For the latest Scots Whay Hae! podcast Ali spoke to writer Frances Crawford to talk all about her debut novel A Bad, Bad Place, which is published on the Bantam imprint of Penguin Books. Frances gives a brief description of the book (avoiding spoilers), before talking about why this was the story for her first novel, and the long and winding road to publication. The two then discuss the two central characters of 12-year-old schoolgirl Janey and her Nana Maggie and how the nat

For the latest Scots Whay Hae! podcast Ali spoke once again to Jess Orr, the Associate Programmer for the Paisley Book Festival, to learn all about this year's programme - and what a programme it is! Jess explains this year's theme 'Everyday Heroes, Everlasting Icons' as well as breaking down the various strands of the festival which include Reclaiming History's Heroines and What Nature Does For Us before the two go into details about just some of the individual events across

For the latest Scots Whay Hae! podcast, Ali spoke to writer and broadcaster Billy Kay to hear about his memoir Born In Kyle: A Love Letter tae an Ayrshire Childhood , but the conversation turns to so much more. Billy talks about his lifelong passion for Scots language and culture, and explains that the roots of this are to be found in that Ayrshire childhood, which he sets out in detail. The two then talk about Billy being the public face, and voice, of the Scots leid for so

For the latest Scots Whay Hae! podcast Ali spoke to writer Luca Serra to talk all about his new novel This Is Home , which is published with Leamington Books . This Is Home is Luca's debut novel in English, and he talked about the experiences, people and places which inspired it before the two discuss the four central characters and their roles - and that of a sauce-encrusted, sink-bound, pot! Much of the novel is set in restaurants where some of the individuals are employe

Grant McPhee For the latest Scots Whay Hae! podcast Ali caught up with writer and filmmaker Grant McPhee to talk about his latest book Caledonia Screaming: Year Zero Vol 1 - Scottish Punk 1976 - 1977 which is published with Into Books . Grant has been a previous guest when he talked about the books Hungry Beat: The Scottish Independent Pop Underground Movement (1977-1984) and Postcards from Scotland: Scottish Independent Music 1983-1995 and the two talk about how his proc

For the latest Scots Whay Hae! podcast Ali headed to Stirling to talk to writer Donald S. Murray about his new novel The Loch Of The Bees , which is published with Saraband Books . The two met at the lauded venue the Tolbooth as Donald is a member of the Metagama Ensemble who are behind Metagama: An Atlantic Odyssey , a piece of theatre which mixes music, song, and spoken word, and which was playing the venue on the last night of its current tour. Donald tells us all about