Creative Scotland admits Scottish Review of Books funding error
“Creative Scotland’s response echoes Chris Grayling’s in the Seaborne Freight ‘no ferries’ debacle.” Creative Scotland (CS) has admitted an error…
Strident investigation leads to complaint about Creative Scotland’s funding of Scottish Review of Books
A Freedom of Information request by Strident has revealed that Creative Scotland (CS) funded Scottish Review of Books Limited (SRB)…
Gordon Brown on (blog) tour
Top conspiracy-thriller novelist Gordon Brown, author of the Craig McIntyre series, is off on tour with his latest book, Deepest Wounds.…
Margaret Collyer: pioneer in the time of the Suffragettes
Margaret Collyer (1872-1945) is renowned as a London Royal Academy of Art-trained artist – her paintings can be found around…
Speed, blades & fire
Linda Strachan has tackled them all. Speed in Spider. Blades in Dead Boy Talking. Fire in Don’t Judge Me. Novels…
The first cut is the deepest…
…as Cat Stevens wrote* and Rod Stewart, Sheryl Crow and others sang. Craig McIntyre’s cuts are deep. They run to…
Sunny – going down a storm in schools and libraries
We’ve been captivated by Sunny, the gripping new novel from Paul Murdoch. So have his school and library audiences. It’s…
Linda Strachan to host Grampian Book Awards
Don’t Judge Me author Linda Strachan will be hosting this year’s Grampian Book Awards on Wednesday. And a fab host…
Catalogue – Scotland: non-fiction & faction
We’ve been rattling up several catalogues. Here’s just one.
New Kirkland Ciccone Young Adult novel out soon
We’re excited and delighted to announce that we’ll be publishing Kirkland Ciccone’s 4th Young Adult novel next year. Hoorah! It’s…
Brightest thoughts as Darkest Thoughts becomes a Book Of The Year
We’re absolutely delighted that Gordon Brown‘s conspiracy thriller Darkest Thoughts – book 1 in the Craig McIntyre series – has…
Balancing ecological/environmental debates – Paul Murdoch in The Scotsman
Paul Murdoch is the author of Windscape and The Egg Thief (Jenny & Pavel Adventures) and fantasy series The Peck…
10th anniversary edition of modern children’s classic
It’s 10 years since D A Nelson‘s DarkIsle was first published. And 9 years since it won the Scottish Children’s Book…
The Handmaid’s Tale v Bad Faith (via 1984)
We see this as a relay – complete with dystopian baton-passing – more than as a straight race. After all, Margaret…
Darkest Thoughts: A taste of things to come
Gordon Brown’s stylish Craig McIntyre road-trip thriller rips along. It combines intrigue, action, sparky dialogue and the alarmingly possible. And…
How Free Fitness is changing lives
When Kath Anderson, a Scot, moved to Boston to study, she came across free-fitness movement November Projectâ„¢. It started in Boston,…
The Russian Revolution(s)
Why ‘Revolution(s)’? Because what we call the Russian Revolution was really 2 revolutions: one first short-lived, the second the Bolsheviks…
A Rainbow In The Basement
We’re thrilled to announce the forthcoming publication of A Rainbow In The Basement, a magical novel by former H2O singer…
Forthcoming McIntyre road-trip thriller excitement
A sneak preview of the spines and rear covers for Gordon Brown’s blistering Craig McIntyre thriller series. What colour is your world?
Gordon Brown’s Deepest Wounds – preview @Granite Noir
Thriller-writer Gordon Brown (not the former PM) will be previewing his new McIntyre novel Deepest Wounds on 21 Feb in…
Planet Earth 2.1?
