Alison Belsham on Pitching Perfectly
Alison Belsham, author of The Tattoo Thief, has given us some insight into what it's like to apply for Pitch Perfect, prep, take part and then win!
Bloody hell! I just won Pitch Perfect!
To say that winning Bloody Scotland’s Pitch Perfect in 2016 came as a surprise is something of an understatement. But what happened afterwards – well, I couldn’t have made it up, and I write fiction for a living.
Over the summer of 2015, I started working on an idea for a novel. And when I say ‘working on’, I don’t mean writing. I was just jotting notes about the plot and developing ideas about the characters it would feature. Really, all I had was a title – The Tattoo Thief – and a very sketchy outline of a possible story.
This was how things stood when a Facebook post calling for entries into the Bloody Scotland Pitch Perfect event stopped me in my tracks. I had never heard of Bloody Scotland as I was completely new to the whole crime-writing arena. But the contest held the promise of professional feedback from a panel of agents and publishers, and all I had to do to enter was write 100 words about my book. I had nothing to lose and everything to gain. Of course, the whole thing seemed like a long shot, and I’d never pitched anything before in my life, but I wasn’t going to let that stop me. I figured that if I was lucky enough to get some feedback at such an early stage, it could only be a good thing. So, I double checked the rules to make sure that I didn’t have to be Scottish, wrote my one hundred words and then forgot all about it.
A few weeks later when an email arrived asking me whether I was able to come and pitch The Tattoo Thief in Stirling, to say I was surprised hardly begins to cover it! As far as I was concerned, I’d won – the opportunity for feedback from agents and publishers was a grand prize. Like gold dust, frankly, and, as thrilled as I was, I had no further expectation than that. Of course I would come to Stirling, I replied. Of course.
There was just one snag. I would have to stand up in front of a ballroom full of people and pitch my as-yet-unwritten novel. I’d never pitched anything in front of an audience in my life. The prospect terrified me and excited me in equal measure. No, that’s a lie. Not equal measure – more in the ratio of 90 percent terror, 10 percent excitement. But I read the pitching tips provided by the panel’s chair, Scottish super agent Jenny Brown, and I set about writing my three-minute pitch.
I had about three weeks from learning I would be in the competition until the actual day and I think it’s fair to say that I probably practised my pitch every single day, at least ten times. Mostly to myself in the mirror, but then repeatedly to my husband and children, then to my friends and even to acquaintances who didn’t know that I wrote. I refined it until it read naturally and I repeated it until I practically knew the damn thing off by heart. I conveniently forgot that I hadn’t written any of the book yet. That wasn’t important. Honing my three-minute pitch was all that mattered. Three minutes to introduce myself, tell my story and set out my credibility as a writer. If you think that doesn’t sound like much time, you’d be right.
Three minutes that would change my life – not that that thought crossed my mind for a moment at that point.
Finally, the Bloody Scotland weekend came around. Sucking up my fear of flying, I boarded a flight from Stansted to Glasgow and took the train to Stirling. I attended some of the panels on the Saturday afternoon, agog at my first experience of a crime writing festival. Then, after a fitful night’s sleep and another half dozen run-throughs of the pitch, it was time.
I went to assemble with my fellow pitchers in the Green Room. Past participant Mark Leggatt herded us like cats to where we were supposed to be. Orion Editor Sam Eades, though I had no idea who she was, gave us a last-minute pep talk. I was scheduled to go second, which I thought was good – getting it out of the way early, but not having the dreaded first spot. Then the order changed because the BBC, who were there filming a documentary about women crime writers, were running late so the women pitchers all needed to go further down the roster. Now I would go seventh, out of eight.
As we walked into the crowded ballroom in the Golden Lion Hotel, my heart was pounding and my palms were sweating. There was the stage, there was the lectern. The lights were fiercely bright. There sat the panel who would judge our pitches and beyond was an audience of probably a hundred people or so, who would each also individually judge our efforts.
Why ever had I thought it a good idea to enter?
My turn came around at last. I’d been mighty impressed by the six that had gone before me, which didn’t help my nerves. On wobbly legs, I stood up and went to the lectern, my notes trembling in shaky hands. My mouth was dry as I forced myself to look the panel members in the eye and then to look out at the audience. Then I was off.
