Scots Whay Hae!

For the latest Scots Whay Hae! Podcast Ali spoke to Ann Campbell who is the Festival Director of the Dunoon Film Festival which moves to Spring this year, and runs between 24th - 27th April.

Ann talks about the history of the festival and the importance of the local community. She also explains her own role before breaking down this year's programme and what people can expect, emphasising that it is about so much more than just the films.

The two talk then talk about some of the highlights, including the attendance of Neil Brand (a silent film accompanist and presenter will present and perform live at three events), two special preview screenings of films that will have their UK release in May, Oscar winner I’m Still Here, big screen classics such as Oh, Brother Where Art Thou? and David Lynch's The Straight Story, a 70th anniversary singalong of Oklahoma!, and so much more.

Ann also explains the relationships with schools, local talent, and other partners who play a vital role in bringing the festival together. It's a warm and informative conversation which we hope will inspire you to take a trip doon the watter to attend what is one of the most varied and welcoming festivals around.

For full details, including all the ways to listen, head over to scotswhayhae.com

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 'The Lives We Live' as well as breaking down the various strands of the festival which include 'Life's Fundamentals', 'The Writer’s Playlist', and 'Poet's Corner' before the two go into details about just some of the individual events across the four days. They also touch on the Schools Programme, the Workshops, and Family Day.

It's a thorough and enthusiastic conversation which really whets the appetite for what's to come. In its six-year lifespan Paisley Book Festival has quickly become a highlight of Scotland's cultural calendar, with events being held in the beautiful venues of Paisley Town Hall and Paisley Central Library. We hope to see you there...

Full details, including all the ways to listen, are over at scotswhayhae.com

For the latest Scots Whay Hae! podcast Ali spoke to musician and writer Katy Lironi to talk all about her memoir Matilda In The Middle, which is available now, published with Into Books.

Katy gives an overview of the book, talks about the title, breaks down the subtitle of 'family, music and mayhem' and how those three aspects work together to tell the full story. She also makes it clear that while this is a memoir about family, this is the story as she sees it.

She then talks about SandFest, Choir 21, her work with Down's Syndrome Scotland, and the forthcoming event on the 21st March at The Book Nook in Stewarton which is part of World Down's Syndrome Day (details on the SWH! website).

She also sets out the vital role music has played throughout her life, including the early years in East Kilbride, studying at Napier University and becoming part of the Edinburgh indie music scene as lead singer in The Fizzbombs, just what that time and place was like, the musical differences between East and West, returning home, and what happened next.

The two then discuss the importance music continues to play for Katy, her husband Douglas, and their family (with Matilda In The Middle) be that making, performing, promoting, and releasing other people's, and what the future holds.

Matilda In The Middle is a book which can be read in a number of ways, revealing something new each time, and it was fascinating to be able to talk to Katy all about it.

Full details, including all the ways to listen, are over at scotswhayhae.com

For the latest Scots Whay Hae! podcast Ali caught up with writer Ewan Morrison to talk about his latest novel For Emma, which is published on the 25th March with Leamington Books.

Ewan gives an overview of the novel before talking about Robert Louis Stevenson, his choice of quotations which are the book's epigraph, the structure of the novel, the central characters, and the sense of paranoia which runs throughout.

The two also discuss the central themes which include technology and transhumanism, but also the very human traits of love, regret, addiction, and grief. They also mull over the humour which comes, perhaps unexpectedly, from events rather than the writing itself.

Ewan was last a guest on on the SWH! podcast way back in July 2012, and it was such a pleasure to be able to talk to one of the finest writers around once again, especially about this fascinating book.

Ewan will be launching For Emma at Waterstones Argyle Street in Glasgow on 3rd April, in conversation with Nicola Meighan.

Full details, including all the ways to listen, are over at https://www.scotswhayhae.com

All images of Ewan are credited to Angela Caitlin, 2025

For the latest Scots Whay Hae! podcast Ali caught up with writer Karen Campbell to talk about her latest novel This Bright Life, which will be published later this month with Canongate Books.

Karen gives a synopsis of the novel before breaking down the three central characters of Gerard, Margaret and Claire and their role in events, why it had to be set in Glasgow, and, more widely, the importance of place.

The two then talk about Karen's novels more generally (this is her ninth), the themes and ideas which interest her, writing about people who all too rarely appear on the page, and how she has changed as a writer over time. 

There is also a conversation about other Scottish novels, Lewis Grassic Gibbon and Hugh MacDiarmid, and the notable impact of, and response to, her previous novel Paper Cup. It's always a pleasure to talk to Karen, and with This Bright Life one of SWH!'s Ten Books for 2025 it was a privilege to be able to discuss it in such detail.

