Dec 2025 – DI Christie Update & the Year That Was

In my final blog of the year, I provide an update to DI Christie and discuss the year that has been.

I Am Mine is the fifth in the DI Joanne Christie series and a bit of a change to other books I have written. Firstly, it is my first attempt at a locked room mystery, which is something that I have been wanting to do for a long time, before I finally wrote one as a short story. As I’ve stated before, this story was shelved following the decision of the publishers not to proceed with the planned anthology it was to be included in. This allowed me to use it as the basis for this novel and add a few extra threads to the story.

Another thing that is different, and without trying to give too many spoilers away, is that it is not so much a whodunnit, rather than how they done it. What I mean by this, is there is not the usual long list of suspects for you to choose from, although there is an element of trying to work things out as is expected in a crime novel. I’ll leave it at that and hope that you go on to read and enjoy this.

On top of the novel, I have also written a short story that is currently under consideration for publication. I should find out around the end of April if it has been selected and, if not, may submit it elsewhere or just publish it on this website. It’s a bit different to other stories that I have written as, although there is a small element of crime involved, that is not that main essence of the story. I enjoyed writing that one, so really hope I can share it soon.

The final thing to state is that I will be taking a, hopefully, short pause with the Christie series. I may do a blog in the new year about my plans for 2026, however, I have 4 separate writing projects to deal with before I go onto book 6 of the series. The first involves completing a novella that I am currently writing and nearing completion. I then have a novel that was co-authored to edit and publish and another novella to edit and publish. Finally, I plan to write the first of a new series which will be queried rather than self-published initially.

As three out of the four projects are already written/nearing completion, I only have 1 full novel to write before I can reacquaint myself with Christie. I have a couple of ideas what happens next and I did leave the last novel with a bit of a cliffhanger, so I won’t be waiting too long before getting started with it.

I wouldn’t do that to those who are excited to find out what’s to come…

Thanks again for reading my blog. Links to DI Christie number 5, and all my other novels, is contained within the Books tab of this website. If you haven’t already, please consider signing up for notifications when a new blog is posted (subscribe at the bottom of the Home page) and follow me on your social media of choice (see Links tab of this website for more details). Finally, I hope you have a great 2026.

Nov 2025 – One, Two, Miss a Few and DI Christie Book 5 Update.

Well my plan of monthly blogs has, somewhat, gone out the window over the last few months so I will need to think of some things to share in the coming couple of months to catch up. Sometimes, an idea for a blog just comes to me and other times I just can’t think for the life of me what to say. Fortunately, I have an update on the latest DI Christie novel to share, as I continue to think what else to say in the near future.

‘I Am Mine’ is the name of the fifth instalment of the DI Joanne Christie series based in Edinburgh. The novel derives from a short story that I had written under the same name, which was due to be published in an anthology of stories based in Ireland. Sadly, the publishers decided to close so the anthology didn’t go ahead, but I liked the story and felt it could be used as the basis of the latest Christie novel. Although the story moved from Ireland to Edinburgh, I decided to keep some Irish characters in the plot as a nod to the original story. Another thing I was proud of, was the fact it was my first attempt at a locked room mystery.

I’m a big fan of this sub-genre of crime fiction, Agatha Christie has included a few in her novels and some of the best crime writers have written them over the years. I am also a big fan of the Jonathan Creek TV series, which brings a lot of the magic of these mysteries to life, if you excuse the horrendous pun. On that note, I had the delight of meeting Alan Davies recently in Edinburgh and managed to resist the urge of attending his event in duffle coat and curly wig.

As well as the main plot to the novel, I added a couple of other investigations to the story which allowed some of the regular characters to work on their own cases. I won’t say too much about these as so not to add any spoilers, but I was delighted how all these threads came together.

Fans of Kevin Curtis (also known as The Chain), will be glad to know that he plays a part in the book also. His retrial date has been set, but there are events that will happen in the run up to this that I hope readers will enjoy experiencing.

The eBook and paperback have been submitted for publication, so by the time you read this, you may be able to purchase them. It sometimes takes a few days for everything to pull through so if you can’t see it yet, you are just too keen! I’ll leave a link in the books section in due course.

Thanks again for reading my blog. If you’re a fan of the Christie series, I hope you enjoy the next one. I have different writing plans for next year, but I may drop a Christie novella later in the year as I love these characters I have created over the last ten years or so.

Jul 2025 – Half Way There – Living on a Prayer

This month’s blog provides an update on my writing progress and a few tips for handling the dreaded ‘Writer’s Block’ which was threatening me earlier this year.

I am officially half way through DI Joanne Christie book number 5 and have made a commitment to write a chapter per week so that it will be completed before the end of October and published later in the year. I mentioned on an earlier blog that the novel comes from a short story that I wrote, that was due to be published in an anthology, before the publishers decided to close their business. I was really proud of the story, a locked room mystery set in Ireland and had been thinking of an alternative way of getting it out.

I had considered changing it to a DI Christie short story and publishing it separately, however, when I rediscovered the story, I started to think about other elements that I could add to the story involving the other characters in the DI Christie series. As these thoughts began to evolve, I knew I had the main thread of the 5th book. I’m quite structured in my length planning, so I usually know how long a book will be and how many chapters it will contain before I start. Hence, I know that I am half way there and now starting the descent of the novel writing mountain.

Part of this planning helps my own writing process, which certainly took a bump earlier in the year following a difficult period. Sometimes, other things are more important than writing and it took me a while to get back into this novel. In recent months I have managed that and have set myself a specific goal to aid that. I’m not sure if it was Writer’s Block exactly, but my tried and tested methods helped me get back on track. As such, I wanted to share how I plan a novel to help me get through the process and perhaps help others who are suffering during their own process.

1 – HAVE A GOOD OUTLINE

Before you start, have a good outline for your novel. Some authors take this to the extremes and have tens, if not hundreds of pages of notes. I’ve not always done this as much as I do now. When I wrote Five Against One, I had no idea who the killer was until I was nearly finished. I like to leave some room for creativity, as sometimes the best ideas happen during the process. More often than not nowadays, I know who the killer is at the start, as it helps with planning red herrings and leaving breadcrumbs for the reader.

