Och aye Scotland...

Big few days ahead for Scotland - not only is the Bloody Scotland festival being held this weekend in Stirling, near Glasgow, but of course there is a rather important ballot being held as to whether Scotland will remain part of the United Kingdom or strike out on its own. Plenty of arguments either side, which have been debated and canvassed poorly and well elsewhere. Coming from the other side of the world, it's not really much of my business, but it will be interested to see on which side the votes fall.

Either way, I'll be in Stirling this weekend for the Bloody Scotland festival, catching up with and and meeting a slew of terrific Scottish and international crime writers, and I'm sure there will be a celebratory or commiseratory whisky or two being drunk, depending how things go compared to how my Scottish friends and acquaintances wanted them to go. If you're in Stirling this weekend, say hi - I'll be the bearded bulky guy with the Kiwi accent, wandering around and taking it all in. The winner of the Deanston Scottish Crime Book of the Year will also be announced as part of the Bloody Scotland Festival. I'll keep you informed.

Och aye!