Bloody Scotland McIlvanney Prize 2017 Longlist Announced

Eeeeeeek!  Exciting news regarding the Bloody Scotland McIlvanney Prize 2017 longlist…..check this out!!

Bloody Scotland International Crime Writing Festival 8-10 September 2017

LONGLIST ANNOUNCED FOR THE McILVANNEY PRIZE
SCOTTISH CRIME BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARD 2017

‘In what is shaping up to be a record-breaking year at Bloody Scotland (we sold twice as many tickets on our first day as last year), I’m pleased to see so many of the highlights of the 2017 programme featured on this longlist. It’s also brilliant to see a few debut novels on there slugging it out with the more established names. I certainly don’t envy our judges the task of picking a winner from this excellent crop of crime novels’
Bob McDevitt, Director of Bloody Scotland, June 2017

‘I went to Bloody Scotland and I was just knocked out….this event was so friendly, so supportive I was honestly overwhelmed’
William McIlvanney – speaking on BBC Scotland, 2012

Last year the Scottish Crime Book of the Year Award was renamed the McIlvanney Prize in memory of William McIlvanney who established the tradition of Scottish detective fiction. His brother Hugh McIlvanney OBE, came to Stirling to present the prize to Chris Brookmyre who won it for Black Widow. The book went on to be shortlisted for the CWA Gold Dagger and is currently on the shortlist for the Theakston’s Old Peculier Prize to be announced at the Harrogate Festival next month.

Ever a step ahead, Bloody Scotland today announce the longlist for this year’s McIlvanney Prize. The winner will be announced at the opening reception at Stirling Castle on Friday 8 September (6.30-8.30pm) and followed by a torchlight procession – open to the public – led by Ian Rankin on his way down to his event celebrating 30 years of Rebus. The award recognises excellence in Scottish crime writing, includes a prize of £1000 and nationwide promotion in Waterstones.

The longlist which has been chosen by an independent panel of readers and features 6 male and 6 female writers, established authors and debut writers, small Scottish publishers and large London houses, is released today:

Lin Anderson – None But the Dead (Macmillan)
Chris Brookmyre – Want You Gone (Little, Brown)
Ann Cleeves – Cold Earth (Macmillan)
Helen Fields – Perfect Remains (Harper Collins)
Val McDermid – Out of Bounds (Little, Brown)
Claire MacLeary – Cross Purpose (Contraband)
Denise Mina – The Long Drop (Random House)
Owen Mullen – Games People Play (Bloodhound)
Ian Rankin – Rather Be the Devil (Orion)
Craig Robertson – Murderabilia (Simon and Schuster)
Craig Russell – The Quiet Death of Thomas Quaid (Quercus)
Jay Stringer – How to Kill Friends & Implicate People (Thomas & Mercer)

The judges will be chaired by Director of Granite Noir, Lee Randall, comedian and crime fiction fan, Susan Calman and journalist, Craig Sisterson who between them cover three continents. The finalists will be revealed at the beginning of September and the winner kept under wraps until the ceremony itself.

Previous winners are Chris Brookmyre with Black Widow 2016, Craig Russell with The Ghosts of Altona in 2015, Peter May with Entry Island in 2014, Malcolm Mackay with How A Gunman Says Goodbye in 2013 and Charles Cumming with A Foreign Country in 2012.

Download the programme here:
https://issuu.com/bloodyscotland/docs/bloody_scotland_2017

COMMENTS ABOUT BLOODY SCOTLAND 2017:

‘Bloody Scotland draws crime writers from all over the UK and indeed all over the world, and it does so because it delivers something they crave even more than each other’s company and a generous supply of drink. It delivers an enthusiastic and appreciative audience, which continues to grow year on year. I realise the purpose of having a launch event here in London is to make the metropolitan media more aware of the festival, and to encourage you to make the journey to Stirling for yourselves and soak up everything it has to offer. So as someone who has spent a lot of time around journalists over the years and knows what they value, I can assure you that there is plenty to soak up. I am hugely looking forward to heading back there in September, and I hope to see lots of you there too’
Chris Brookmyre, winner of the McIlvanney Prize 2016, speaking at the 2017 launch

‘What a year for Scottish crime writing as we celebrate 30 years of both Rebus, and of Val McDermid’s singular talent. Bloody Scotland is a brilliant platform for one of Scotland’s fastest growing exports – and as usual the festival presents a terrific mix of our best loved and brand new writers. A fun and inventive program, with everything from forensics to football, awaits and we look forward to joining the throngs. We wish the festival every success for 2017, and are proud to be among its supporters’
Jenny Niven, Head of Literature, Languages and Publishing at Creative Scotland:

‘Last year was my first year looking after the festival and I have to say that I was amazed by the tremendous vibe from our audiences – they really do come to have fun. The festival simply wouldn’t happen without the tremendous support we receive from our funders, publishers, and of course our fabulous authors – to all I’d just like to say a massive thank you.’
Bob McDevitt, Director, Bloody Scotland International Crime Writing Festival speaking at the 2017 launch

‘As a social enterprise, with a strong, ethical focus, Book Donors is delighted to be able to support the excellent work of Bloody Scotland. We wholeheartedly endorse their initiatives to widen public access, and to support emerging and established authors alike.’
Tom Murdoch-Kenny, Managing Director of Book Donors

‘We’re delighted to be hosting the Bloody Scotland Festival in Stirling again and look forward to welcoming many authors and visitors from around the world. This year’s spectacular programme of events will appeal to a wide variety of crime fiction fans and will be fantastic for promoting tourism and culture in our region.”
Carol Beattie, Interim Director Children, Communities and Enterprise, Stirling Council

The Golden Lion will remain the social hub of the Festival with a Waterstone’s bookshop, well stocked bar, the ballroom for events and green room / press office. The Albert Halls will remain the largest venue with capacity for 700 but this year, due to popular demand, we have added another large venue between the two, the Allan Park South church with seating for 120.

There continues to be a discount for local residents, tickets for the unemployed and this year we have improved disabled access and are providing a mini bus between venues for those that need it.

Bloody Scotland is supported by the National Lottery through Creative Scotland’s Open Project Funding, Stirling Council, the Open University and Stirling University. Bookdonors have remained our title sponsor for a second year running and Waterstone’s will once again be our festival bookseller. We have also secured a number of new sponsors including: Shetland Distillery Company, National Library of Scotland, Faculty of Advocates and Stirling Gin

Coincidentally seven of the twelve authors longlisted for this years McIlvanney Prize feature in the Bloody Scotland book of short stories to be published by HES and launched on the opening night of the festival. Historic Environment Scotland (HES) is the lead public body charged with caring for, protecting and promoting the historic environment.

TICKETS:

Press passes will be issued to journalists with appropriate accreditation. Please report to the press office in the Golden Lion on arrival. However please note that the Curly Coo has already sold out so if you want a musical experience at Bloody Scotland you should join us on Friday night for the crime quiz after which the Fun Lovin’ Crime Writers will be performing live. The charge for tickets at the opening reception at the Castle only covers our costs so I’m afraid that we can’t offer free tickets to anyone other than authors on the McIlvanney longlist and featured in the Bloody Scotland anthology however we would still love you to join us for what is going to be a unique start to the Festival.

Tickets are on sale to the public from www.bloodyscotland.com or at the Box Office in the Tolbooth Stirling or in the Albert Halls. Free standby tickets are available to the unemployed or those on a low income on the day of the event if there is good availability. Proof of eligibility is required and tickets are limited to one person. A 10% discount is available to people residing in the Stirling Council area. You must give your address at the time of booking. Visit www.bloodyscotland.com /localdiscount for details