2 – BREAK THE NOVEL DOWN TO CHAPTERS AND SCENES

As part of the planning process, I know how many chapters I will write and how long each chapter is roughly. With this word count in mind, I know that each chapter is made up of one very long scene, a couple of longer scenes or a series of shorter scenes. When I am writing my novel, I have two sections that I keep at the bottom of the manuscript document. One is ‘Plot Outline’ where I keep notes of the general plot and add to this as the novel progresses and ‘Next Scenes’ where I note what scenes are coming up. I find this second section helps eliminate Writer’s Block as if I’m not sure where a story is going, I just focus on the next scene. For example, I may have written that the autopsy results are due at a certain time or a particular witness or suspect needs to be interviewed. Having a few future scenes planned helps you move the story forward and, as you write these scenes, others will form in your mind or arise through the story.

3 – TAKE A BREAK

Sometimes a scene just will not progress, regardless of how much you try and force it. If you find yourself staring at the flashing cursor for longer than is healthy, then it’s time for a break. Grab yourself a coffee, go for a walk or just leave it until the next time you plan to write. When taking that break, think what you want to achieve in the scene, or how it can link up to the next scene. Alternatively, think of something major that could happen that will shock the reader. Raymond Chandler’s advice was “when in doubt, have a man come through a door with a gun in his hand”.

4 – HAVE A TEST READER

I’ve spoken often about my writing brother and test reader, Craig ‘Brodie’ Simpson. Since my debut novel, Alive, was being written, I have shared my WIP with him during the writing process. I don’t tend to change my novels much from the first draft and he makes sure the story makes sense. I generally polish the manuscript during revisions, but the main story tends to stay the same (unless I make a major error, which hasn’t happened yet – to my knowledge!). I do this by sending him the manuscript at the end of every second chapter. This also helps in the process for two main reasons. Firstly, he is waiting patiently for the update and secondly, his positive feedback motivates me to press on. Of course, this may backfire if at any time in the future if he thinks what I am writing sucks.

5 – ENJOY THE PROCESS

Not many of us are fortunate enough to write as their full time jobs. As such, most of us do this for the enjoyment of writing, or that buzz you get when you sell some books, or someone leaves a kind review. For me, just having the opportunity to talk to readers, who have read one of my novels, about the story, gives me a great sense of pride and achievement. If you are struggling, remember you are here to enjoy it. Don’t be afraid to leave a WIP and start something different, or take an extended break from it. Try writing a short story with a different set of characters or even in a different genre. If the story is right, you’ll come back to it – usually with some new and improved ideas.

Thanks again for reading this blog. Hopefully it has been insightful and helpful if you do dabble in the joys of writing. Please remember to subscribe to the blogs, so you get notified each time I post. The DI Christie novels are available via the Books tab as usual.

Jun 2025 – Underrated Christie

Stupidly late for this month’s (or more accurately last month’s) blog, but I’m aiming for ‘averaging’ a blog a month. This month, I wanted to return to Agatha Christie and talk about three of her underrated stories, in my most humble of opinions.

I decided to pick one Poirot, one Marple and one Other for my list, so here we go…

1 – POIROT – Cards on the Table

I do speak a lot about this novel and it is the one that immediately springs to mind when I think of underrated Christie novels (I’ve heard Anthony Horowitz agree with me on a podcast). It has such a simple set up, eight people are invited to play bridge and the host is murdered. One of the players is the murderer and Poirot has to work out who it is. It may be the simplicity of the set up that I love, or it may be that the wonderful Mrs Oliver makes her debut (in a Poirot novel). The characters are gripping and there is the usual twists and turns along the way until we reach a satisfying conclusion. Definitely one worth a read and a good introduction to the Poirot novels, before you consume the more recognisable ones. Of course, the David Suchet adaptation is marvellous.

2 – MARPLE – Nemesis.

Another clever mystery, where Miss Marple is sent on a tour of famous British houses following the death of Jason Rafael. Miss Marple’s inheritance is reliant on the trip and solving of a secret mystery. This is a great and clever story, with a number of shocking incidents along the way and the conclusion is extremely satisfying. I love the Joan Hickson adaptation and the more modern one with Geraldine McEwan was also great, with a fantastic performance from Richard E Grant as Marple’s nephew Raymond West.

3 – OTHER – Why Didn’t They Ask Evans?

Another book that doesn’t get the recognition it deserves and I feel that Bobby Jones and Lady Frances Derwent could have made a great crime fighting duo, but sadly only appear in this novel. A simple premise, a dying man found near a golf course with a cryptic last statement, leads the amateur detectives off in search of answers. I’ve not seen the 1980 adaptation and although I enjoyed the episode that they shoehorned Miss Marple into, Hugh Lawrie’s 2022 adaptation is sensational.

Thanks for reading this quick blog, I’ll aim to get another out shortly to catch up and maintain my monthly blog commitment. Please consider subscribing (for free) to be notified as soon as I release a blog here. Let me know through the socials what your favourite underrated Christie novels are. I’m currently working on DI Christie (named after Dame Agatha) book 5, so if you fancy reading about her, check out the Books tab on this site.

May 2025 – Desert Island Albums

Once again, I’m late for my monthly blog, albeit just a couple of days (should I be able to complete this at the time of writing). I’m returning to my Desert Island series, where I select 8 items from a random topic to discuss. This time, I am looking at some of my favourite albums of all time. For this list, I am referring to studio albums only, I may come back and do a live and/or compilation list at a later date.

With the change in listening habits, I feel that the art of putting together an album may be lost on many. The saving grace appears to be a return to vinyl, which seems to be going through a bit of a purple patch at present, with record shops making a welcome return to many cities, towns and even villages. I was delighted to see one such case in the beautiful village of East Linton, in my county of East Lothian, with the opening of ‘A Love Supreme Records’. It is now becoming my favourite place to visit, with Hometown Coffee and Night Owl Books also located there.