For some reason these scenes didn’t make the final edit for the BBC’s Planet Earth II. No idea why. Perhaps…
The Genesis connection
Genesis and Phil Collins have been in the news and on TV screens these last few nights. Just for fun…
Theresa Talbot talks about Penance on Pulse 98.4FM
Great in-depth interview with author Theresa Talbot about penning her sociological crime novel Penance. Gives a real insight into her…
A wolf isn’t just for Xmas
Although it LOOKSÂ quite Christmassy (unless you’re in Scotland, in which case snow can mean it’s Winter, Spring or Autumn…), this…
Strident to carry Neetah Books list
PRESS RELEASE For immediate release Strident to carry Neetah Books list Independent Scottish publisher Neetah Books is partnering with…
The Robertsons – back in print
Good news if you, or someone you know, is a Robertson, or a descendent of one. The Robertsons: Clan Donnachaidh…
What is a ‘Fencible’ regiment?
It’s short for ‘Defensible’ (despite the swapping of the ‘c’ for the ‘s’). This is a great insight into the…
Who flew first? The Wright Bros or Preston Watson?
It’s a mute point. The Wright Brothers of the US are renowned for having made the first flight, but could…
Hugh Holman wows at Edinburgh International Book Festival with The Almost Animals
It wasn’t easy getting close enough to grab a photo of Hugh Holman at Edinburgh International Book Festival today. There…
Is Kirkland Ciccone responsible for fish falling from the sky?
It’s a standing joke at Strident HQ that if there’s something mad in one of Kirkland Ciccone‘s ‘mondo weirdo’ YA…
How many suns are there in a star system?
The strange world of Denthan, which Paul Murdoch has created for The Peck Chronicles adventures (9+), has 2 suns shining down on it. Unusual? Apparently…
Coming soon…
No, we won’t be supplying free samples of the pie with the book…! This is a beautiful, fun, heart-warming and educational…
You can now buy our books online via MyBookSource
You can now buy all of our books direct from our distributor through their online MyBookSource store. Click here for…
Click here for a few of our best titles about Africa. Whether it’s conservation, politics or history, we’ve got it covered.
‘Terribly gripping’: Follow Me
We love it when Bookwitch enjoys one of our authors’ books, as here with Follow Me. Victoria Gemmell‘s YA novel is a cracker.…
‘Refugee’: Children’s Word of the Year
The BBC’s Newsround has announced that ‘refugee’ has been deemed the Children’s Word of the Year. That comes after OUP analysed 120,000 stories…
Paul Murdoch on Stones tour!
Yes, author, songwriter, singer and guitarist Paul Murdoch is living the dream – he’s on a Stones tour. Okay, so…
New & improved PENANCE
If washing powders can be ‘new and improved’, why not book covers? We’ve tweaked this one for the reprint. But…
New Peck Chronicles trailer
Paul Murdoch‘s Citadel and Tyrant will both be launched on 3 March. This will give you a feel for what…
Penance #1 in Amazon chart
Great excitement at Strident towers… We’ve just heard that the ebook of Theresa Talbot‘s Penance is the…
PENANCE in The Irish Times
We were excited to see The Irish Times covering the background to Theresa Talbot’s sparky crime novel Penance today. Ask most people and…
Yay! YA+ 2016: Kirkland Ciccone, Victoria Gemmell & Cathy MacPhail to appear
3 of Strident’s authors –Â Victoria Gemmell (right), Catherine MacPhail (below) and Kirkland Ciccone (left) – will all be appearing at…
PENANCE author Theresa Talbot on TV
Theresa Talbot was on STV Glasgow yesterday talking about the inspiration behind her sociological crime novel Penance, which has been…
Strident and Olida reach agreement on integration of lists
MEDIA RELEASE Release date: 21 January 2016 Â Strident and Olida reach agreement on integration of lists Strident Publishing and…
Mondo weirdo YA & loud shirts
DO NOT ADJUST YOUR COMPUTER. It’s only one of Kirkland Ciccone’s shirts. (You may, however, need to wear your sunglasses.…
Paul Murdoch: World Book Day availability
Paul Murdoch is the author of Windscape (9+, written under his Sam Wilding pen-name), Talisman (9+, book 1 in The Peck…
Janne Teller NOTHING event – London, 8 Feb
Fancy hearing from one of the most interesting authors writing today? Nothing author Janne Teller will be in conversation with…
