Doug Johnstone - Tombstoning

Doug Johnstone Author

Doug Johnstone is the author of 16 previous novels, most recently The Opposite of Lonely (2023) and The Space Between Us (2023). The Big Chill (2020) was longlisted for Theakston Crime Novel of the Year, and Black Hearts was shortlisted for the same award. Three of his books, A Dark Matter (2020), Breakers (2019) and The Jump (2015), have been shortlisted for the McIlvanney Prize for Scottish Crime Novel of the Year. He’s taught creative writing and been writer in residence at various institutions over the last decade, and has been an arts journalist for over twenty years. Doug is a songwriter and musician with six albums and three EPs released, and he plays drums for the Fun Lovin’ Crime Writers. He’s also co-founder of the Scotland Writers Football Club, and has a PhD in nuclear physics.

Chris Brookmyre Chair

It's over 25 years since multi-award-winning Sunday Times bestseller Chris Brookmyre’s first book, Quite Ugly One Morning, was published. Since then, he has established himself as one of the most popular crime writers in the UK. His enthusiasm for hurling himself into ex-curricular activities such as the Scotland v England Writers football, the Caledonian Challenge, Channel 5 Egg Heads, the Fun Lovin’ Crime Writers (including appearances at Glastonbury), BBC Question Time and a live celebrity Mastermind with Clive Myrie (specialist subject Buffy the Vampire Slayer) is well known and means he has more to talk about than most. In a previous life Chris worked for Screen International which involved frequent trips to Los Angeles. A TV adaptation of The Cut, which also centres on the film industry, is in development with production company Highland Midge and Chris and his wife Marisa are currently writing the scripts. It was also recently longlisted for the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year.