Latest news with #LiamMcIlvanney
Otago Daily Times
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Otago Daily Times
Book ‘in very good hands' for adaptation
Dunedin author and University of Otago Stuart Professor of Scottish studies Liam McIlvanney's latest book The Good Father may soon be turned into a television series. PHOTO: GERARD O'BRIEN What could be worse than your child disappearing? It is a recurring question in Dunedin author Liam McIlvanney's latest book The Good Father, and one that has lured a Bafta award-winning television production company to secure the screen rights to the thriller. The University of Otago Stuart Professor of Scottish studies said he was delighted his book had been optioned by Glasgow-based production company Synchronicity Films. "I'm a big fan of their work. "Their recent production of Andrew O'Hagan's Mayflies was superb. "They have also adapted The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Kiwi novelist Heather Morris and did a brilliant job there. "My book is in very good hands. They are good people as well as top professionals, so I'm thrilled to be working with them." Prof McIlvanney said it was the second time one of his novels had been optioned by a production company. His third novel The Quaker was also optioned in 2018, but it had not yet been translated for screen. The Good Father was about a couple who live an idyllic life in the seaside village of Fairlie, on the Ayrshire coast of Scotland. The beachside village of Fairlie, on the Ayrshire coast of Scotland. PHOTO: SUPPLIED Billed as "gripping and emotionally charged", the story explores the devastating impact of trauma, family secrets and community suspicion when the couple's 7-year-old child goes missing from the beach outside the family's home. "The novel takes a deep emotional dive into the aftermath of the disappearance, and then a couple of dramatic twists lead the father down a path he could barely have imagined at the story's outset." It twists and flits around the question: what could be worse than your child disappearing? "The book has a pretty clear structure and some strong characters, and the setting is pretty photogenic, so I think it will translate well to screen," he said. Despite being the author of the book, he would have very little to do with the production itself. "I'm very happy to leave it to the professionals. "Jacquelin Perske is a phenomenal screenwriter and I'm really excited to see what she does with the novel and where she takes it with her own artistic vision." Synchronicity Films founder and creative director Claire Mundell said the company loved "a brilliant thriller" and Prof McIlvanney's novel "hooked" them from page one. "He's the Scottish Stephen King. "The Good Father is deeply suspenseful and propulsive, whilst asking complex moral and emotional questions: qualities that align perfectly with Synchronicity's passion for adapting bold, compelling and emotionally resonant stories." Prof McIlvanney was a little uncomfortable with the reference to him being "the Scottish Stephen King". "I take that with a pinch of salt. "I don't think I can really claim any comparison with the great Stephen King. "We both write books and we both have an 'i' in our surnames, but that's about it." As for when he thought the production might hit our television screens, he said he had no idea. "That's above my pay grade."
The Independent
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Author Liam McIlvanney longlisted for book prize named after his father
Author Liam McIlvanney is among those in the running for a crime writing prize named after his father, along with Sir Ian Rankin, Denise Mina and others. Lin Anderson and Alan Parks are also on the 13-strong longlist for the 2025 McIlvanney Prize which was unveiled by the Bloody Scotland festival on Tuesday. The writing duo Ambrose Parry, consisting of Chris Brookmyre and Marisa Haetzman, also makes the longlist. The accolade recognises excellence in Scottish crime writing and is named in memory of William McIlvanney, often described as the godfather of tartan noir. The list features five authors who organisers say got their first big break when they were shortlisted for the Bloody Scotland Debut Prize. Callum McSorley was shortlisted for the debut prize in 2023 when he went on to win the main McIlvanney prize, while Tariq Ashkanani and Allan Gaw have both won the debut prize – in 2022 and 2024 respectively. Heather Critchlow and Daniel Aubrey have both previously been shortlisted for the debut prize. Festival director Bob McDevitt said: 'Supporting new writers is at the heart of Bloody Scotland and it is great to see so many authors graduating from the debut shortlist to the main prize and slugging it out with more established names. 'I'm glad I don't have to pick a winner from this excellent crop of crime novels.' The winner of the prize will be announced on the opening night of the Bloody Scotland International Crime Writing Festival in Stirling on September 12. The longlist was chosen by a panel of booksellers, librarians, broadcasters and bloggers. DV Bishop, who originally won Pitch Perfect at Bloody Scotland in 2018, is one of only two authors who appears on the longlist for the second year in a row. Douglas Skelton, who has now been longlisted for the prize six times, also appeared on the longlist last year. – Works and authors named on the longlist Whispers of the Dead by Lin Anderson The Midnight King by Tariq Ashkanani The Dying Light by Daniel Aubrey Carnival of Lies by DV Bishop Unsound by Heather Critchlow The Moon's More Feeble Fire by Allan Gaw The Good Father by Liam McIlvanney Paperboy by Callum McSorley The Good Liar by Denise Mina Gunner by Alan Parks Death of Shame by Ambrose Parry Midnight and Blue by Sir Ian Rankin A Thief's Blood by Douglas Skelton
Powys County Times
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Powys County Times
Author Liam McIlvanney longlisted for book prize named after his father
