Bloody Scotland Gala Launch @bloodyScotland @Damedenisemina #bloodyscotland # McIlvanneyPrize

What a splendid start to the Bloody Scotland Crime Writing Festival. In the magnificent setting of The Grand Hall of Stirling Castle authors and readers gathered together to celebrate crime writing and especially crime writing in Scotland, and to formally launch Bloody Scotland, the book.

All eyes were turned to Susan Calman, on video, due to her ‘accidentally’ falling into being a contestant on the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing, as she announced the winner of this year’s McIlvanney Prize for Scottish Crime Writer of the Year.

I have to admit I was hoping for one particular outcome and so I was more than delighted when Denise Mina was named winner for her sublime novel, The Long Drop.

With pipers, a torchlight procession down from the castle to the Albert Halls to celebrate 30 years of Rebus, the evening was all you could have wanted. And the rain stayed off.

So here we are, the festival has started and I for one, am ready for the festival. Bring it on!