – revenge of the whisky geeks

Posted on April 8, 2011 by Doug Johnstone

So, I’ve been waiting for this. Whisky geeks are an impossible bunch to please, and I’ve been expecting some snooty reactions to Smokeheads on the many, many whisky forums out there. In general the reception hasn’t been too bad, but there was one recently that made be laugh and gnash my teeth at the same time, when one dram-lover wrote this:

…the author lost me when Molly pulled off the end of the whisky cask by inserting a claw hammer into the bung hole and giving a tug. As the author would have known, if he’d actually been to a cooperage, the bung hole is in the middle of the staves and the only way to get the end out of a barrel is to take off the metal hoops.

The worst thing is he’s absolutely fucking right. I mean, he’s being picky as hell, and it’s a hilariously minor reason to give up on a 300-page thriller, but he is absolutely spot on, the bung hole is in the staves, not the end, and the only way to get the end off is to remove the metal hoops. Look, here’s a picture to prove it:

And I knew that. I just forgot in the heat of a burning illicit still and some general swearing and carnage within the plot. It’s this kind of sloppy writing that is bringing down western civilization in my opinion, and I can only offer my abject apologies to all barrel experts out there, currently rolling their eyes at my ineptitude.

I am off to squirt some lemon juice into a papercut by way of penance. Enjoy your weekends, I shall be spending the entire time in a dark room thinking about what I’ve done and nursing my wounds, physical and psychological.

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for peat’s sake – oh yes

Posted on April 7, 2011 by Doug Johnstone

So I just got a really quite amazingly good review for Smokeheads over on the Scots Whay Hae blog, where the handsome and erudite Scottish cultural blogger Alistair Braidwood said I was knocking on the doors of Brookmyre, Rankin, Banks and Louise Welsh. Not literally, of course, although I did used to play that game as a kid in Arbroath where, as far as I know, there were no famous authors living at that time.

I needed that fillip as well, as the book’s recently got a dribble of meh reviews from readers over on Amazon – the usual moans about the violence and language, and folks complaining about the pace and readability, as if that’s a bad thing. Ho hum.

So thank you Mr Braidwood, and the drams are on me. As long as they’re reasonably priced ones, you understand.

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words per minute – hot shit

Posted on April 6, 2011 by Doug Johnstone

To paraphrase Zoolander for a moment, ‘Glasgow is soooo hot right now’. And at the centre of that burning cultural furnace is Words Per Minute, a spoken word/music/film/general extravaganza that occurs once a month at the ultra-cool Arches. If you don’t believe me when I say they’re hot, just check out this month’s GQ magazine, where they get mentioned alongside Cargo Publishing and flash fiction magazine Fractured West.

Anyway, Words Per Minute 11 is upon us this weekend, and I’m doing a turn at it, reading a nasty bit of Smokeheads, alongside writers Katy McAulay and Margaret Callaghan, music from San Fran and the Siscos and Michael Cassidy, a DJ set from Ursula and some short films tbc. It all kicks off at 4pm and costs a mere fiver, and I’m gonna be giving away free shit in various forms (basically left over shit from the launch party).

So, you wanna be hot, right? You wanna be entertained, right? You want free shit, yeah? Come on.

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metro v press association

Posted on April 5, 2011 by Doug Johnstone

So the highly positive reviews of Smokeheads keep on trundling in, so they do.

First up we have the rather fine four-star review in Metro which ran the other week, but which has for some reason never made it online. So I’ve typed it up like the saddo I am. It’s written by Anthony Cummins who loved the book so much he gave away two deaths and some DIY brain surgery from the plot. Thanks, Anthony!

Ditto for another glowing review, this time from the Press Association, in which Georgina Cotton gave it a very generous 7/10. I’ve always felt book reviews should give percentages – like, this is a 63% good book, that sort of thing. Why not? Anyway, the PA review is there to be picked up by any and all local freesheet papers around the country. If you write for one of them, feel free to pick it up, print it, and spread the word.

There are also at least three interviews still in the pipeline, which I’ll post up once they appear. And at least one more review to come. And a competition. Watch this space. Or not this exact space, you understand, but the general space of this blog.

Adios, compadres!

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smokeheads on criminal-e

Posted on April 4, 2011 by Doug Johnstone

Allan Guthrie is a busy man. When he’s not writing his own brilliant noir novels, editing and agenting for others, becoming an e-book bestselling writer etc, etc, he’s also blogging his ass off on several sites. Including the excellent Criminal-E, where he has very kindly interviewed me about crime writing, e-books and some other shit besides. Check it out here.

When I sent the replies to Al, he got back to me with ‘say what you think, Doug, why don’t you!’. I always worry about reactions like that. I once did a feature on writing for The List magazine, and the editor replied saying ‘very brave piece, Doug.’ To which I thought: ‘Shit, brave? Really? Shit, what does that mean? Career suicidally brave?’

It seems I like to mouth off. Ho hum.

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shots magazine v sea minor et al

Posted on March 26, 2011 by Doug Johnstone

Two great review of Smokeheads have appeared over the weekend. Oh yes.

Firstly, there’s a really very enthusiastic review over at Sea Minor courtesy of Nigel P. Bird, who also posted his review on Good Reads, Kindle Users Forum and Amazon.com – what a stand-up guy.

And then there’s a cracking write up over at Shots ezine, thanks to Calum MacLeod, who gets extra points for spotting the cheeky wee reference to the movie of The 39 Steps in the book.

Smart, erudite and dashing men, both of them.

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me talking about books

Posted on March 24, 2011 by Doug Johnstone

Latest little bit of online press, in the form of me blethering on about books to Untitled Books website. Very nice.

Also, apparently I’m ‘Scotch Whisky News’. That is according to Whisky Intelligence. More news about the hook up between book and booze to follow soon.

There’s a wee bit more review news for the book as well. Firstly, there is a rather nippy review on The Dabbler website courtesy of Ian Buxton, who knows his whisky. Despite spending the whole review having a pop, he still manages to write: ‘Smokeheads has a page-turning energy that can’t be denied.’ I’m not gonna link to it, why increase their traffic, eh?

Other reviews – apparently there’s a four star one in today’s Metro, but I haven’t seen it yet. Also, there’s allegedly one coming on Eurocrime, watch this space. I’ll post em up once I have em. Also, there’s a very nice Press Association review kicking around, again, I’ll post once it’s online.

There are a few more online features still to come, as well as more competitions to win booze and books.

Oh, and as a cheeky wee teaser, I might have some good news on the film rights front soon. But whatever you do, don’t hold your breath, I wouldn’t want to be responsible for your untimely demise.

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