Q. Which Strident author is in the new Star Wars?
Is it: A. R2D2 B. Harrison Ford C. Hugh Holman Somehow we don’t think you’ll find that one too difficult!…
A 2016 sneaky peek at Citadel
Later this month (Jan 2016) you’ll be able to get your hands on Paul Murdoch‘s Citadel – book 2 in The…
Space v hospital
In space, no-one can hear you scream. In hospital, children can’t hear their parents screaming at them to tidy their rooms. That’s…
Grab This Book’s 5/5 review
Grab This Book has just posted this 5/5 review of Theresa Talbot‘s sociological crime novel Penance. Many thanks to the…
Linda Strachan on Abba
Okay, not that ABBA (though knowing Linda I’m sure the singing would be just as good as her writing –…
Twin Peakes?
Is it just us, or is there a certain similarity between astronaut Tim Peake and Nick Green, author of the Cat…
Don’t say you hadn’t noticed!
Yes, it’s almost Christmas. For us, that’s as much of an excuse as we need to stare in awe at…
Bad Faith – life imitating fiction?
We’ve always loved the cover of this book – have a good look at what’s in the trees and you’ll…
Amy ♥s Kirkland’s #WeirdYA
Oh no she doesn’t! Oh yes she does! (Well, it’s that time of year, isn’t it.) And good on Amy.…
Glyndebourne’s NOTHING: THE OPERA trailer
A tree, some teenagers and some stuff thrown on the ground. We LOVE this trailer for Glyndebourne’s forthcoming operatic production…
Hamley is a pog
He’s also one of our favourite aminals. Aminals are, of course, animals that derive from 2 species. Can you guess…
Knife crime
There’s been quite a bit in the media recently about knife crime, including this BBC report and of course the tragic events…
Paul Murdoch is off to see the Wizard – the wonderful Wizard of NZ
No, that’s not a typo! Talisman author Paul Murdoch is in Oxford today for the UK Final of the Kids’…
Talisman in Primary Times
This from Mossneuk Primary School’s P7B class, writing in the new edition of Primary Times about the big launch of…
Theresa Talbot on The Janice Forsyth Show
Theresa Talbot was a guest on BBC Radio Scotland’s The Janice Forsyth Show yesterday, talking about Magdalene Institutions and the…
An off-the-shelf interview with Theresa Talbot
This interesting and insightful interview with Penance and This Is What I Look Like author Theresa Talbot, this article also…
The real-life dragon that inspired DarkIsle
Meet the inspiration behind the dragon,Shona, in D A Nelson‘s DarkIsle books. The trilogy has captivated readers worldwide, but starts…
‘I swear this book isn’t my autobiography’
That’s Kirkland Ciccone‘s response to this great Bookwitch review of his new YA novel North of Porter. Has the Bookwitch…
Follow Me recommended in Herald
Victoria Gemmell’s Follow Me has been described as ‘a striking debut young adult novel’ in The Herald/Sunday Herald by crime…
BBC Radio broadcaster turns to life of crime
Well, who would have thought it of respectable BBC broadcaster Theresa Talbot. Thankfully it’s literary crime and not literally crime. The…
Which is your favourite Aminal?
Today sees the publication of Hugh Holman‘s The Almost Animals. It’s a gem of a book aimed at reading age 7+…
Tonight’s the night!
