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Copyright © INDIE BOOK FESTIVAL 2023.

Enjoy a variety of 16 Authors...

Glyn F Salisbury has always harboured an interest in writing. His father encouraged him endlessly during his early years. A lot later on, he managed to get a few articles and short stories into print. Then, in his sixties, a friend said - why don’t you try something bigger.

     He released a book of short stories, The Pool, followed by a novella called The Empty House. It was warmly received and Glyn quickly realised his writing heart was into creating the longer story.

     The Wrath Of Wick was next and proved so popular, it spawned the idea of a nine part Warlock Saga. He hopes to launch the penultimate part of this saga at the festival, The Devil’s Game. With the finale arriving around Christmas  2023.

GLYN F SALISBURY

Highland-based author Philip Paris is best known for his books about Orkney’s famous Italian chapel, built by POWs during WW2. However, his work is varied, ranging from Men Cry Alone, an award-winning novel about domestic abuse against men, to Casting Off, an hilarious novel about residents in a Highland care home. His latest historical fiction, The Last Witch of Scotland, was inspired by the extraordinary story of Janet Horne, the last person in Britain to be executed for witchcraft (Dornoch, 1727).

     The book is the result of years of research into the Scottish witchcraft trials and reimagines how Janet Horne and her daughter came to be arrested and tried for witchcraft. Philip will be discussing the witch trials.

PHILIP PARIS

GARETH HALLIDAY

Local writer, Margaret Mackay won the inaugural prize for a short story competition

organised and administered by Perth College with her factual story ‘The Kilns’ in which she

related the history of her home, previously a herring kiln. This competition is now an annual event.

     Being a member of Caithness Writers she has had stories published in several of their anthologies: Anthology of Caithness Crime, Beyond the Mist, Stacks, Flights of Imagination and Connections. She attended Creative Writing classes at North Highland College where she wrote a play for radio, a stage play and a screenplay.  

     After the success of her first novel, No More Secrets, No More Lies, inspired by her visit to Malaysia, she has written other novels. Exotic, sometimes with tragic consequences, and Scarred  blossomed into a full length novel.

MARGARET MACKAY

I live in Orkney and mainly write fiction - short stories and novels, however I also write some drama and non-fiction articles. I am currently part of the National Union of Journalists' mentoring scheme to improve my non-fiction writing and hopefully write a book about the works of Oscar Wilde.

     My first book, The Organist, is a historical romance set in 1911/12. I have also had an anthology of fantasy stories published (Where the Ocean Meets the Sky) and two humorous fantasy novels - The Dalliances of Monsieur D'Haricot and Travels with an Organ to Perilous Lands.

     I also write Neolithic whodunits set in Orkney (the Marna Mysteries) under the name of B K Bryce and I am currently working on the fourth book in the series.

BARBARA STEVENSON

Awarding winning writer of Gaelic children’s picture books and writer of English women’s

contemporary fiction with a dash of Gaelic, a large sprinkling of humour and a wee drop of Scots. Ceitidh has also been short listed in the Gaelic Literature Awards for an unpublished manuscript.

     Her latest works include the fourth in her Gaelic Grumpa series, Nollaig Ghrumpa and the third in the Blàs series, Blàs, Across the Machair. The Grumpa stories are colourful fun loving books based around the grumpy but kind hearted character of Grumpa and his grandson.

Blàs, Across the Machair is the latest heart-warming tale, of the quirky community of Blàs. Rich in characters, friendships, and Scottish culture it is full of fun and a tribute to the endurance of rural life. Ceitidh who is both dyslexic and dyspraxia is registered with the Scottish Book Live Literacy Programme,

CEITIDH HUTTON

Gabrielle will be discussing her experiences of the road to publication for her new novel Across the Silent Sea. She will share the processes she follows to produce a completed manuscript along with practical advice and strategies for caring for the creative self. 

Gabrielle Barnby lives in Orkney and writes short stories, poetry and fiction. Her award winning work is widely published in print and online. Gabrielle runs workshops that encourage writers young and old, and supports creative conversations and discovery. She leads projects focused on participant involvement and wellbeing and has a particular interest in collaborating with community groups and artists.

For Gabrielle the creative process is exploratory, a journey that includes research, observation and emotional connection. She draws on local history and personal experience.

GABRIELLE BARNBY

Gothic Crime Writer Paula R C Readman began writing seriously about thirteen years ago after

teaching herself how to write for publication from books her husband bought off eBay.

     She models her writing style on the Victorian writers who wrote books that all the family could enjoy together while sitting at the fireside on dark winter nights. Though classed as horror, each of her books has at its heart a crime. Paula shies away from writing graphic blood and gore scenes preferring to write enough for the reader to visualise the scenes themselves.

      Paula left school poorly educated at sixteen and worked in unskilled jobs all her adult life due to being dyslexic.

      Paula will explain how she became a published author of six books and over a hundred short stories and how she markets her books, too.

PAULA R C READMAN

Gordon J. Brown has eleven crime and thriller books published to date, along with a novella and a number of short stories. His latest book; ‘Me, A Contract Killer’, will be published by Red Dog Press in September 2023. His current crime thriller, ‘No More Games’ is out now, and his previous book ‘Any Day Now’ is also available.

     He also wrote ‘Six Wounds’, under his expat alias Morgan Cry - a Spanish set euro thriller; which is the sequel to ‘Thirty-One Bones’.