Full details, including all the ways to listen, are over at scotswhayhae.com

For the latest Scots Whay Hae! Show Ali spoke to writer and academic Esa Aldegheri to talk about There She Goes: New Travel Writing by Women, an anthology of travel tales which celebrates the stories of women for which Esa is the editor, and which will be published by Saraband Books on 6th March.

Esa explains how this anthology came about, including the origins of the title, and how the impressive list of contributors were assembled before discussing how the themes and ideas in the book emerged through the individual responses, and the importance in including a wide range of writers and styles.

The two then talk about individual chapters and what they cover (without giving any spoilers!), as well as the nature of travel writing and how it has changed, and how this anthology challenges those preconceptions and addresses the subject in new and surprising ways.

It's a fascinating and inspiring conversation about this excellent collection of essays, and travel writing itself. An essential listen about a book which deserves to be read far and wide.

For full details, including all the ways to listen, head to scotswhayhae.com

For the latest Scots Whay Hae! podcast Ali caught up with writer Chris McQueer who was last a guest back in 2018. Since then Chris has been working on his debut novel which is now with us in the form of Hermit, published with Wildfire Books on the 27th February.

Chris gives a synopsis of Hermit before explaining how the novel has changed in terms of style and story over the years while the central characters of Jamie and Fiona were always there.

The two discuss the inspirations behind all the characters, how the structure helped the writing, finding the rhythm of this novel, writing about difficult subjects, and the dark and depressing research Chris undertook to best understand the online subculture of incels.

Chris also talks honestly about the challenges in, and expectations of, writing his first novel after the success of his two short story collections HINGS and HWFG, and what he's looking forward to next. Hermit is one of the most eagerly-awaited novels of the year, and it was such a pleasure to be able to discuss it with the author in such an open and insightful manner.

For full details, including all the ways to listen, go to scotswhayhae.com

For the latest Scots Whay Hae! Podcast Ali caught up with previous guest, Saltire Prize shortlisted author David F. Ross to hear all about his new novel The Weekenders which is published on the 27th February with Orenda Books.

David gave a brief synopsis before talking about why this was a book he wanted write, the structure of the novel, the various strands and how they work together, and creating the central characters who drive each of those stories.

The two also discuss the themes of wealth and power and how they corrupt, nature versus nurture, the role Glasgow plays in the novel, why it was important to David to set events there and represent the city as honestly as possible.

The Weekenders is David's seventh novel and he reflects on how he has changed as a writer over that time, why Orenda is the only publisher for him, and there's so much more.

It's always a pleasure to catch up with David, and this is a must listen for readers and writers alike.

Full details, including all the ways to listen, are over at scotswhayhae.com

For the latest Scots Whay Hae! popdcast Ali spoke to writer Allan Gaw to talk about his debut novel The Silent House Of Sleep, which is the first in the Dr Jack Cuthbert series, all to be published with Polygon Books.

The Silent House Of Sleep won the Bloody Scotland Scottish Crime Debut Prize last year, and Allan talks about first being on the shortlist, his surprise at winning, and the novel being named Waterstones Book of the Month.

He then gives a detailed synopsis (don't worry - nae spoilers) before the two talk about the central character of Dr Jack Cuthbert and the memorable supporting cast.

Allan also details the research he undertook for this novel, particularly the chapters set during World War One, and sets out what's coming next for Dr Jack Cuthbert.

The Silent House Of Sleep is one of the most exciting debut novels in years, with a central character who is complex and utterly compelling. If you are a crime fiction fan then this could be the start of a beautiful relationship. If you think crime isn't for you, take a chance on this series. You won't regret it.

Full details, including all the ways to listen, are over atscotswhayhae.com

For the latest Scots Whay Hae! podcast Ali caught up once again with Dawn Taylor, the Artistic Director & CEO at MANIPULATE Arts, to learn all about this year's MANIPULATE Festival which runs from 12th - 15th February.

Now in its 18th year the festival promises something for everyone, and Dawn gives us an overview of the programme, a bit of history, the significance in supporting non-text based theatre, film and other forms of performance, the importance of building lasting relationships with audiences, and just what festival goers can expect.

The two also talk about the challenges faced in putting together this year's programme, and those facing all festivals across the arts, before discussing just a number of potential highlights, some of the companies and artists appearing, and how and where people can get tickets and get involved.

It's a great introduction to this year's MANIPULATE festival, and should whet the appetite for what's to come...

Full details, including all the ways to listen, are over at scotswhayhae.com