May Rinaldi reflects on an exciting time as her crime writing career develops
II’ve been going to Bloody Scotland for years, usually as a reader, keen to see and listen to my favourite authors and rub shoulders with my heroes in the bar. In 2018 I took part in Pitch Perfect, Bloody Scotland’s opportunity for unpublished authors to pitch their books to a panel of industry professionals. I didn’t win; DV Bishop author of the City of Vengeance historical crime series did. He was amazing, so relaxed, looked fabulous as ever and really sold his book. The whole process was so exciting; if you’re an aspiring crime writer why not give next year’s competition a go? Follow https://bloodyscotland.com/take-part/ for details of when 2027 competition opens.
This year was something else. My debut novel Liar Thief was shortlisted for the Bloody Scotland Debut prize and long listed for the McIlvanney Crime Book of the Year. I would be at the festival as a ‘real’ author. Those heroes of mine would be pouring me a cup of tea in the green room, people would be coming to me for an autograph on their copies of my book. This was the stuff of dreams.
In June the shortlisted authors attended the launch of the festival, interviewed by a range of publications, from the Scotsman to Scottish Field, taking part on podcasts and radio shows, being photographed for the Bloody Scotland website and social sites. This was just the warm-up to the real festival in September.
My fellow shortlisters – Frances Crawford, Linda Duncan McLaughlin, Kirsty Lockwood and Zoe Rankin and I set up a wee What’sApp group, Fun Wimmin Criminals. We gelled as soon as we met (even though Zoe was in New Zealand) and became a wee team. We were the first ever, all woman shortlist. Each of our books was a very different take on the crime genre although we noticed some cross over subjects which we covered, in particular the effect of family on our protagonists. We didn’t care which of us won, being shortlisted was enough.
On the Friday morning of Bloody Scotland, we met up in Café Pompeii – my favourite place for coffee in Stirling – and finally met Zoe in the flesh. Even better for me, Ruth Knafo Setton, who also writes with my publisher Black Spring Press, had come across from the US to promote her book, Zig Zag Girl. After chatting on Facebook for months, it was great to meet up. Even though I blame her for the US Covid variant I was struck down with after the festival.
The Fun Wimmin Criminals were herded into the green room then taken three doors up King Street to Made in Stirling, the venue for the Debut Panel. The room was packed. It was great to see some of my Mayniacs group with their t-shirts. The panel chat was great fun, our moderator was festival co-founder and author, Alex Gray. We were in good hands. She kept the chat flowing and knew exactly how to get the best out of five newbie authors. After the panel, we signed copies of our books and chatted to the audience. Two women whom I hadn’t seen since leaving school appeared – now looking forward to organising a reunion in Airdrie.
Then it was time for the official opening ceremony and prize giving. Bloody Scotland knows how to put on an event. The venue was the Church of the Holy Rude where Mary Queen of Scots infant son, James was crowned King of Scotland; John Knox’s preaching shaped Scotland’s political and religious landscape and Medieval Gothic craftsmanship and stained glass reveal Stirling’s history. The perfect backdrop to the opening ceremony. All the shortlisted authors for the debut and McIlvanney prizes were piped into the hall. Frances and Zoe were on both lists – an amazing achievement. They were joined by Philip Miller, Tariq Ashkanani and Gavin Bell for the top prize in Scottish Crime.
The debut winner was announced first. Frances Crawford’s book, A Bad Bad Place, brought the house down – not least because of our cheers. Frances is the loveliest, most talented person you could hope to meet and her book is fabulous. So fabulous she went on to win the McIlvanney too. This is the first time this has ever been done. More records broken and you’ll never see a more popular winner.
The presentation was followed by a procession back down through Stirling, accompanied by the pipe band with Frances, her husband Willie, and festival guest programmer, Denise Mina leading the way. More photographs and interviews filled the rest of Frances’s weekend, whereas Linda, Zoe and I took to the stage at Karaoke at the Coo with our fabulous rendition of Tainted Love. The rest of the festival is a blur. I talked to all my favourite authors in the green room and bar at the Golden Lion, saw some wonderful panels, met up with pals, old and new, and had the most amazing weekend. I’ll never do this again – you’re a debut author just once in your life – but I’ll never forget it. My cheeks still ache from the constant grin on my face. And the Fun Wimmin Criminals are still getting together to appear as a group on panels at bookshops, festivals and anywhere that will have us.
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