Crime Writing Festival Ignites City Once Again

A mini torchlight parade at the Castle replaced the traditional procession through Stirling as Bloody Scotland returned in hybrid form for 2021.

Bloody Scotland returned to Stirling in September with a hybrid festival programme featuring some of the biggest names in crime writing literature, from Stephen King and Lee Child to Val McDermid and Ian Rankin.

Over 30 online and in person events took place over three days, following a purely digital festival in 2020.

We caught up with Festival Director Bob McDevitt for a behind the scenes chat:

How did Bloody Scotland come about?

The crime writers Lin Anderson and Alex Gray had attended many crime-writing festivals around the UK and internationally and felt that there was a gap in the market for one in Scotland.

They got together with the agent Jenny Brown and Bloody Scotland was born in 2012.

What makes it different from other writing festivals?

We like to think there is a friendly inclusive atmosphere and over the years we've added some unusual events that you don't normally find at a literary festival, from a football match and an escape room to a torchlight procession and a musical!

Why Stirling?

At the time Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee and Aberdeen had book festivals and we felt that Stirling, both with its central location and colourful history, was perfect for a crime writing festival.

WHAT WAS THE REACH OF THIS YEAR’S HYBRID FESTIVAL?

We're just working out numbers now (it's quite difficult to calculate a digital audience) but I can say that we beat our target on both physical tickets in Stirling and digital passes.

What are some of the most memorable moments over the past decade?

The US writer David Baldacci donning a kilt to lead the torchlight procession, Ann Cleeves on stage with the actor Douglas Henshall who plays Jimmy Perez in Shetland, Scotland's 13-0 victory over England at the football and Ian Rankin being interviewed at The Albert Halls by The First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon.

Favourite moment from this year’s festival?

It has to be the wonderfully warm chat between Linwood Barclay and Stephen King - there was a palpable excitement in the audience and the cherry on the cake was King wearing a Buckie Thistle football strip!

Bloody Scotland will return to Stirling in 2022, when it’ll celebrate it’s 10th anniversary. Sign up for updates here.

Image credits Bloody Scotland Festival/Paul Reich.