Escape Into Books
Anywhere, Anytime
Books - the most perfect bit of kit we've got. Whether you prefer audio, paperbacks or ePub files, in any time and in any place they can take you anywhere you want to go. You want laughs? Thrills? Knowledge? Reflection? Beauty? You'll get them all in a good book. So, as many of us will be taking time out our daily routines this month, BooksfromScotland are here, as ever, to recommend something special for you in your Time Out.
There has been a huge surge of interest in cycling over the COVID-19 lockdown as people have tried to curb their reliance on cars and public transport. In Gears for Queers, authors Abi Felton and Lili Cooper tell us that you don’t need to be consumed by all things lycra to challenge yourself to a memorable cycling adventure. BooksfromScotland chatted to them both about their recent experiences in cycling, writing and publishing.
Gears for Queers By Abigail Felton and Lilith Cooper Published by Sandstone Press
You’ve had quite the adventurous time of it over the last couple of years. Firstly, you both cycled (and camped!) across Europe and then you decided to write about the experience. How did these adventures come about?
Abi: When we started dating, we both talked about travelling, but neither of us were sure how we wanted it to look. For a while, I had been thinking about walking across Europe, and it was Lili who suggested we try cycling instead. I hadn’t been on a bike for about eight years before we met, so I knew it would be a steep learning curve, but I was up for giving it a go!
The opportunity to write the book came up when we were approached by Kay, an assistant publisher at Sandstone Press, based up in Inverness. She’d got hold of a few of our zines and asked us if we’d considered writing a book!
Did you always know that you would write about your trip?
Lili: Not at all! Or at least, not in the way we ended up writing about it. I kept a journal the whole way, and when we came back we started writing blog posts and zines about the tour, but really focusing on specific things like offering advice for folxs considering touring, or vegan campstove recipes. I think we probably wouldn’t have written a book about the trip without the push from Kay, and she r...
Everyone loves One Button Benny, so BooksfromScotland is delighted that our favourite robot is back for another adventure. What gigantic catastrophe is about to trouble Benny? You can see in our taster below. And will Benny be able to save the day? You’ll have to pick up a copy of the book to find out!
One Button Benny and the Gigantic Catastrophe By Alan Windram Published by Little Door Books
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ALSO IN THIS ISSUE
‘He was continuously on the watch for the critic, reporter or love interest that would finally unmask him for the stand-in he felt he had become. It never happened. Instead, his career took off.’
David Robinson Interviews: Malcolm Alexander
‘Entranced by medicine, it would take illness and its associated fear to remind him of the reason he wanted to become a doctor all those years ago.’
Checkpoint: A Q & A with Joe Donnelly
‘Speaking to passionate people about something they enjoy is one of the best feelings as a writer.’
‘A wine shop had one word above its window: Rossini. I admit, I was mildly excited about being in the town where this most delicious fizz is made.’
The Book According to . . . Sara Sheridan
‘People often talk about landscape when they talk about Highland Noir, but though the scenery is lovely, I think the character of Highlanders, particularly Highland women is unique, so I wanted to exp …
‘Feeling tired after a busy day?’
‘I smile. Her warmth is contagious.’
The Strange Book of Jacob Boyce
‘”If I look at the picture long enough, if I focus my mind on the whole and on the detail, I’ll find it. You know, the stillness.”‘
‘The really bizarre thing is to look at the other person and wonder who they are, what they’re doing there next to you, when it was that their facial features changed so much.’
‘In Scotland oor wirds Are gey different, aye.’
‘As he approached, he could see the unmistakable figure of Detective Sergeant Quinn issuing instructions to a couple of uniformed officers. He frowned. He still hadn’t made his mind up about his new a …
‘Waves gently lapping Warm breezes cooling heat haze Perfect peacefulness.’
ALSO ON BOOKS FROM SCOTLAND
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Pink Camouflage by Gemma Morgan
‘I had to tell this story for the thousands of other women who have been harmed by the toxic culture …
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The Hollow Tree by Philip Miller
‘The man turned around. His hands were dark with blood.
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David Robinson Reviews: All Before Me by Esther Rutter
‘This then is a book about recovery, about regaining self-confidence and rediscovering joy.’
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QuickFire, Slow Burning by Janette Ayachi
‘Things are shed when people listen to poetry.’
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‘But best of all it is dead silent: no sound of greetin’ weans, no shouting staff, no screaming- dru …
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‘If readers enjoy what you’ve written, they’ll keep on coming back for more.’
FEATURED AUTHOR:
Mason Cross
Mason Cross is the author of the Carter Blake thriller series. The first book, The Killing Season, was published by Orion in 2014, followed by The Samaritan, The Time to Kill (titled Winterlong in the USA), and Don’t Look For Me. Mason Cross’s short cr …
FEATURED PUBLISHER:
Pipin’s Book
The beginnings of publishing house Pipin’s Book go back to 2011 and our Slovenian roots. We are a sister company of the Slovenian Publishing House Pipinova Knjiga – which literary translates to Pipin’s Book. We are primarily dedicated to Slovenian – Br …