Everything’s going to be alright. Oh sorry, we’ve come over all Rod Stewart. No, tonight sees the launch of Kirkland Ciccone’s…
The first Penace reviews
When crime writer Michael J Malone writes a review it’s worth paying attention – he knows his stuff. And he’s…
Kids’ Lit Quiz
Kids’ Lit Quiz does what it says on the tin. It spans the globe and involves hundreds of schools in…
PENANCE – read chapters 1&2 for free
Nip over to Books From Scotland‘s Caledonia Noir issue and you’ll be able to read the first 2 chapters of Theresa Talbot‘s…
Mossneuk Primary School launch Talisman fantasy
Pupils in P7 at South Lanarkshire’s Mossneuk Primary School last week staged a fantastic launch event for Talisman, the first book in Paul Murdoch’s…
And the cover for North of Porter is…
Kirkland Ciccone had a big cover reveal at 1200Â today for his forthcoming 3rd novel, North of Porter. We thought we’d…
Mossneuk Primary pupils to launch Talisman
It’s all go at East Kilbride’s Mossneuk Primary School, where preparations are in full swing for the launch of Paul…
Andy Warhol and unanswered questions: Victoria Gemmell on writing Follow Me
Victoria’s forthcoming Young Adult novel Follow Me is a gem, something special. And there’s a great story to how it…
Theresa Talbot Penance crime novel to launch at Waterstones
‘A brilliant debut by a writer who spins an unputdownable tale.’ Denise Mina, two-time winner of the Theakston’s Old Peculier…
Kirkland Ciccone to deliver Edinburgh Uni Advanced Higher Creative Writing workshop
Kirkland Ciccone will be running an Advanced Higher Creative Writing workshop this Friday (4th September)Â in Edinburgh. It’s part of a…
Tie that author down!
Fortunately we didn’t need to. But when we spotted Talisman author Paul Murdoch heading for Waterstones in East Kilbride, we…
Jacket and tie
Endless Empress author Kirkland Ciccone was the talk of Edinburgh International Book Festival yesterday. His début appearance was noteworthy in itself,…
Follow Me
This cracker from great new talent Victoria Gemmell was inspired by her research into the Factory that Andy Warhol established. We suspect…
How Kirkland describes his own books…
We spotted these and thought they were too good not to share. Kirkland’s books in Kirkland’s words… Conjuring The…
Talisman review
This just in from a young reviewer named Buddy. He’s been lucky enough to have had early sight of Talisman…
From Bali’s man to Talisman…
Children’s author (and sometime rock musician) Paul Murdoch is set to take readers to another world in Talisman, the first…
A head full of adventure/A handbag full of custard
A new blog post by Kirkland Ciccone is a moment to savour. In this latest instalment: It’s ‘Oops!’ time as…
The Almost Animals
We’re thrilled to announce that we’ll be publishing this gem in October. The Almost Animals by Hugh Holman tells the tale…
Is this just fantasy?
It’s a question Freddy Mercury used to ask. It’s also one that the BBC’s Nick Higham raised when interviewing Kazuo…
Ohhhhhhhhhh Viennaaaaaaaaaa!
This Is What I Look Like author Theresa Talbot will be introducing Midge Ure today (as one does). In Ayrshire, though,…
When Kirkland met Janice
Most ears in Scotland were glued to radios at 1545 today for Kirkland Ciccone‘s spot on BBC Radio Scotland’s Culture…
Janne Teller’s ‘Nothing’ features on BBC Radio 4
If you caught David Almond’s excellent ‘A World Beyond Alice’ programme on BBC Radio 4 yesterday you’ll have heard him…
Theresa Talbot part of Aye Write Festival 2015 star line-up
The downside of being a traffic reporter must be that you lose the ability to use ‘I was delayed in…
Theresa Talbot or Stephen King: take your pick
Stephen King and TT from BBC Radio Scotland. Eh…what’s the link (we hear you ask)? Well, it suddenly occurred to…
Theresa Talbot interview
Theresa outlines the rather odd suggestion that gave rise to her book…
Keeping good (BBC) company
Theresa Talbot, Kirsty Wark, Christopher Brookmyre and James Naughtie. All on the same pavement at the same time, and all…
Danger, danger, danger!