Anyway, on to my list of eight albums, which in my opinion are what the kids call ‘Non-Skippable albums’, where every song in a ‘Banger’. Personally, I would simply say that these are albums to be enjoyed from start to finish…

1 – Dark Side of The Moon by Pink Floyd

No surprises here, as this is often classed as the greatest album of all time. I discovered Pink Floyd in my late teens, but of all their albums, this is the one I go back to. Controversially, there is an almost skippable track with ‘On the Run’, but that is more down to the lack of guitars for me. That said, I let it run so that I can enjoy the piece as a whole. The added joy of being able to listen to the whole album live, in correct order, via the Pulse album is bliss.

2 – Ten by Pearl Jam

Put a gun to my head and I would confess that this is my favourite album of all time. Purchased on its release in 1991, it is an album that I never tire of listening to. Some feel it is over produced, too radio friendly for the grunge era, but I personally think it is perfect. The band have since released some incredible records, but for me the debut still stands above all else.

3 – Strange Kind of Love by Love & Money

James Grant is probably my favourite singer/songwriter and it is a crime against brilliant songwriting that Love & Money were not given the credit (or success) that they deserved. Their second album was the one that my sister first introduced me to in the late 1980s and I’ve been a massive fan of the band, and James as a solo artist, since. There are so many good tracks on this album and I played this to death upon discovering it as well as wearing out my VHS video tape of their Sounds of Eden concert that was shown on the BBC around this time. It is now available to watch on Youtube and yes, I’ve watched it more than a few times since.

4 – Slippery When Wet by Bon Jovi

When my young ears started to listen to rock music, there were two albums that got me hooked, Def Leppard’s Hysteria and Slippery When Wet, Bon Jovi’s third album. Although I may not have been able to separate them at the time, for me, Slippery has aged better than the former. It was the album that made me want to learn guitar and I spend hours trying to emulate Richie Sambora, often failing miserably due to lack of talent and equipment.

5 – Jagged Little Pill by Alanis Morissette

Another album I became obsessed with after it was released. I played the CD constantly and even went as far as obtaining a Japanise import that had an extra live/acoustic disc. I was there just before her popularity exploded and seen her live at the Glasgow Barrowlands, even meeting the band afterwards at the Cathouse. It’s quite sad that this mainly unknown group of musicians that I met that night, included the late Taylor Hawkins. I’ll be going back to see her later in the year with my daughter, 29 years after that memorable gig.

6 – Little Earthquakes by Tori Amos

The album that inspired Alanis, this is a collection of incredable songs, beautifully sang with outstanding piano playing throughout. If my sister introduced me to some of Scotland’s great bands and my eldest brother introduced me to rock and metal, my other brother brought me some of the great female singer/songwriters. Although I hold Kate Bush in higher regard overall, I don’t think any of her albums are as complete at this one.

7 – Iron Maiden – Seventh Son of a Seventh Son

Where many Maiden fans will no doubt mention Number of the Beast, Piece of Mind or Powerslave as the greatest, for me Seventh Son of a Seventh Son is listening joy. From the moment that the strummed acoustic guitar introduction makes way to Moonchild, to the perfection of Intimate Dreams, this album grabs you from the start and doesn’t let go until the end.

8 – Dirt by Alice in Chains

I could have picked Nirvana’s Nevermind or one of the Soundgarden albums, but I think Dirt may be the better album. I came late to Alice in Chains, being more interested in the other three of the ‘Big Four’, but I was wrong. It seems that AIC are getting more credit now than they did at the time and rightly so. The mix of stunning lead vocals, with perfect harmonies, was missing elsewhere in the genre. Dirt stands the test of time and remains as refreshing now to hear than it did back then.

Thanks for reading my blog. These are, of course, my personal choices and many of the greatest albums of all time are missing, but this list comprises eight albums that I could listen to from start to finish on any long journey and not feel the need to skip, forward or zone out at anytime. Songs from some these albums may appear in the current DI Christie novels, with DS Mike Lyle constantly playing many of the classic rock songs throughout the novels. As always, links are in the Books tab should you want to mix classic rock with good Scottish crime stories…

Apr 2025 – My Top 5 Crime Dramas (This Year, So Far…)

It may not come as a surprise that I watch a fair amount of crime drama on television and love nothing more than having a good binge of the latest series of a great show. I tend to watch mostly home based shows as US ones tend to overstay their welcome and often have a stupid amount of episodes per season. I decided to reflect on the best 5 shows that I have been watching this year so far.

5 – The Chelsea Detective

I’ve been catching up with this show having really enjoyed the first series. A change of one of the main characters can sometimes cause issues, but I think this show has maintained its high standard, even with the changes. Adrian Scarborough is an excellent lead actor for this show, playing the part subtly without the need to show off or follow many of the usual traits of a troubled detective.

4 – The Madame Blanc Mysteries

Okay, so this may fall under the ‘guilty pleasure’ heading, but this cosy crime set in France is really good fun. Created, written and staring Sally Lindsay and Sue Vincent, the show has clever mysteries written, within a charming narrative. It has become a bit of a comfort watch over lunchtime and I keep coming back for each new series.

3 – The Marlow Murder Club

You could argue that this is another cosy crime show, but I think that would not be giving the mysteries the justice they deserve. Yes, the amateur sleuths helping the police in a consultancy basis is often a bit far fetched, but the main characters are enjoyable and well portrayed. Samantha Bond, of course, leads the way with perfection.

2 – Grace

A show based on the best-selling book series by Peter James was always likely to be a hit, but getting the casting right was important and this is where the series excels. John Simm was an inspired choice for the lead role, but he is well supported by the rest of the cast.

1 – Annika

I’ve enjoyed this from when it started as a radio show with the exceptional Nicola Walker. I did wonder how it would make the transformation to television and have been greatly impressed. Moving the show to Scotland and to the fictional Marine Homicide Unit didn’t take anything from the original, however, retaining Nicola Walker and maintaining her breaking of the fourth wall in the show was a genius move. By far my favourite show of the year so far.