It was over in a matter of minutes. Of course! Suddenly, I was folding my notes and the audience was clapping. So far, so good. But what of the precious feedback? Would I now be told this was an idea worth abandoning? Far from it. The next few moments were possibly some of the most extraordinary moments of my life. All four panellists said they loved it and that they could see it as something they could publish. How much had I written so far? Dear reader, I lied – I said I’d written a thousand words. Could it be a series? Yes, I said, though the thought hadn’t crossed my mind.
The panel went out to deliberate while we panellists sat and waited, all bundles of nerves. They were picking a winner and although there was no prize other than the kudos of having won, I think all of us were desperate to be chosen. The panel returned and announced third place. It wasn’t me, and my heart sank a little. I hadn’t come second either and my heart sank some more. But what I had done was come first – and in all seriousness, no one could have been more shocked than I was at that moment. Jenny Brown took a photo of me with Sam Eades and Alan Yentob shook my hand and wished me luck.
Yes, I cried. Then I went down to the bar and ordered a very large glass of wine.
So how did it change my life? Within a week, I had an agent – the wonderful Jenny Brown – and within three months I had a book deal with Orion imprint Trapeze, where Sam Eades is my editor. The Tattoo Thief has already been a number one bestseller in Italy and the paperback is out in the UK just in time for this year’s Bloody Scotland.
And to think, if I hadn’t stumbled across that Facebook post… If you’re thinking about entering Pitch Perfect at Bloody Scotland this year, I have three words for you: BLOODY DO IT. You won’t have a moment of regret.
Apply for Pitch Perfect 2018 here: https://bloodyscotlstg.wpenginepowered.com/take-part/pitch-perfect/ (Deadline: August 3rd)
Be part of the Pitch Perfect audience here: http://bit.ly/2sDwNQt
See Alison in event Crime that Goes Bump in the Night here: http://bit.ly/2JCPnlu
Xabia Negra or Crime on the Costa
A blog from Bloody Scotland board member Gordon Brown about his trip to Xabia Negra, a noir festival in Spain.
November the 4th 2017. Where were you? Was the sun streaming in the window? Was the temperature a pleasant eighteen degrees? Cloudless sky? Gentle breeze? Shorts on?
Last year Alexandra Sokoloff, Craig Robertson and myself attended Xabia Negra, a Spanish festival celebrating all things ‘noir’. Taking place over a long weekend, the festival is a small but perfectly formed gem of an event set in the old town of Xabia. Xabia is located on the northern Costa Blanca. If you pull out a map of Spain, find Ibiza and draw a straight line to the coast you’ll find it. We were there as part of a reciprocal arrangement with Bloody Scotland.
Over the summer I’d had a few conversations with the local council in Xabia over our potential participation in Xabia Negra. Easier said than done with my lack of Spanish, but an agreement was reached and myself and two authors were invited to appear at the festival.
The festival covers the full gambit of noir; film, poetry, plays, photography and, of course, books. Understandably the event schedule is populated with Spanish writers and filmmakers. We were the English-speaking cohort; Alex from the USA and myself and Craig from Scotland. Most of the other events were in Spanish or Valencian. With Alex’s Sothern Califronian roots she had a slight advantage over Craig and I on the language front. Regardless, we couldn’t have been made more welcome. The launch night was held in a small wine bar (where else would you hold it?) and I managed to get one photo of us all (and my wife).
Our panel was on the Saturday at midday and, to be fair, we weren’t quite sure who would come along. Xabia and its’ surrounds has a high UK ex-pat population but the festival was primarily aimed at the local Spanish residents. Earlier in the morning, at an event held in the local market, Alex managed to find us a translator willing to step in at the last minute.
Our panel was held in the basement of Embruix, a gorgeous tapas restaurant located in the centre of the old town. We arrived early to set up but, with ten minutes to go, people were thin on the ground (my wife being the sole audience member). Then the flood-gates opened and in came the attendees. We needn’t have worried on language. Although there was a mix of locals and visitors they all agreed that we should conduct the whole thing in English. The session was interactive and the questions from the audience insightful and provocative. Once it was all over we did the only sensible thing and retired to the bar.
The finale to the festival was held on the Sunday night at the local cinema. This turned out to be an eclectic event. For two hours awards were handed out for film, photography and books. Plays were conducted on stage, speeches given and short films shown. At the end of the evening we were introduced to the mayor who invited us to make a return in 2018. After all that we, em, retired to the pub.
