The Bloody Scotland 2020 programme launched today at 12 noon and what a festival it promises to be.
When we launched Bloody Scotland in 2012, we vowed to showcase Scottish Crime Writing to the world, and, to bring the world’s crimewriting talent to Scotland.
Who would have thought that a pandemic would make it possible for us to be even more international than we already were?
We can promise you all the things that make Bloody Scotland special … the wonderful setting of Stirling in the heart of Wallace and Bruce country … which incidentally inspired the name Bloody Scotland, penned by my partner in crime Alex Gray. The friendship, cameraderie and fun, and the definite quirkiness that brings smiles and laughter to our audiences.
We of course continue to champion new writing via our Masterclass, our Pitch Perfect competition and our Spotlighters getting their big moment in front of the brightest stars in the crime writing firmament. Plus our Bloody Scotland Debut prize and last but not least the McIllvanney Prize for the best Scottish crime novel of 2020.
With previous barriers associated with costs of international travel gone, we are about to take you around the world to get a flavour of crime writers from all five continents (I’m chairing that, hurrah!).
You can watch as Ian Rankin and Val McDermid chat across the world to their own chosen crimewriting heroes. You can join the neverending panel of Scottish crimewriters, 27 of them ... not to be missed, if only for the fact we’ve never done it before. Craig Robertson has already predicted joyful chaos!
All tickets for the Bloody Scotland weekend are free and you can watch from the comfort of your living room. Or meet up in crime writing fans bubbles to celebrate Bloody Scotland 2020!