Thanks again for reading my monthly blog. If you are new here, please subscribe at the home page to be notified of updates. I try and post at least monthly, but occasionally will add extra posts. I won’t however, flood your inbox on a daily or even weekly basis. You can also find my own creations via the Books and Short Stories tabs of this website.

Mar 2025 – Books of My Years

For my latest blog, I decided to take some inspiration from a radio show/podcast called ‘Tracks of My Years’ and take a bookish spin on it. The below list is not of my favourite books of all time (although some may fit into that category), but more the books that shaped me throughout my life and, perhaps, helped me as an author.

1 – MEG & MOG

It may not be the first book I ever read, but I remember this from my early primary school years. Alongside the Mr Men books, this was the first series that really captured my young imagination. I had great joy in purchasing some of the books from the series for my own children and remember this cover particularly well. Perhaps it’s because I was born on Hallowe’en that it has stayed with me.

2 – ALFRED HITCHCOCK & THE THREE INVESTIGATORS

My earlist memory of independent reading and trips to the local library to get these books out. It may have been the catalyst to my love of crime and investigation stories and I loved these more than the more famous Enid Blyton novels. I remember the cover of this one and having it by my bedside to read before I headed off to sleep.

3 – THE SECRET DIARY OF ADRIAN MOLE

I read the first two novels in the series as an early teenager and giggled at the humour throughout. They were then made into a TV series that heightened my enjoyment of them. In recent years, I re-read them and continued with the series, with only the final instalment being savoured for a later date. As enjoyable now, as an adult, as they were back in the 1980’s.

4 – THE FOG

In my mid-teens I started to read the horror novels that were left lying around by my older brothers, but it was James Herbert, rather than the more popular Stephen King, that grabbed my attention. I would read many of his novels, including the Rats trilogy and The Magic Cottage, but it was The Fog that I enjoyed most. Having recently re-read it, it still stands up with the great horror novels, albeit, very much of its time. Not to be confused with the film which had nothing to do with this novel.

5 – TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD

When I was reading more, I asked one of my brothers to recommend a ‘grown up book’. Unfortunately, I was too young to get very far with my first attempt at reading this, although I would go on to study the book in high school and it was the stand out of all the books I was made to read in those years. I can admit, unlike many writers, I was not devouring books throughout my school years, my interests lay in the outside world of football and bike rides, but sometimes its hard to ignore a genuine classic, even if your mind was elsewhere.

6 – THE GREEN MILE

I was working in a bank in the city centre of Glasgow when Stephen King released a new serial of what would be 6 short books. I had read a few of his novels at this point, but I was captivated by this story from the very beginning. I feel sad that I no longer own my original copies of the six books, as I had great memories of reading them and sharing them with a colleague at the time. It would also be made into one of the better Stephen King movie adaptations, unlike Thinner which I had previously enjoyed reading.

7 – ALONG CAME A SPIDER

My first real foray into crime fiction came through the first Alex Cross novel. I was gripped by the story and the format of the short chapter novel. I would become a little obsessed with his novels and would buy the new books in hardback as soon as they came out, even meeting him at a book launch once to get my latest copy signed. It was a shame that his success led to a ridiculous amount of releases, and a dilution into being unable to know how much of a book was written by him or his array of co-authors. Although I don’t read him now, I still have respect for the author that brought me to the genre.

8 – LABOUR OF HERCULES

A rather strange place to start my Agatha Christie love and obsession. Not high on the list of her great novels, but during this time I was watching the David Suchet adaptations and loving the characters and stories. I still have many of her novels still to read, but there will always be a place in my heart for the first one. I even have the Penguin edition tea towel of this novel.

9 – ANY HUMAN HEART

With the greatest respect to Dame Agatha, I have to state that William Boyd is my favourite writer. I was introduced to him by my good friend, test reader and writing brother, Craig Brodie Simpson. When we worked together, Craig would often lend me his books and we would meet up to discuss them over lunch after I had read them. When he gave me this novel, I made it to around 100 pages and gave him it back, as I knew I had to buy my own copy. I’ve since purchased all of his novels and read most of them, but this remains my favourite. Boyd himself wrote the screenplay of the excellent TV adaptation of the novel and it will take some beating to knock it off the perch of being my favourite novel of all time.

10 – ALIVE

My debut novel and, at present, my only stand alone book. As much as I love the DI Joanne Christie series, this is where it all started. Encouraged and championed by the aforementioned Craig, it was the novel I wanted to write and the reason why I continue to enjoy writing to this day. I have a feeling that many of the books on this list helped shape this novel, the diary format taken from the Adrian Mole books, the mystery of the crime and investigation novels, perhaps my aim to write characters as well as William Boyd (or at least try). I’m still incredibly proud of this book and although it may be rough around the edges, I think there is heart in the story and a shocking twist or two.

Thank you again for reading my blog. It may be a few days late, but I will try and release these at least monthly, so please subscribe so you are first to hear when I eventually get round to writing them. You can reach out to me on the usual socials (except THAT one) and let me know if you’ve enjoyed any of these books or what books would make your list. Also, if you haven’t read it, have a read of Alive and let me know what you think – hearing reader’s thoughts is the best part of being an author…

Feb 2025 – My Commitment to the Library

This month’s blog comes in a bit later than planned, for which I apologise to anyone who is so keen to hear from me that they may be disappointed. We had a bereavement in the family, so other priorities have taken precedence, however, I will share this one and try to ensure I get March’s blog out before the end of the month.

I’ve been thinking about libraries a lot of late and of how important they are to readers, writers and the local community in general. Most people will have a fond memory of a library or visiting a library, but more and more these tend to be nostalgic recollections from their childhood. With many local councils under pressure to make savings in their budgets, libraries may be at greater risk than previously and this got me thinking, what can I do to support them?

I have used the library consistently for the last ten or so years, however, mainly this has been online or using their eBook catalogue and it has been a while since I actually visited the library building. I decided to change that, and went along to my local library with my daughter and granddaughter. Although it has a decent crime section and the children’s section is marvellous, it’s not the biggest one in the county but I still managed to borrow an Agatha Christie book and a couple of children’s ones for my granddaughter. Shortly before the three week borrowing period, I visited on my own to return the books and made the decision to borrow another. It was at this point I decided to make a commitment.