I’m currently chatting to Xabia Negra about our return in 2018 and I’m also delighted to say that we have a Spanish author at this year’s Bloody Scotland, Teresa Solana.
I also need to say a huge thanks to Jose Vicente Miralles who organised the festival and was kind enough to invite us.
Here’s to some many more years of crime in the sun.
2018 McIlvanney Prize longlist revealed!
The readers have passed their judgement and we've collated the 2018 McIlvanney Prize longlist to be:
Lin Anderson, Follow the Dead (Macmillan)
Chris Brookmyre, Places in the Darkness (Little, Brown)
Mason Cross, Presumed Dead (Orion)
Charles Cumming, The Man Between (Harper Collins)
Oscar De Muriel, The Loch of the Dead (Michael Joseph)
Helen Fields, Perfect Death (Harper Collins)
Alison James, Now She’s Gone (Bookouture)
Liam McIlvanney, The Quaker (Harper Collins)
James Oswald, No Time to Cry (Headline)
Caro Ramsay, The Suffering of Strangers (Severn House)
Andrew Reid, The Hunter (Headline)
Craig Robertson, The Photographer (Simon & Schuster)
Forty-one years ago, William McIlvanney rocked the British literary world with Laidlaw, a gritty and socially conscious crime novel that brought Glasgow to life more vividly than anything before. This year's longlistees for the McIlvanney Prize demonstrate how modern Scottish crime writing has flourished from those seeds. From debutants to authors with more than 20 books, spy thrillers to long-running detective series, nineteenth-century mysteries to futuristic space station noir, there's an amazing range of talent on show.
- Craig Sisterson, chair of the 2018 judges
The judges for the next round will be chaired by Craig Sisterson and include, Susan Calman who, like Craig, is joining the panel for a second year, and crime reviewer, Alison Flood.
The winner will be revealed on 21st September at the opening gala at the Church of the Holy Rude in Stirling, followed by a torchlight procession, similar to last year's amazing event. You can grab your tickets to the opening gala, which is selling fast, right here.
Big congratulations to the longlist!
Harvill Secker & Bloody Scotland partner for BAME crime writing competition
We've partnered up with Harvill Secker launch a competition to find a debut crime writer from a BAME (black, Asian, minority ethnic) background.
The winner will have their book published by Harvill Secker with an advance of £5,000. The winner will be on a panel at the next Bloody Scotland festival in 2019 and a series of three one-to-one mentoring sessions with our own newest committee member Abir Mukherjee.
The prize will be judged by Abir; creator of the Shetland and Vera series, Ann Cleeves; co-founder of BAME in Publishing, Sarah Shaffi and Harvill Secker editorial director Jade Chandler.
Entrants can enter the competition online via Penguin's website, where they will be asked to submit the first 5,000 words of their crime novel, along with a full plot outline. Submissions are open from 9th July until 9th September 2018, with the winner due to be announced in November 2018.
"I’m excited to be part of this new initiative being launched by Harvill Secker and Bloody Scotland. At this time of great change, it’s more important than ever that the experiences and viewpoints of writers from across the spectrum of our society are published. Different viewpoints mean different stories, which in turn lead to a wider, richer literary atmosphere, hopefully reaching out to communities who feel marginalised or who have traditionally lacked a voice." - Abir Mukherjee
"Bloody Scotland is 100% behind this important new prize and it fits in perfectly with the work we have been doing recently with the British Council to bring crime writers from India to Scotland. We think that breaking down barriers in terms of access to authors from different cultural and social backgrounds will only improve the richness of the crime writing genre." - Bob McDevitt, Bloody Scotland director
2018 is go!
We have launched! Thanks to all who joined us for our launch events in Stirling and London, with special thanks to Alexander McCall Smith for opening our festival season with huge laughs at this event, chaired by Lin Anderson, in the Bloody Scotland festival hub, the Golden Lion Hotel. Also with thanks to our sponsor Stirling Gin for supplying our favourite own-brand cocktail!
We captured a few moments from both launches for you to enjoy. Can you spot yourself anywhere? (All photos courtesy of Paul Reich.)
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The 2018 Bloody Scotland programme revealed!
