smokeheads launched – thank you!

Posted on March 6, 2011 by Doug Johnstone

Just a quickie to say a massive THANK YOU to everyone who came along to the launch party for Smokeheads last Thursday. It was one of those freaky evenings where the vibe in the room really makes you feel positive for a brief moment – so much good feeling in the air.

More specifically, thanks to everyone at Faber, especially Alex, and everyone at Smokehead whisky for free booze all night (on a school night – Jesus). And Al Guthrie and Ewan Morrison and all the usual friends and family bullshit.

What was especially great was to see so many fellow-writers come along – OK, that was probably the promise of free booze, but I genuinely think the way writers in Scotland support each other is amazing, and that’s from someone who is usually drowning in a sea of general misanthropy. You know, a lot of people make a living out of books, but writers very rarely do. Let’s support each other and change that if we can, eh?

I can still taste that fucking whisky, by the way. It’s a great dram, but that’s part of the problem. Too much is never enough.

Since then, I’ve had three book events. In one day. And have two coming up this week. All details on the Events page.

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smokeheads press round up

Posted on March 6, 2011 by Doug Johnstone

There’s been a smattering of press coverage appeared for Smokeheads over the last few days, all added to the Press page.

Firstly, there’s an interview with The Skinny, in which I blah blah about whisky as a metaphor for whatever.

Next, a nice mention in a Flavorwire feature on writers-turned-musicians, although technically, I did it the other way round.

There was a distinct review of two halves, as they say in football, in The Scotsman, where Tom Adair seems to have loved the first 100 pages, then hated the rest. Ho hum.

But then the book got a very positive write up in crimesquad.com, thanks to them.

Also I just noticed there are already seven customer reviews on Amazon, all very positive, averaging at 4 stars, how lovely.

More shit as and when.

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win copies of smokeheads and bottles of whisky

Posted on March 1, 2011 by Doug Johnstone

You heard me – want free books and booze?

You have until Friday, people.

Drink/read responsibly now, kids.

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‘Stand by for the next Scottish book of the year.’

Posted on March 1, 2011 by Doug Johnstone

Not my words, but those of the literary editor of Independent on Sunday, writing about Smokeheads in her column at the weekend there. Don’t believe me? Why would you, I’m a born liar, and it sounds like the kind of thing I would make up. Nevertheless, this time it’s true. Check it out here and scroll your ass down a little.

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‘I want to write the meanest, fastest, nastiest books I can.’

Posted on March 1, 2011 by Doug Johnstone

The above quote ends a feature on me in The Herald newspaper which ran last Saturday. I don’t remember saying that, but there you go.

It’s not on their website for some reason, but you can read part one here and part two here.

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the reviews are in

Posted on March 1, 2011 by Doug Johnstone

…OK, two reviews are in. A mixed bag.

First there’s a fantastic review in leading Scottish literary journal Gutter. ‘A gripping page-turner’ no less.

In the interests of balance and fairness (although it’s my website, not sure why I have to be balanced and fair), here’s a snippy review in Time Out. ‘Gratuitous gore and a zippy pace’ they say. OK, then.

More press action soon. Oh yes.

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new novel needs title, please help

Posted on February 24, 2011 by Doug Johnstone

OK, so I’ve written and submitted the next novel after Smokeheads. I know, I know, I’m a fast worker. Anyway, it needs a title. Here’s the blurb for it, and then a list of options. Please let me know which title you think is best.

Novel Four Blurb:
You’re driving. You’re wasted. You hit someone. What do you do next?

Billy Blackmore just landed his first job as a trainee crime reporter for the local Edinburgh paper. Driving home from a party with his girlfriend and brother, all of them drunk and high on stolen pills, they hit someone. In a panic, they drive off.

But trouble hunts them down. Billy has to cover the incident for the paper. Turns out the dead man was Edinburgh’s biggest crime lord. As Billy struggles with what he’s done, he’s sucked into a nightmare of guilt, retribution and violence. He gets involved with the dead man’s widow and psychotic brother, and becomes embroiled in a feud with a rival crime gang, as the police investigation tightens a noose round his neck.

This novel is a pitch-black psychological thriller, a brutal descent into physical and emotional abuse, and a dizzying portrayal of a young man’s freefall towards psychosis.

Title Options:
a) The Radical Road
b) Hit and Run
c) Cover Story
d) None of the above

Feel free to suggest your own. I know that’s asking for trouble, but anyway.

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vanessa feltz v amy chua

Posted on February 22, 2011 by Doug Johnstone

Here’s one for you. Someone at Faber (who understandably wishes to remain anonymous) was watching The Vanessa Show on Channel Five. Like you do. Vanessa was interviewing Amy Chua, that ‘Tiger Mom’ person. Here’s a clip:

Go 11 minutes in or so, and check out the bookshelf behind Ms Chua – a cheeky wee proof copy of Smokeheads sitting there alongside bill Bryson et al. What’s that all about? Not exactly monumental news, but weird, eh no?

Other news – I have a Wikipedia page. Woohoo. It is pretty dry and boring. Just the facts, ma’am.

Oh, and go check out the events page for some new live shenanigans.

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gq magazine v scottish review of books

Posted on February 22, 2011 by Doug Johnstone

OK, a couple more bits of press have popped up in the ether, demonstrating the breadth of modern journalism.

First up is a lengthy feature in The Scottish Review of Books about the latest crop of young Scottish writers. Myself, Rodge Glass, Sophie Cooke, Alan Bissett and Zoe Strachan all talk about books and stuff.

Second is the somewhat less literary GQ magazine, who commissioned me to pick my Top Ten Whiskies.

So, which do you prefer? Several thousand words on the concerns of twenty-first century Scottish literature, or 40-word blurbs on tasty booze? Tricky.

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the list v the big issue

Posted on February 14, 2011 by Doug Johnstone

Aye so, some little nuggets of press coverage for Smokeheads. Here is a great piece written by Dave Pollock at The List, in which I suggest my dad made me an alcoholic, and here is a mediocre piece written by me in The Big Issue magazine, about publishing, self-promotion, whisky, books etc. Note the hilariously out-of-date picture of me with long hair.

Other news, I’ve written a thing about my favourite whiskies for GQ magazine, which will be up on their website by the end of the week. I did not take any bribes for mentioning any brands or distilleries, honest.

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