Regular usage of their facilities may be the best way to ensure these places of comfort and safety for some, remain open. So, if I was to borrow at least one book every time I visited, it may help the cause. Even if, as in this case, it was a deliberately short novel, or one that you may not read, by borrowing a book you are committing to returning within 3 weeks. Get into the habit and try and get others to do the same, and you can make a real difference to the usage of your local library.

I have to confess, that this is just my opinion on the situation, I have no data on the usage of my local library or if it may be under threat of closure, however, I am passionate that as many as possible should remain open. So, I guess the whole purpose of this blog is to ask my readers when was the last time you visited your library and, more importantly, will you join my campaign to borrow more books?

Thanks again for reading this blog. Given the erratic timings of my blogs, please subscribe by adding your email address to the main page of this website, so you get notified when a further rambling is published.

Jan 2025 – A Look Back and A Look Forward

My first monthly blog of the year will cover what happened last year and my plans for the year coming. I’ll also talk about some changes in my social media profile and take a peek between my fingers to see how I did against my 2024 goals.

One of the exciting part of last year, from a writing perspective, was finally writing and publishing a ‘Christmas’ story. The fourth book in the DI Joanne Christie series was set around Christmas and allowed me to bring in the atmosphere of the festive season and the winter weather (as well as dropping in some classic festive tunes, even some with a classic rock flavour). The book was released at the start of December and although modest in number, the sales have been higher than the previous book. I know that some bought it purely as a festive read and a couple of readers have reached out to say they enjoyed it so much, they have purchased other books in the series. I’m really proud of these novels and I think they have improved as the series has progressed.

As well as celebrating a significant birthday last year, I also read a number of really good books. Johnny Got His Gun has been on my radar for a while and it was such a powerful novel, perhaps only surpassed by Maggie O’Farrell’s The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox. From a crime fiction perspective, I loved Mark Billingham’s The Last Dance and look forward to reading the next one this year. My book of the year, however, was Ian Rankin’s most recent Rebus novel, Midnight and Blue. I bought a signed, first edition hardback copy of this and it was brilliant. I worry that there may not be many left in the series, but I’m glad they continue to be of the highest quality.

Before I look ahead to this year, I’ll check against my 2024 goals, so here we go –

1 – Blog More Often – definitely achieved, but I did miss some months throughout the year which was disappointing.

2 – Finish My Novella – achieved this and currently deciding on the best way to make this available, whilst raising the most for a chosen charity/fundraiser.

3 – Write and Publish DI Christie Book 4 – achieved this too, and very happy with the outcome.

4 – Agent Planning and Novel Structuring – more work required on this, however, I did attend an event with an agent which was very insightful and will help with my ambitions.

5 – Publish at Least One More Short Story – failed to achieve. I did have two stories completed that just didn’t get over the line, but both were worthwhile for different reasons and something I can come back to.

I’m not going to make a list of definite plans for 2025, however, I have a few things I want to achieve. I want to continue with the DI Christie series and try and get a fifth book out. I’ve already started the planning for this one, taking my unused locked room short story and developing that into a novel. Also, I would like to write a novel that I can query agents with. Writing 2 novels in one year will be a challenge, so that one may spill over into 2026. The main thing is to get the main character right and the outline of the story before I begin. I have a WIP which may well be used with a change in main character. The one definite plan I do have, however, is a monthly blog, every month with the option of additional ones as things happen that are worth sharing.

Finally, I wanted to touch on my Social Media presence and some recent changes I have made. I don’t have the greatest number of followers, but over the years my main platform for interaction was the site formally known as Twitter. Like many others, I have found so many faults with it and with how it is now run that I have started to pull back and focus on other platforms. You’ll find me on all the major ones (details in the LINKS tab of this website), but I’ll not be posting on this site. I find this incredibly sad as I have made lots of friends on the old Twitter and had some great interactions with writers and readers, but it is so hard reaching the right people and not being followed and trolled by Bots. I hope those who continue to use the platform understand my decision and follow me elsewhere for more content and updates.

To finish on a positive, thank you to everyone who found me on this once great platform and hopefully I’ll see you over on one of the others. I hope you all have a fantastic 2025, wherever you plan to hang out virtually.

Thanks as always for reading my blog. Please follow me on all the socials on the LINKS tab and subscribe to my website to be notified as soon as a blog is published. Books, as always, are listed on the BOOKS tab.

50 Songs at 50

I’ve been thinking about compiling a list of songs that have been important to me throughout my life for a while now and, with this being my 50th year on this mortal coil, I felt now was as good a time as any. This is not a list of my 50 favourite songs, more a soundtrack to my life. There are many songs on this list that I continue to listen to today, and some I don’t. Either way, they have been important to me at some point and each has a story of why they made the final 50. The list is heavily weighted to the first half of my existence, but I tend to listen to songs from the 80s and 90s mostly and a great deal of these were discovered before my 21st birthday. The list has been constructed mainly in chronological order from when I first discovered them.

1 – Mull of Kintyre by Wings

My earliest memory of playing a record was this 7 inch single being in my house and my learning how to play it. I’m the youngest of four siblings, so much of my music taste was gained from my older siblings and mother who also loved music. My father was not a big music lover, probably tolerating the rest of us. I have no idea who this single belonged to, but anytime I hear it, it reminds me of my first foray into music.

2 – Thunder Road by Bruce Springsteen

This is all down to my mother who had two musical obsessions, Jackson Browne and Bruce Springsteen. This has always been my favourite Springsteen song, from the opening piano, to the lyric about having a guitar and learning how to make it talk, through to Clarence Clemons’ saxophone outro after the final killer lyric about pulling out of a town full of losers.

3 – Ant Rap by Adam & The Ants

Adam & The Ants were the first band that made an impression on my younger self, with the make-up and clothes, double drumming and music videos. Ant Rap was one of the first 7 inch singles that I owned, I forget who bought it for me (probably one of my siblings), but I remember opening the advent calendar style sleeve to reveal each of the band members.

