Bloody Scotland Newsletter Five Weeks to Go

 

In this newsletter issue we'll be introducing you to this year's Pitch Perfect gang, reminding you that you still have time to enter our Bloody Scotland Whisky giveaway and telling you about some of the well kent faces joining us at the festival this year.

Meet our 2026 Pitch Perfect Cohort

It'll soon be time for our favourite event of Bloody Scotland - Pitch Perfect. Our annual book pitching competition has launched many a writing career. Past winners include: Kate Foster, D.V. Bishop, Alison Belsham, Matt Wesolowski and Joseph Knox. 

Thank you to everyone who applied this year. We were delighted to receive so many entries. There were so many fantastic submissions to choose from, you really made our job very difficult.

Without further ado, we're delighted to introduce you to this year’s cohort.

From left to right, top row: Ellen Jackson (In Too Deep), Zuzi Pope (Murder at the Grand Hotel), Christopher Kestell (His Mortal Agony), Rebecca Benton (A Cold Case in Time),

Bottom row: Caroline Grebbel (Song of the Trojan Mothers), Angela Dixon (The Weight of Blood), Susan Kemp (Tied), Laura Buckley (Lavender Slayer).

Our amazing line up will be at Stirling's Central Library on Sunday the 20th of September at 12 noon, where they'll each have just three minutes to pitch their novel and wow our judging panel, who are on the lookout for new and impressive crime writing talent. 

This year our judges include: Literary Agent, Diana Beaumont, Journalist and author Lisa Howells (Crime Monthly), and Stephen Cameron, Creative Director of Into Books.

The event is now sold out, but the lucky people who have already secured their ticket, will be in for a treat. A huge congratulations to all of our finalists. We can't wait to listen to your pitches. Wishing you all the very best of luck.

Win a Bottle of 
Bloody Scotland's 2026 Whisky

Bloody Scotland's official 2026 Whisky is now on sale. Independent Fife-based bottlers, Fib, have made us our own official dram to help us celebrate the festival in style. Drawn from a single Oloroso sherry barrique and bottled at natural cask strength, this whisky is completely unfiltered - just as nature intended. There are only 100 bottles to be had - so if you'd like some, you'd better quick.

There's also still time to enter our Fib Whisky
 competition to win a bottle.
To be in with the chance of winning, email: dawn@bloodyscotland.com
and tell us the event you're most looking forward to seeing at Bloody Scotland this year.

The competition closes on the 31st of August 2026.
All entrants must be over the age of 18 at the point of entering.
Drink responsibly.

Don't I know them from somewhere?
Famous faces at this year's festival

This week we're highlighting some of the famous faces on this year's programme.
You've seen them on your TV screen, and now you can see them live on our Stirling stages!

Femmes Fatales:
 Liz Nugent, Harriet Tyce (Traitors) and Andrea Mara

 Saturday 19th September - 13:15pm

Three superb authors, three novels overflowing with brilliant characters, three books that will have you questioning everything that you read. This should not be missed.

Liz Nugent unveils possibly her most unforgettable creation yet in her latest deliciously dark novel The Truth About Ruby Cooper. There is twist after twist and the truth is always just out of reach in the exceptional Witch Trial by Traitors’ star Harriet Tyce. Friendship, truth and lives are on the line in the relentlessly suspenseful Such a Nice Girl by the brilliant Andrea Mara. This event will be chaired by broadcaster Bryan Burnett. 

In Conversation: Jeremy Vine
and Matthew Sweet

Seize your ticket for two talented and entertaining speakers who

guarantee an hour of laughs and insight into the world of books and

television.

One of the most familiar faces on television (and voices on radio) has turned his considerable talents to crime fiction. Turn the Dial for Death is Jeremy Vine’s fabulous second book featuring radio presenter Edward Temmis. Matthew Sweet is the genius behind Bookish, the hit TV series starring Mark Gattis. His second novel, Bookish Volume 11, sees Gabriel Book investigating a mystery that’s haunted him for a decade.
This event will be chaired by broadcaster Nicola Meighan.

Nice and Cosy: Janice Hallett, Steve Higgs, Olly Smith 

Saturday 19th September - 10:00am  

Get comfortable for an hour of charm and criminal creativity in the company of

three doyens of dastardly delight.

The Silent Appeal is the hugely anticipated sequel to Janice Hallett’s runaway bestseller, The Appeal as murder strikes in Lower Lockwood. A retired detective and his dog Rex Harrison are on the trail of criminals and tasty treats in Steve Higgs’ hilarious Pork Pie Pandemonium. TV wine expert Olly Smith pours his heart into a vintage cosy crime tale with his corking and full-bodied debut Death by Noir.

This event will be chaired by broadcaster Nicola Meighan.

The Housing Crisis is Murder: Nasheema Lennon,

Andi Osho, Samantha Dooey-Miles

Saturday 19th September - 16:45pm 

Trying to get a foot on the housing ladder has become the stuff of

nightmares and these three authors have somehow managed to make it even scarier. Buying a house at auction is just Kaitlin’s first mistake in Nasheema Lennon’s gripping psychologic thriller Going, Going, Gone. A couple go to desperate ends to get their own home in Most Wanted, a hilarious satire from comedian and actor Andi Osho (Blue Lights, Line of Duty & I May Destroy You?) Jemma would kill to end the housing crisis – one landlord at a time – in Under the Hammer, Samantha Dooey-Miles’ darkly comic parody.

This event will be chaired by author Emma Christie.

That's all from us this issue. See you back here next week.
For more information about Bloody Scotland and to view our upcoming events, visit: www.bloodyscotland.com