Gordon is a founding director of Bloody Scotland, Scotland’s International Crime Writing Festival (see www.bloodyscotland.com), a DJ on local radio (www.pulseonair.co.uk) and runs a strategic marketing consultancy. He lives in Scotland, is married with two children and splits his time between Scotland and Spain.

GORDON J BROWN

Lora M Sands cut her writing teeth on short stories and flash fiction. After winning a competition realised she really could tell a story. With this in mind she released a book of short stories called Ruler Of The Kingdom. It was well received and then had an idea for her first book.

     Her book, A Death In The Gallery, was released later. Readers loved it and her characters. Lora is now in the middle of a new case for the characters to solve.

     Again, starting creative writing late in life, proved daunting and rewarding.

     With encouragement from a writing group and plenty of reading, her mind is constantly coming up with idea’s for stories.

LORA M SANDS

An experienced archaeologist, curator, and educator, Cáit started writing poetry at her home in Easter Ross in December 2020, during the events of the Covid-19 pandemic. Since then more than fifty of her poems have been published in journals, anthologies and exhibitions, including in Northwords Now, Poetry Scotland, Ink Sweat & Tears, and The Poets Republic.

     She has been an invited guest reader at festivals and gatherings throughout Scotland and Ireland. In 2022, she won, with Sinéad McClure, Dreich’s ‘Classic Chapbook Competition’ for their co-authored pamphlet 'The songs I sing are sisters'.

     Her first full solo collection will be published by Drunk Muse Press in early 2024.

     Cáit will be reading from both collections and will share about her experiences of collaborating online to co-author an award-winning publication.

CÁIT O’NEILL McCULLAGH

Hi, I’m Tricia Little, I’m nearly 70, retired and started creative writing aged 64, in response to my son’s comment, that  I was retired - so should slow down!  I saw it as a challenge to prove I could begin a new constructive phase of life and joined Glyn’s Writeplace2b group. I’d recommend joining a group to any budding author. I’ve gained knowledge on creating worlds, editing,  structuring and planning as well as having fun with other members at our Wednesday group, writing to prompts.

     I was also at Glyn’s first Indie Book Festival, last October in Wick, where with his assistance, my first book was launched.

     A historical, romantic saga, RTL depicts a cursed woman,  and her female descendants, fighting for their rights and dreams.

TRICIA LITTLE

His latest novel, EARTHMAN, is a sci-fi romance and set in the Scottish Highlands, London and Washington.

      At the festival David will not only discuss his latest and  previous novels, but also aspects which relate to writing. This includes his influence for a career in literature. With an extensive background in business, what provided the spark for a career change?

      David will also explain plot formulation for each of his novels which tend to have a Scottish theme. When you complete your novel, what then?    David will give insight to the arduous task of getting a publishing deal and once achieved, promoting the book. An effective marketing plan is essential to create awareness amongst the public. If not, a good story may never be told.

DAVID MUNRO

I started writing poetry when I was in primary school. I wrote small poems for friends to put

inside cards to their friends and families for special occasions.

     In high school, my English teacher always praised me on my vivid imagination, unfortunately my grammar was terrible. My parents bought me my first oxford dictionary when I turned 12 years old. Not really the present you would tell your friends about though.

     I loved studying literature, but detested English Classes as I could not grasp the technical part of the English language. I was useless at foreign languages too. Later in life I discovered how much I enjoyed writing short stories and being able to express my feelings through my writing.

     Now I’m in my 50’s, and with much guidance and enthusiasm from our mentor in our group of writers, I am in the middle of writing my first book.

ANN-MARIE JONES

I am a dyed-in-the-wool Wicker who is proud of her heritage. I am passionate about our local dialect which is derived in many parts from Ancient Norn.

     With the passage of time and ongoing influxes of people from various parts of the world, the Old Tongue is weakening and a lot of Wick's youngsters speak with the ''Mid-Atlantic Drawl'' that you hear in many parts of Scotland.

     I have loved words since my mother read wonderful Fairy Stories to me and my father penned little rhymes on my birthday cards, and I derive great pleasure from creating poems on all sorts of subjects. Although Dialect is the medium most enjoyed at local ceilidhs, I have written more intense poetry reflecting my inner thoughts and through the late David Morrison I was able to perform these at several festivals over the years.

JENNY SZYFELBAIN

This last year has been challenging, not least because my computer broke and I've had my first hip replacement. 

     However, I have released 4 more stories in my Mark and Jinx series and am now releasing the last two and putting all 8 of them into a single book for release for Christmas.

     I have also finished my first book Ngano Pambo, which is based on my childhood in Nyasaland (Malawi) and Rhodesia (Zimbabwe). 

     The Write Place 2B, both the other members and especially Glyn and

Carolyn have provided encouragement and guidance for getting this far and I look forward to the meetings and taking my writing further.

ALISON KIRK

Entertainment from Authors, readers and workshops……

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G.R. Halliday was born in Edinburgh in 1981 and grew up near Stirling in Scotland. As a child he was obsessed with the hauntings and  paranormal mysteries which his father

investigated and wrote books about. After studying Ancient History at Edinburgh University he eventually moved to the Scottish Highlands with his partner to explore the wilderness, climb mountains and swim in the sea.

     The magical highland landscapes heavily influence his writing, forming the backdrop for his D.I Monica Kennedy series. He worked as a graphic designer and editor for an entertainment magazine before publishing the first of these novels, From The Shadows, in 2019.

     In 2021 he co-founded the Caledonia Crime Collective with a group of other Scottish crime authors. Aside from writing he is fascinated by psychology.