4 – Don’t You (Forget About Me) by Simple Minds

I didn’t actually watch The Breakfast Club until many years later, so this song reminds me of listening to album from which the track came from rather than the movie it is synonymous with. I must admit to singing along to it and pretending to be Jim Kerr and mimicking the throwing of the microphone over the shoulder to clap to my imaginary audience.

5 – Violin by Kate Bush

My brother is a massive Kate Bush, so I was introduced to her early. I remember watching a VHS video of her music videos regularly, but it was this song that I remember being obsessed with from a young age. I’m sure it was the cassette tape that we had of the album that I would keep rewinding to hear this song. Later in my teenage years, when I started to learn to the play the guitar, I would come back to this song and the great guitar solo that comes out of nowhere.

6 – Head Over Heels/Broken by Tears For Fears

Saturday morning TV was a stable diet for me being introduced to music and catching the latest music videos being shown. I loved the song Mad World, but Head Over Heels got me, partly due to the great music video. I would watch this over and over and mimic the keyboard solo at the start of the second verse.

7 – Ace of Spades by Motörhead

My eldest brother was responsible for some of my love of heavy metal and classic rock music, although my other brother also had a hand in my love for this track. He introduced me to a comedy show on the television, The Young Ones, which I loved sneakily watching when I perhaps too young to do so. My favourite episode featured this song and many years later I would see the band live with my eldest brother and it remains one of the best metal tracks ever written.

8 – Wishing I Was Lucky by Wet Wet Wet

Whilst I was gaining a love of various rock and pop artists from my brother, my sister was introducing me to some of the great Scottish artists of the 80s. Wet Wet Wet were formed just over the River Clyde in the town of Clydebank, so were very local to us. Popped In Souled Out was one of these albums that I listened to constantly when I acquired a Walkman to play cassettes on.

9 – You’re the Voice by John Farnham

Another song that I had on 7 inch vinyl having been introduced to it via a live performance on the TV. I remember being blown away when a bunch of bagpipers appeared on stage to play the piped section in the middle of the song.

10 – Gimme The Prize by Queen

I was first introduced to Queen by my friend John who lived on the same street as me. I’m sure it was the Greatest Hits album from the early 80s that was played regularly, however, the song that remains my favourite appeared later during the classic sci-fi movie ‘The Highlander’. My other friend, Phil, had the tape of ‘A Kind of Magic’ and Gimme The Prize was the one we played regularly, which included lines from the movie as well as the bagpipe-style guitar solo.

11 – Wanted Dead Or Alive by Bon Jovi

Around this time as my musical tastes were developing, I started to listen to some hard rock artists. The first that really stuck were Bon Jovi and the Slippery When Wet album. Although I loved all the songs on the album, Wanted Dead Or Alive remains my favourite and was one of the main reasons for me wanting to pick up a guitar and learn how to play it.

12 – Foolish Beat by Debbie Gibson

Before that, however, there was still a bit of pop music to obsess myself with and being a teenager at the time, Debbie Gibson was one of the first artists that I listened to without influence of others. The Out of the Blue album was the first record I bought with my own money, being purchased on a family holiday with some spending money I had been given. I also had the Foolish Beat single in my collection, so choose this song for the list.

13 – Heart And Soul by T’Pau

It was November 1988 that I attended my first live concert. I remember buying the ticket months in advance and having it pinned up on my wall until the day arrived. My sister took me the SSEC in Glasgow and the experience blew me away as a recently turned 14 year old. The opening bars of this song always take me back to that moment.

14 – Birthday by The Sugarcubes

My brother took me to my second concert to see The Sugarcubes, the Icelandic band that launched the singer Bjork. It was also my first experience of the iconic Glasgow Barrowlands music venue that I would attend numerous times to see bands and artists over the years. I loved the Life’s Too Good album and Birthday was the first single released from it.

15 – Jocelyn Square by Love & Money

Back to my sister’s influence and of all the bands she introduced me to, Love & Money remain one of my favourite bands of all time. They didn’t get the commercial success they deserved outside their native Scotland and their work still deserves to be heard. They also headlined the third concert I attended in the Pavillon theatre in Glasgow, again my sister taking me there with the supporting artists including John Martyn and it may have been the McCluskey Brothers and Big Dish too. It was Love & Money I was there to see and I remember running through the rain to catch the last train home singing this song with my sister.

16 – Long White Car by Hipsway

Another band I was listening to around this time was Hipsway. Although my sister’s influence would have been present, it was around this time that my brother got a CD player. This new fancy music listening invention had me in awe and the Hipsway debut album was one of the few discs he had at this time. The idea that you could skip to a specific track without the need of carefully dropping a needle or rewinding and fast-forwarding to a set place was revolutionary. Long White Car has remained one of my favourites from that very album.

17 – Never Tear Us Apart by INXS

As we entered the 1990’s, I started going to gigs with friends rather than siblings and one of the great live bands around the late 80s/early 90s were INXS. A band that knew how to put on a performance, fronted by the charismatic Michael Hutchence, listening to them now reminds me of that time when live music was a sheer joy and you could still see most of the biggest bands and artists without having to take out a second mortgage to pay for the tickets.

18 – Real Gone Kid by Deacon Blue

Again, my sister would have been an influence here and their debut was played to death in our house and on my walkman. In 1989, I made my first trip to Scandinavia, going to Denmark with my school. We took the ferry and over twenty hours later arrived at our destination. It was during the first look around Esbjerg that I spotted the recently released second album (When The World Knows Your Name) for sale on CD. Duly purchased, it was well played in my room when I finally got a CD player of my own.

19 – Nothing Ever Happens by Del Amitri

Another band that has stayed with me throughout my life and I love many of their albums and songs. I’ve seen them live many times, but this song from their breakthrough album is tough to beat and remains one of my daughter’s favourite songs of all time.