At a recent event at Waterstones in Glasgow’s Argyle Street, their children’s bookseller Lana noted a resurgence in rip-roaring adventure…
Icefall in Bookwitch round-up of 2014
The Bookwitch’s year-end round up has been posted. It’s like an advent calendar without ads…or vents. And – just like those…
TT is The Sun’s ‘Author of the Week’
As This Is What I Look Like continues to amuse the nation, Theresa Talbot has been invited by The Sun to…
Confessions of a Kirkland
Read the hilarious new Scottish Book Trust: Author Confessions…with Kirkland Ciccone and you’ll find out which actor Kirkland Ciccone thinks looks just…
Kids’ Lit Quiz
Young people know too much these days. That’s what Linda Strachan, Matt Cartney, Cathy MacPhail, Kirkland Ciccone and Keith Charters found…
Theresa Talbot to guest on Off The Ball
V    (Kick-off 12.03pm) This Is What I Look Like author Theresa Talbot is set to guest on this Saturday’s…
Emma Barnes reveals the inspiration behind award-winner WOLFIE
Emma Barnes 7+ novel Wolfie is a modern children’s classic that won the 2014 Fantastic Book Awards. And, like the ‘dog’ that…
Danny’s back!
Danny Lansing, that is. For his 3rd adrenaline-fuelled adventure, The Curse of Can-Balam. Although it’s a wonder he’s still with…
Punk rock, not disco…
…but with a bit of grunge thrown in, because  Conjuring The Infinite and Endless Empress author Kirkland Ciccone appears to…
How many novels have potatoes on their spines?
Because this one does.
Why?
The clue is in the blurb. (Click to read it.)
Kirkland Ciccone’s ‘Teen Titles’ interview
We’re big fans of the Teen Titles review magazine, and they’ve very kindly allowed us to reproduce this hilarious interview with The…
Theresa Talbot booked for Pitlochry Winter Words alongside Kirsty Wark and Lorraine Kelly
This Is What I Look Like author Theresa Talbot – ‘TT’ to BBC Radio Scotland listeners – has been snapped up…
Hilarious & poignant new memoir by BBC’s Theresa Talbot
From BBC Traffic & Travel to working with Lulu, Andy Williams and Glen Campbell, via The Beechgrove Potting Shed and…
New title from Catalyst winner (and Supreme Master of Weirdness) Kirkland Ciccone
Well, if this doesn’t win the prize for best subtitle, we’ll be ordering some hats. (So we can eat them.)…
DarkIsle: The Final Battle – ebook now available
The final instalment of D A Nelson‘s brilliant DarkIsle trilogy is now available as an ebook as well as in paperback.…
ICEFALL now also available as ebook
Icefall – the breathtaking 4th book in Gillian Philip‘s Rebel Angels series – is now available as an ebook as well…
CONJURING THE INFINITE now available as ebook
Kirkland Ciccone‘s Catalyst Book Award winner Conjuring The Infinite is now available from all main ebook suppliers. So you can…
Conjuring The Infinite beats Carnegie Medal-winner to win Catalyst Book Award 2014
We’re thrilled for Kirkland Ciccone, whose debut Conjuring The Infinite has followed in the footsteps of Linda Strachan‘s Spider, which won the Catalyst…
Lee and the Consul Mutants – free sampler
Nothing in life is free. Or so they say. But they’re wrong. Because here’s a free sampler for Lee and the…
Matt Cartney: Action Man
Is it a bird, is it a plane…? Actually, it’s probably Matt Cartney researching his next Danny Lansing Adventures novel.…
Catalyst Book Awards 2014 – only 5 days left to vote for Kirkland Ciccone’s CONJURING THE INFINITE
Just in case you haven’t already put a big ‘X’ on your voting slip for Conjuring The Infinite, here’s chapter 1 so…
Janne Teller appearing at Hay’s HowTheLightGetsIn
Nothing author Janne Teller will be speaking at HowTheLightGetsIn, the world’s largest philosophy and music festival, this May in Hay-on-Wye.…
WOLFIE is a Fantastic Book Awards WINNER!
Wolfie by Emma Barnes announced a winner of the Fantastic Book Awards
Kirkland Ciccone Conjures Catalyst Calling
No, despite the alliterative overload, we haven’t been invaded by tabloid headline writers! We won’t always post our media releases,…
Windscape used for school eco projects
Sam Wilding’s eco thriller Windscape is being used by a number of schools running combined literature+eco projects. A neat example of…
Conjuring The Infinite SHORTLISTED for Catalyst Award
We’re delighted that Kirkland Ciccone’s brilliant debut Conjuring The Infinite is one of 4 books shortlisted for the 2014 Catalyst…
Beware! Yeti seen in Blairgowrie & Coupar Angus!