VAL MCDERMID // IRVINE WELSH // DENISE MINA // LOUISE PENNY // STUART MACBRIDE // ANN CLEEVES // AMBROSE PARRY // QUINTIN JARDINE // PETER JAMES & SO MUCH MORE
This year's gala opening will take place on Friday 21 September where we will present the McIlvanney Prize for Scottish Crime Book of the Year. Denise Mina and Val McDermid will then lead a torchlight procession, after rave reviews last year, to their event followed by a performance from the Fun Lovin' Crime Writers.
We welcome: Louise Penny, Ann Cleeves, Chris Brookmyre, Mark Billingham, Peter James, Stuart MacBride, Quintin Jardine, Denzil Meyrick, Martyn Waites and Bloody Scotland board members old (Lin Anderson, Craig Robertson, Gordon Brown) and new (Abir Mukherjee).
Experts galore: BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner, forensic scientists Dr Richard Shepherd and Professor Sue Black, Kate Bendelow, author of The Real CSI and consultant anaesthetist, Dr Marisa Haetzman who forms the other half of Ambrose Parry along with husband Chris Brookmyre.
From book to telly: MC Beaton will be appearing with cast and crew of her Agatha Raisin series and Helen FitzGerald with cast from the new TV adaptation of The Cry.
Crime from across seas: We reveal a very special relationship with the Word Festival in Christchurch and will be welcoming Fiona Sussman and Paul Cleave, two winners of the Ngaio Marsh Prize, thanks to funding from Creative New Zealand.
And, of course... it wouldn't be Bloody Scotland without...
Paul Reich
Crime at the Coo - guaranteed to sell out within hours so if you fancy rubbing (sweaty) shoulders with some of crime writing's finest in the Curly Coo get your tickets right now! Very limited space.
- Craig Robertson's hilarious quiz
- The play, this year from the marvellous mind of Douglas Skelton and...
- The Scotland v England crime writers football match (this year captained by Chris Brookmyre and Mark Billingham) along with...
- Last year's hit, a live podcast hosted by Steve Cavanagh & Luca Veste which guarantees as many laughs as the Crime at the Coo.
- We will also be presenting our first ever musical, an original piece from the pen of Sophie Hannah.
We can't wait to see you in September!
GET YOUR TICKETS NOW
One week until launch
It's only one week until we announce the 2018 Bloody Scotland programme in Stirling, with all events going live at 12pm!
Sharon from Chapter in my Life was nice enough to do a very cool doodle which we think should be a Google Doodle - a collage of everything that makes up Bloody Scotland. It may even hint towards some of the events you have to look forward to...
While you're here, sign up to our fresh new mailing list here.
Alexander McCall Smith celebrates at Bloody Scotland
Picture by Alex Hewitt/Writer Pictures
We're delighted to announce that we will be launching the 2018 programme on June 4th in Stirling in the presence of one of Scotland’s best loved crime writers, Alexander McCall Smith.
The official programme launch on Monday 4 June will be followed by afternoon tea in the Ballroom of The Golden Lion Hotel in Stirling as Alexander McCall Smith celebrates the 20th anniversary of The No.1 Ladies’ Detective Agency.
Alexander McCall Smith says ‘I can’t think of any better way to celebrate 20 years of The No.1 Ladies’ Detective Agency than with afternoon tea at the launch of Scotland’s biggest crime book festival. I have always wanted to appear at Bloody Scotland & am glad we have managed to make it work as I’ll be in Botswana when the actual festival takes place.’
Not only will Bloody Scotland announce the line up for the 2018 festival, it will toast a milestone anniversary for one of Scotland’s greatest crime writers. Incredibly, it is 20 years since The No.1 Ladies’ Detective Agency was first published, introducing Precious Ramotswe to captivated audiences around the world. In the two decades since, Mma Ramotswe- along with Grace Makutsi and the excellent mechanic, Mr J L B Matekoni – have entertained us in a further 17 novels from Botswana. Their creator is as captivating as his characters.
Tickets are available here: http://culturestirling.org/events/alexander-mccall-smith/ or from the Albert Halls or The Toll Booth in Stirling.
We look forward to seeing you on June 4th!
TICKETS
McIlvanney Prize 2017 Winner
We're pleased to announce the Bloody Scotland McIlvanney Prize Scottish Crime Book of the Year 2017 winner to be...