20 – Die Hard The Hunter by Def Leppard

By the late 80’s, I was listening more and more to hard rock and heavy metal bands. Def Leppard was one of the first bands I got really obsessed with. My friend Phil introduced me to the Hysteria album and we both got really into them, tracking down and obtaining the previous albums which was not as easy in those days (It took a while before we got our hands on High and Dry, waiting for it to be re-issued). Of course, they were old news to my eldest brother who seen them support AC/DC at the Glasgow Apollo around 1979 and he let me steal his copy of their debut album On Through The Night. Or I think he let me…

21 – Phantom of the Opera by Iron Maiden

Another of my eldest brother’s influence via the brilliant Live After Death album, which he had in double vinyl and VHS tape. My earliest memory, however, was a few years earlier when a Lucozade advert featuring this song appeared on TV. When I started to learn the guitar, this was the riff that I felt if I could play I had made it as a guitarist. I can play it, but not sure about the second part of the sentiment.

22 – Thunderstruck by AC/DC

I went to see AC/DC with my eldest brother in the early 90s and once more they were just a band that knew how to put on a show. Angus Young is a genius guitar player alongside his stage presence and I loved the stage show with huge inflatables, etc.

23 – Poison by Alice Cooper

I think Alice Cooper was my fourth gig, in Dec 1989 when again I attended with my eldest brother who had bought me a ticket for my 15th birthday. My friend Scott was also in attendance in what was his first ever concert. 35 years later and my brother took me again to see him for my 50th birthday and it was one of the best gigs I have been to in years. Poison remains my favourite song, with that brilliant guitar introduction.

24 – Dream On by Aerosmith

My school friend Andrew was obsessed with Aerosmith and introduced me to much of their back catalogue after they had re-emerged in the 80s. I loved their albums from the 80s and 90s, but also listened a lot to their earlier ones, including Toys in the Attic and their debut which features the incredible Dream On. Still one of the best curtain drops (or rises in this case) at the start of a concert that I have witnessed when I saw them in the early 90s in Glasgow.

25 – One by Metallica

You couldn’t listen to heavy metal in the 80s without being exposed to Metallica. I loved the Black album when it was released in 1991 but this song with the iconic music video remains in the memory. Another band I would see live in Glasgow, playing ‘in the round’.

26 – Behind the Mask by Eric Clapton

A school friend of mine, Iain, was learning to play guitar around the same time as me and introduced me to Eric Clapton. I was aware of some of his songs, but he lent me one of his greatest hits albums covering his full career to that point. In the early 90s we went to see him and on the verge of buying the last available tickets at the Virgin Megastore in Glasgow (in the days when tickets were bought in person), the seller noted that he had announced a second gig with tickets going on sale the next day. We returned the following morning and managed to secure front row seats on what turned out to be a memorable night. I went back to see him a decade or so later and it was not the same, playing heavily on the classic blues songs and having two additional guitarists playing solos on almost every song. The first concert when it was just him and all the hits will remain special.

27 – Silent All These Years by Tori Amos

Having introduced me to many artists, including Kate Bush, my brother let me listen to Tori Amos and I was blown away. The first two albums in particular got a heavy rotation in my bedroom and we went to see her live when she was touring the second one. I love many of her songs, but the lyrics of Silent All These Years make it a truly memorable song.

28 – Youth Gone Wild by Skid Row

Back to the rock music and Skid Row were another band I was listening to a lot. Their first two albums were superb and they also performed at my favourite concert to date. I headed down to Donington in 1992 for my only attendance of the Monsters of Rock festival. It was one of the last ones when you went to see a number of bands on one stage perform and Skid Row were the second last on, just prior to headliners Iron Maiden.

29 – Dirty Love by Thunder

Thunder were the one band that I was completely obsessed with as a teenager. I went to see them numerous times, including the aforementioned Donington gig. I actually purchased their debut album in five different formats – vinyl, CD, picture disc vinyl, US import CD (different cover) and Japanese CD (extra live disc). I met them with my friend Paul after a gig once, but made a bit of a prat of myself when I met my guitar-playing/song writing hero Luke Morley, being a bit star struck at the time.

30 – Juvenile Offender by Little Angels

Little Angels were a band of a similar vain to Thunder and I owned their second album on CD which got heavily played at this time. The band supported Bon Jovi when I went to see them at the Milton Keynes Bowl in 1993, a great band live with their ‘Big Bad Horns’ brass section (okay, it was usually 2 people, but it was good to hear). Juvenile Offender is one of my favourite songs due to a big key change at the ‘Run Away’ section and the false ending before a big guitar part.

31 – Oblivion by Terrorvision

I first came across Terrorvision when they supported Def Leppard at the Don Valley Stadium in Sheffield. I didn’t know much about them, but was impressed by their set. It was the release of this song from their second album that started my love of them. At first listen, I was not sure of the album this song appeared on, as the songs seemed a bit eclectic, but after the second listen I was hooked. A great band, I’ve seen a few times live and they never disappoint.

32 – Money (Everybody Loves Her) by Gun

Gun were a band that I was aware of from their debut album and enjoyed, although it was their third album that sealed it for me. Their incredible version of Cameo’s Word Up will be most people’s memory from that album, but one of my favourite songs from them was the B side to that single ‘Stay Forever’. I, however, chose this song from their debut album as it remains a favourite and has a great guitar introduction, especially when played live.

33 – Epic by Faith No More

Another band witnessed at the legendary Glasgow Barrowlands, Faith No More always put on a great live show. Epic is perhaps their best known song and had heavy rotation on MTV back in the day and has remained a favourite of mine.

34 – Knock Me Down by Red Hot Chili Peppers

Also seeing the Red Hot Chili Peppers at the Barrowlands seems mind blowing now, given their rise to the stadium rockers that they are now. I’ve never been to a gig that was that packed before, and I suspect that it may have been over capacity. My favourite album remains Mother’s Milk and Knock Me Down is one of their most underrated songs in my opinion.

35 – Jesus Loves You But I Don’t by The Almighty

The Almighty were another band introduced by my friend Phil who was a huge fan following the release of their debut album. It was their third album, Powertrippin’, that grabbed me. They also opened at the Donington 1992 festival, so will remain special if for that reason alone.

