The Bloody Scotland crime fiction festival is Scotland’s first event of its kind. It celebrates the best in Scottish and international crime fiction and features renowned crime authors from around the world. The participating authors are selected based on book sales, so there are no obscure young writers using the festival to promote their work.
The program of the Bloody Scotland festival includes crime writing masterclasses conducted by internationally bestselling crime fiction writers whose novels have been translated into multiple languages, panel discussions, lectures, crime quizzes, meetings with authors, book presentations, pitching sessions, and other exciting events and activities. Each event has its own admission fee.
One of the most popular events at Bloody Scotland is Crime at the Coo. It is the festival’s hottest ticket that sells out well before the beginning of the festival. Crime at the Coo is a night of criminal cabaret featuring music, comedy, poetry, and more. Other popular events include the Pitch Perfect pitching session and the annual Bloody Scotland Football Match: Scotland v England.
Bloody Scotland awards the McIlvanney Prize to the best Scottish crime book of the year. The prize was created to provide Scottish crime authors with recognition, as well as to raise the profile and prestige of the genre. The prize was named after Scottish novelist William McIlvanny who is referred to as the “Father of Tartan Noir”, a form of crime fiction particular to Scotland.
The competition is open to authors with Scottish roots: they must either be born in Scotland, live there or set their books there. The winner is selected by a professional jury. Previous winners have included Charles Cumming, Malcolm Mackay, Peter May, Craig Russell, and Chris Brookmyre.
The Bloody Scotland festival is held at several venues across Stirling, all located within walking distance.
In 2020, the event was held online due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Photo: Bloody Scotland
