Alloa Tower I managed to make some time to visit Alloa Tower, which according to the records, is mentioned for the first time in 1495. It occupies the ancestral seat of the Erskine family, then later the Earls of Mar and Kellie, and it is the largest surviving example of a medieval fortified keep in … More Inside the Fiction Factory – Part 90
The Kill Series The only constant is change and you need to be prepared to see the positive, even if initially it may appear a negative. My publisher has decided to call it a day and wind the company up. This happens. The writing world is full of it. I like to joke that you’re … More Inside the Fiction Factory – Part 89
Inveraray I drove across to Loch Fyne the other week and stopped at Inveraray. Fantastic scenery along with an impressive castle. It isn’t open yet as it’s still the closed season, so I could only walk around outside and take a couple of photographs. It’s on my list to visit later in the year though. … More Inside the Fiction Factory – Part 88
Wildlife Photography Exhibition One of the many good things about being a member of the Museum of Scotland, is taking advantage of the free entry into the major exhibitions they run during the year. My membership enables me to visit several times and typically I will attend each exhibition three times. My initial visit is … More Inside the Fiction Factory – Part 87
Writing Update It’s been an odd couple of weeks. I’ve been doing a lot of taking stock and planning which is all part of the process, but few words have been written. This is fine, because I need a break now and again. The effort involved in outlining a new novel at the start of … More Inside the Fiction Factory – Part 86
Glasgow Science Centre I combined my love of space and my love of whisky this week by going to the Glasgow Science Centre. Situated on the south bank of the River Clyde, it is one of Scotland’s most popular paid-for visitor attractions. The event I attended was a whisky tasting with a difference. During the … More Inside the Fiction Factory – Part 85
Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum I was excited to visit the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Glasgow. One of the highlights for me is the Salvador Dali painting, Christ of St John on the Cross, but I discovered it’s on loan to Spain right now, but will return in June 2024, so I will … More Inside the Fiction Factory – Part 84
Rising Tide I visited the Rising Tide exhibition in the National Museum of Scotland. This was a sobering experience. Subtitled Art and Environment in Oceania, it features a region consisting of Australia, Aotearoa New Zealand and the Pacific Islands. Along with rising sea levels due to global warming – rising faster than anywhere else in … More Inside the Fiction Factory – Part 83
January Update 2024 It’s been a busy start to the year. I’ve been out to Culross again, a place I’ve blogged about previously. I decided to take a different route, due to the appalling state of the road I would usually take in. The number of potholes on Scottish roads is truly astounding, so I … More Inside the Fiction Factory – Part 82
Scottish Art A favourite haunt of mine is the National Gallery, situated on the Mound in Edinburgh. It comes under the umbrella of the National Galleries of Scotland, which include the National, Modern One, Modern Two and the Portrait. It is free entry and has a fantastic range of paintings featuring many world famous artists. … More Inside the Fiction Factory – Part 81
The Fiction Factory 