36 – Alive by Pearl Jam

If you’ve read some of my previous blogs, you will know that this is my favourite song of all time and specifically chosen as the title for my debut novel for that reason. When grunge hit in 1991, the movement was the equivalent to the punk era of the 1970s or the rock n roll era of the 1950s. Although it was an antidote to the big hair rock and metal acts of the 1980s, I enjoyed both genres equally, but grunge had a new and exciting feel as I finished my school/teenage years. Sadly a band that I’ve yet to see live as they have only played in Scotland twice, first time I was too young (over 18’s only and I was 17) and second time we were expecting our first child. She is now 24 and they have not been back in her lifetime.

37 – Come As You Are by Nirvana

Of course at this time, Nirvana were also riding the wave of grunge and, despite the best efforts of the press, the PJ v Nirvana rivalry didn’t affect the fans. Nevermind is a masterpiece, but I’ve always preferred Ten in comparison. I had the CD single of Come As You Are, so chose that song for this list.

38 – Jesus Christ Pose by Soundgarden

Soundgarden are the only one of the ‘Big Four’ of grunge that I’ve seen live, again at the Barrowlands. I remember hearing this song for the first time and the guitars just ripping through me. Chris had the best vocal range of the four lead singers, but I loved each of them given how different that they were. Sadly, only Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder is still with us and of the three that have passed away, I still find Chris’s death the most shocking.

39 – Would? by Alice In Chains

One of the greatest soundtrack albums is from the movie Singles, released in the early 90s capturing the grunge scene in Seattle. With many bands making cameo appearances, I played the soundtrack CD to death. Would? is the opening track and introduced me to Alice In Chains, although it would not be until much later that I really appreciated how good they are and that Dirt remains one of the best albums ever.

40 – Chloe Dancer/Crown Of Thorns by Mother Love Bone

From the same soundtrack, the incredible double song from Mother Love Bone, the band that spurned Pearl Jam after the death of lead singer Andrew Wood. This is an incredible song that is perhaps the stand out of that album and shows of the loss of such a talent.

41 – Comfortably Numb (Live) by Pink Floyd

I discovered Pink Floyd rather late, only appreciating them by the mid 90s when an old manager of mine lent me the Division Bell album. From there, I discovered the classics including Dark Side of The Moon which remains in my top 3 albums of all time. I have chosen Comfortably Numb, however, from The Wall album, but for my list I insist on using the live version from Pulse. The main reason is the song has my favourite guitar solo of all time and the recorded version creates the ultimate sin of fading it out towards the end. The version on Pulse, however, has perhaps the greatest version of the solo ever recorded.

42 – You Oughta Know by Alanis Morissette

Around this time an unknown artist burst onto the music scene with her Jagged Little Pill album. I quickly became obsessed with this album and played it constantly. Add in some members of Red Hot Chili Peppers and this song was the stand out. I went to see her live, again at the Barrowlands and met the band in the Cathouse afterwards. I believe the late Taylor Hawkins was there so I must have met him at the time. My eldest daughter is a huge fan now and we will be off to see her next year, 29 years after that show.

43 – Yes by McAlmont & Butler

I met my wife in 1996 and this was an album she was listening to at this time. I remember rushing out to buy my own copy and this was the big song taken from it. I had enjoyed early Suede, so loved some of the guitar playing on this album.

44 – Ocean Drive by Lighthouse Family

A band that my wife and I went to see live a few times and always enjoyed. This track has extra special meaning as it was the first song I played in the flat we first owned together.

45 – My Father’s Coat by James Grant

With the splitting up of my beloved Love & Money in the mid 90s, I had to wait a full decade before James Grant finally released his first solo album. We went to see him live many times in the period as I wanted to make up for lost time. It was tricky trying to pick one song from his 5 albums to date, but I’ve gone with My Father’s Coat which is a perfect example of a story within a song. I did attend the Love & Money gig when they reformed in 2011, but I’ve equally enjoyed his solo work.

46 – What Comes to Pass by Kevin McDermott Orchestra

I was a late to the KMO party and only really started listening to them with the release of their greatest hits album, Fair and Whole in 1998. I did get to see him live at the fabulous King Tut’s Wah Way Hut in Glasgow (the venue of my 21st birthday party) when Del Amitri’s guitarist Iain Harvey played with him. What Comes to Pass is a standout track for me.

47 – So Long, Jimmy by James Blunt

One of the few albums that was played in full in the car, that all the family enjoyed, was Back to Bedlam, James Blunt’s debut. I’ve always held the opinion that this song is a tribute to Jimi Hendrix, but I’m not sure if this has ever been confirmed by James himself. Still, it’s one of my favourites from the album.

48 – Guaranteed by Eddie Vedder

I watched the movie Into The Wild not realising that Eddie Vedder had composed the soundtrack, but recognised his singing straight away. I didn’t know the back story to this film based on true events and was stunned by both it and the soundtrack album, which ranks among the best soundtrack albums in my opinion (with Singles, of course). I went on to read the book which the film is based and also one written by the main character’s sister. Guaranteed is a brilliant song and one I listen to often.

49 – Way Down We Go by Kaleo

Another band we agree on as a family is the Icelandic band, Kaleo. I took my eldest daughter to see them live in Glasgow, before returning with the whole family to make a pilgrimage-like trip to the Glasgow Barrowlands. Having seen so many great bands and artists there over the years, it was somewhat special to return with my whole family.

50 – Experience by Ludovico Einaudi

When my eldest daughter was learning piano, her teacher introduced her to Einaudi. She actually got to meet the great pianist before a concert in Edinburgh and his music is often played as a soothing soundtrack. Our rescued Lurcher, Ludo, is named after the great musician, so I had to include him on the list.

If you’ve made it to the end of this mammoth blog, thank you for reading. I guess this may be the closest I get to an autobiography and I don’t think I’ll be asked to appear on Desert Island Discs, but if I am the eight will certainly come from this list. Many of the songs have been referenced in my books, especially by Classic Rock fan DS Lyle in the DI Christie novels, so if you fancy reading these, check them out in the ‘Books’ tab of this website. And look out for the fourth DI Christie novel due out in December, with a festive Classic Rock touch to it…