Callum McSorley's Blog, page 4

THE MCILVANNEY PRIZE 2023

On Friday night at Bloody Scotland crime festival in Stirling, it was my honour and privilege to receive The McIlvanney Prize for Scottish Crime Book of the Year 2023 for my debut novel SQUEAKY CLEAN. And I’ve only just about picked my jaw up off the floor.

In a state of shock, I mumbled out a few thanks on stage so I’d like to take the space now to do things properly.

Bringing a book to publication is a massive team effort, and I must thank Pushkin Vertigo for everything they’ve done for ...

Bloody Scotland

Very excited to be heading to Stirling this weekend for Bloody Scotland!

I’ll be taking part in the debut panel on Friday 15th with my fellow authors shortlisted for the Scottish Crime Debut of the Year award – Heather Critchlow, Heather Darwent, Kate Foster, and Fulton Ross.

Afterwards there will be a torchlight procession from Stirling Castle to the Albert Halls (as crazy as that sounds!) where the prize-giving will be held.

As well as being shortlisted for the debut award, I’m also a...

EVENT: Glasgow Review of Books Live Launch, The Old Hairdressers, Glasgow, Wed 5th July, 7pm

Thrilled to be taking part in the live launch of the new look Glasgow Review of Books this week!

Taking place at The Old Hairdressers in Glasgow this Wednesday at 7pm, I’ll be reading from Squeaky Clean alongside some brilliant writers and performers, including Alan Bissett, Sam Tongue, Empress, and my former uni tutor David Kinloch – and many more.

There will be spoken word, poetry, music, and compere Alan Bissett – playwright, novelist, performer, and DJ – will be spinning tunes until c...

An Awards-nominated Author

I am absolutely overjoyed to announce that Squeaky Clean has been shortlisted for the Scottish Crime Debut of the Year, with the winner to be decided and announced at Bloody Scotland, Stirling’s annual crime fest, in September.

As if this all wasn’t exciting enough for me, it turns out Squeaky Clean is also longlisted for The McIlvanney Prize – Scottish Crime Book of the Year!!!

Insane.

Names on the list include Ian Rankin, Val McDermid, Douglas Skelton, and, I’m very happy ...

EVENT: Bookpoint, Dunoon, Wed 21st June, 4.30pm

I’ll be heading to Dunoon’s fantastic indie bookshop BOOKPOINT this month to chat about Squeaky Clean as part of Independent Bookshop Week.

I’ll be blabbing all things car wash, crime, and McCoist and I’ve heard a rumour there will be tea and scones too. Come on down!

Wednesday 21st June, 4.30pm, Bookpoint, Ferrybrae, Dunoon.

I’ve not been to Dunoon since being there on a family holiday as a child so I’m really looking forward to getting the ferry for my first visit in a long time.

Read SECRET INGREDIENTS (again!) in Shoreline of Infinity 35

Really happy to see my alien spy short story SECRET INGREDIENTS reappear in the new issue of Shoreline of Infinity!

First published in Issue 15 (2019), it was chosen to appear in this special collection for the launch of new Scottish sci-fi webzine SF Caledonia. Created by Shoreline’s founder and former editor, Noel Chidwick, SF Caledonia is to be a one stop shop for all things Scottish in the sci-fi world, celebrating authors who call Scotland home.

It’s a real honour to have my story...

Event Horizon at Cymera ’23

Excited to be joining some fabulous writers for another Event Horizon, the SFF cabaret night hosted by Edinburgh Sci-fi zine Shoreline of Infinity.

This will be a special one as part of this year’s Cymera Festival and will see returning Event Horizon guests, including Ely Percy, Pippa Goldschmidt and Gavin Inglis read from works previously published in the mag.

This will also be the launch of new a Shoreline spin-off called SF Caledonia, including publication of a special edition of So...

Aye Write’s Ones to Watch

I’m massively hyped to be taking part in Glasgow’s biggest book festival, Aye Write, this year!

Chosen as a ‘One to Watch’, I’ll be appearing alongside fellow debut crime novelists Alice Slater (Death of a Bookseller) and Martin Griffin (The Second Stranger).

The event will take place in the grand surroundings of the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall — might take my guitar cause it’ll be the only shot I ever get at performing music there — on 28th May at 12.45pm.

You can book tickets here. (£6...

T.L. Huchu on SQUEAKY CLEAN

Earlier this year, the brilliant spec fic author T.L. Huchu wrote a wonderful review of Squeaky Clean which I want to share:

I’ve read a quite a few brilliant Scottish crime novels, but McSorley is a fresh voice and his talent shines through. The writing from the first page to the last is an absolute delight. It has that perfect rhythm, alternating between colloquialisms and beautifully original metaphors without ever losing its edge. This has the effect of creating a marvellous voice and I ...

EVENT: Cromarty Crime & Thrillers Weekend

I’m really excited to be taking SQUEAKY CLEAN on the road up north this weekend to the Cromarty Crime & Thrillers festival.

It’s an absolute honour to be appearing as a spotlight author on the Saturday to do a reading before The Bingo Hall Detectives author and journalist Jonathan Whitelaw takes the stage for his event ‘From Fact to Fiction’.

Taking place at The Stables in Cromarty at 2.30pm on Saturday 22nd April, you can find out more details about the weekend and book tickets here.

...