But fear not, author David MacPhail has this beast under control! As a special World Book Day treat, a few…
Bonnie Prince Charlie – the truth behind the portrait
The BBC recently unearthed a portrait of Bonnie Prince Charlie. Portraits are often more propaganda than true representation, and few…
Gillian Philip’s ICEFALL one of top 12 Scottish books for 2014
Scottish Book Trust have listed Icefall – the fourth book in Gillian Philip‘s acclaimed Rebel Angels series – as one of…
Daily Record praise for Conjuring The Infinite
Kirkland Ciccone‘s debut novel Conjuring The Infinite has been lauded in the Daily Record newspaper, with the reviewer concluding, ‘I…
Adventurer Matt Cartney wows Craigroyston
Action man and adventurer Matt Cartney used his expert map-reading skills to find Craigroyston recently. Read all about it in…
Shiver Me Timbers!
It be International Speak Like a Pirate Day t’day, me hearties. Which be the ideal day to be bringing out…
If you go down to Edinburgh International Book Festival today…
…you’re in for a big surprise. Because Kirkland Ciccone has been signing copies of Conjuring The Infinite, his YA novel.…
NOTHING tops Guardian’s translation picks
Janne Teller‘s stunning novel Nothing has topped this list of top recommendations in The Guardian, with a spot-on summary from Skillig author David Almond. We’re not…
Matt Cartney’s research trip…to Russia…by motorbike!
Matt Cartney, the intrepid author of the Danny Lansing Adventures series, is at it again. Follow his motorbike journey to…
Sam Wilding’s WINDSCAPE features at Edinburgh Botanics
Sam Wilding‘s Windscape title has been chosen as a key part of the ‘Sustainability’ section of the ‘Leafing Through Natural Scotland’ exhibition…
Kirkland Ciccone booked for Tidlelines Book Festival
Conjuring The Infinite author Kirkland Ciccone will be donning a Viking helmet and heading to Largs for the 2013Â Tidelines Book…
Nothing: this short clip sums it up perfectly
Janne Teller’s NOTHING is a huge international bestseller. This short clip tells you all you need to know about this modern classic.…
Linda Strachan at Caldervale High for Catalyst session
Previous Catalyst Award-winner Linda Strachan on tour with her incendiary new novel Don’t Judge Me….Linda Strachan visits North Lanarkshire’s Caldervale…
New: trailer for FIREBRAND, BLOODSTONE and WOLFSBANE by Gillian Philip
Watch: Rebel Angels trailer – Firebrand, Bloodstone and Wolfsbane. Also watch: the trailer for Bad Faith, Gillian‘s murderously sinister dystopian…
Conjuring The Infinite…the trailer!
Magick, madness and murder. They’re all coming this May. It’s going to be one of the books of the year.…
Lee novels…the trailer
Click to watch the brand new trailer for the hilarious LEE series…Lee novels trailer
New: trailer for Nick Green’s Cat Kin trilogy
See the great new trailer here! Includes previously unseen artwork. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8HT5gBVgdM&feature=youtu.be
The big reveal: Conjuring The Infinite
We gave the cover of Kirkland Ciccone’s Conjuring The Infinite it’s first outing yesterday. We love the intricate artwork by…
Sam Wilding tours WINDSCAPE novel
This week it’s Bristol’s turn to be entertained and educated by Sam Wilding, with Ayrshire, Northern Ireland and Berwickshire to follow in…
Addicted to Pleasure
If you’ve been watching the Addicted to Pleasure TV series presented by Brian Cox (the actor, not the astrophysicist) and…
Firebrand’s North American Release
Gillian Philip’s Firebrand is about to take North America by storm as Tor publish it on their adult fantasy list.…
eBooks
Most Strident titles are now available in ebook format, with more to follow shortly.