Author Liam McIlvanney is among those in the running for a crime writing prize named after his father, along with Sir Ian Rankin, Denise Mina and others. Lin Anderson and Alan Parks are also on the 13-strong longlist for the 2025 McIlvanney Prize which was unveiled by the Bloody Scotland festival on Tuesday. The writing duo Ambrose Parry, consisting of Chris Brookmyre and Marisa Haetzman, also makes the longlist. The accolade recognises excellence in Scottish crime writing and is named in memory of William McIlvanney, often described as the godfather of tartan noir. The list features five authors who organisers say got their first big break when they were shortlisted for the Bloody Scotland Debut Prize. Callum McSorley was shortlisted for the debut prize in 2023 when he went on to win the main McIlvanney prize, while Tariq Ashkanani and Allan Gaw have both won the debut prize – in 2022 and 2024 respectively. Heather Critchlow and Daniel Aubrey have both previously been shortlisted for the debut prize. Festival director Bob McDevitt said: 'Supporting new writers is at the heart of Bloody Scotland and it is great to see so many authors graduating from the debut shortlist to the main prize and slugging it out with more established names. 'I'm glad I don't have to pick a winner from this excellent crop of crime novels.' The winner of the prize will be announced on the opening night of the Bloody Scotland International Crime Writing Festival in Stirling on September 12. The longlist was chosen by a panel of booksellers, librarians, broadcasters and bloggers. DV Bishop, who originally won Pitch Perfect at Bloody Scotland in 2018, is one of only two authors who appears on the longlist for the second year in a row. Douglas Skelton, who has now been longlisted for the prize six times, also appeared on the longlist last year. – Works and authors named on the longlist Whispers of the Dead by Lin Anderson The Midnight King by Tariq Ashkanani The Dying Light by Daniel Aubrey Carnival of Lies by DV Bishop Unsound by Heather Critchlow The Moon's More Feeble Fire by Allan Gaw The Good Father by Liam McIlvanney Paperboy by Callum McSorley The Good Liar by Denise Mina Gunner by Alan Parks Death of Shame by Ambrose Parry Midnight and Blue by Sir Ian Rankin A Thief's Blood by Douglas Skelton
Yahoo
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Author Liam McIlvanney longlisted for book prize named after his father
Author Liam McIlvanney is among those in the running for a crime writing prize named after his father, along with Sir Ian Rankin, Denise Mina and others. Lin Anderson and Alan Parks are also on the 13-strong longlist for the 2025 McIlvanney Prize which was unveiled by the Bloody Scotland festival on Tuesday. The writing duo Ambrose Parry, consisting of Chris Brookmyre and Marisa Haetzman, also makes the longlist. The accolade recognises excellence in Scottish crime writing and is named in memory of William McIlvanney, often described as the godfather of tartan noir. The list features five authors who organisers say got their first big break when they were shortlisted for the Bloody Scotland Debut Prize. Callum McSorley was shortlisted for the debut prize in 2023 when he went on to win the main McIlvanney prize, while Tariq Ashkanani and Allan Gaw have both won the debut prize – in 2022 and 2024 respectively. Heather Critchlow and Daniel Aubrey have both previously been shortlisted for the debut prize. Festival director Bob McDevitt said: 'Supporting new writers is at the heart of Bloody Scotland and it is great to see so many authors graduating from the debut shortlist to the main prize and slugging it out with more established names. 'I'm glad I don't have to pick a winner from this excellent crop of crime novels.' The winner of the prize will be announced on the opening night of the Bloody Scotland International Crime Writing Festival in Stirling on September 12. The longlist was chosen by a panel of booksellers, librarians, broadcasters and bloggers. DV Bishop, who originally won Pitch Perfect at Bloody Scotland in 2018, is one of only two authors who appears on the longlist for the second year in a row. Douglas Skelton, who has now been longlisted for the prize six times, also appeared on the longlist last year. – Works and authors named on the longlist Whispers of the Dead by Lin Anderson The Midnight King by Tariq Ashkanani The Dying Light by Daniel Aubrey Carnival of Lies by DV Bishop Unsound by Heather Critchlow The Moon's More Feeble Fire by Allan Gaw The Good Father by Liam McIlvanney Paperboy by Callum McSorley The Good Liar by Denise Mina Gunner by Alan Parks Death of Shame by Ambrose Parry Midnight and Blue by Sir Ian Rankin A Thief's Blood by Douglas Skelton
Glasgow Times
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Glasgow Times
Glasgow's Aye Write book festival set to return in 2025
Organisers Glasgow Life have now revealed that the literary bash will celebrate its milestone 20th anniversary across 11 days from Thursday, November 6 until Sunday, November 16, ahead of Book Week Scotland taking place later in the month. However, the junior version – Wee Write – will not return until March 2026. In the lead up to this year's Aye Write, the festival will again host a series of pop-up events. The first of these, Liam McIlvanney in conversation with Scottish literature expert Dr Valentina Bold, inspired by his new psychological thriller The Good Father, will take place at The Mitchell Library on Thursday 31 July. The book festival is returning after a year's absence (Image: NQ) Tickets for this event are on sale now and available from The wider programme for Aye Write 2025 as well as ticket and venue information will be unveiled in the coming months. Aye Write is produced by Glasgow Life, the charity that leads culture, events and active living in Glasgow, with support from Creative Scotland. In January this year, Glasgow Life was awarded £262,500 from Creative Scotland's 2025-28 Multi-Year Fund for the delivery of Aye Write in 2025, 2026 and 2027. READ MORE: 10 firms in the Glasgow area named for not paying National Minimum Wage Opening date revealed for global retailers brand-new Braehead store Bailie Annette Christie, Chair of Glasgow Life, said: 'We're really looking forward to the return of Aye Write this year and marking an incredible 20 years of Glasgow's much-loved celebration of books, storytelling, and the love of reading. 'We are grateful to Creative Scotland for their support and our festival team is busy planning an inspiring and diverse programme of pop-up and festival events.