Denise Mina's The Long Drop!
Lee Randall, chair of the judges said:
‘The Long Drop by Denise Mina transports us back to dark, grimy Glasgow, telling the social history of a particular strata of society via the grubby, smokey pubs favoured by crooks and chancers. She takes us into the courtroom, as well, where Manuel acted as his own lawyer, and where hoards of women flocked daily, to watch the drama play out.
Full of astute psychological observations, this novel’s not only about what happened in the 1950s, but about storytelling itself. It shows how legends grow wings, and how memories shape-shift and mark us.
For my money this is one of the books of 2017 — in any genre.’
Huge congratulations to Denise. More about Denise's win throughout the Bloody Scotland weekend!
Buy The Long Drop
Waterstones | Amazon | Hive
The Northern Powerhouse
There are some traces of some great literary footsteps in the North East - Ann Cleeves, Mari Hannah and L J Ross who all plot and kill with the stunning Northumberland hills, Hadrian’s Wall and the North Sea crashing along the rugged coastline.
But what other criminally good places can you visit ‘Up North’. An old mining town would be good for some mystery of the past to come back to haunt the present wouldn’t it? What about a city built on industry and pride? A city which gave us Hornby trains and Meccano as well as the most well know singers of their time?
Well, you’re in luck..
Howard Linskey is your culprit for this footprint. He’s written seven novels set in the North East, with Durham being his main hunting ground.
In his most recent novel, The Search, a girl goes missing in County Durham and the serial killer behind bars, the prime suspect in the case, is dying and now claims to want to tell the truth. But about what?
Howard’s book No Name Lane was set in a mining town and the mystery was set against a town with a faded past and buried secrets. It also lovingly highlights the Northern humour and dry wit; when describing a marriage and relationships with their ups and downs for example:
“Roller coasters are exciting but I wouldn’t want to spend 35 ruddy years on one”
The mean streets of Newcastle are in on display as Danielle Ramsay splashes her colours of the city onto an easel with tears and slashes on the canvas.This is no pretty picture but it's a compelling one. It certainly is grim up north if this book is anything to go by! That said, it's a unique and utterly gripping view of a North East which might not be on the tourist board's website anytime soon but it should definitely be on your radar.
Much of the action takes place in and around DS Harri’s flat on the Quayside. Even that is grim- being on the fifth floor of a derelict building on an embankment shrouded in darkness. However she often goes jogging along the river and comments on the beauty of the Millennium Bridge with its hypnotic blue lights – “A poetic feat of balance and modern-day engineering” The dazzling lights reflected off the menacing water” A real contrast of a place then for an police officer to live. Run yourself along the banks of the river to the Free Trade Inn where she stops – it is a nice view.
Liverpool has many famous exports - There’s the Beatles, Cilla Black and the man who invented Hornby trains, Dinky Toys and Meccano believe it or not! Many things a city should be proud of. On the crime writing front, there’s also a very good crime writer who hails from these parts by the name of Luca Veste. Not a very Liverpudlian sounding name granted, but his writing and roots are firmly grounded in the city, its heritage, culture and its people.
His characters Murphy and Rossi are well known in the city now too having worked through 4 books so far. Blood Stream looks at the world of social media stars whilst his latest Then She Was Gone, looks at what happens when a man takes his baby daughter for a walk when tragedy strikes.
Luca writes with skill and Scouse wit – he has more than an insight into criminology and psychology given his own background and study. It’s a fine mix for a crime writer to have and Luca’s characters are a mix of Northern grit and Italian feistyness and that makes for a winning combination.
For more books set in these cities and more:
North East England http://www.thebooktrail.com/book-trails/?location=North+East+England&setting=&author=&genre=&booktitle=#books
Bradford http://www.thebooktrail.com/book-trails/?location=Bradford&setting=&author=&genre=&booktitle=#books
Liverpool http://www.thebooktrail.com/book-trails/?location=Liverpool&setting=&author=&genre=&booktitle=#books
It really is good up North! Durham, Bradford, Liverpool...what else will you discover there with these three criminal guides to three very different but unique Northern landscapes?
The Northern Powerhouse: Luca Veste, Danielle Ramsay and Howard Linskey
Saturday 9 September from 3:45 pm - 4:45 pm
