I was awarded the title Scottish Writer of the Year at the Glenfiddich Spirit of Scotland Awards last night. I was up against amazing writers like Jackie Kay, Denise Mina and Julia Donaldson, so was stunned when Ian Rankin read out my name. Thanks to everyone who voted for me. Man, what a year!
Receiving the award from Ian Rankin
I’ve been shortlisted for a Glenfiddich Spirit of Scotland Award 2011, which is rather lovely. It’s a much sought-after award, as it recognises achievement by Scots not only in literature, but in Food, the Environment, Business, Music, Sport, Art and Film. In the Writing category I’m up against Denise Mina, Jackie Kay and Julia Donaldson, who are all amazing, and we are planning to sit at the same table, get drunk and all bet on each other winning. Cannay wait. Anyway, if you’d care to, you can vote for me here.
The Shutdown, the short film that I made with Adam Stafford, has also been shortlisted for a Scottish BAFTA. Results announced on Nov 13th.
You can also hear a ‘career retrospective’ hour long podcast with me and Alasdair Braidwood from the ever excellent Scots Whay Hae. There’s a whole lot of Bissett to listen to on the ‘Fifth Podcast’ here.
The reviews for my new novel, Pack Men, have been the best of my career so far. These are some of the highlights:
‘Bissett was there, and his novel vividly recalls the so-called Battle of Piccadilly…Casts an unsparing eye over the sectarian pollution of Scottish society.’ – The Guardian
‘Bissett writes subtly, intelligently and also passionately about men. An outstanding novel.’ – Scotland on Sunday
‘A landmark in Scottish fiction. A unique and special novel. I honestly haven’t read anything as impressive as this from a Scottish writer in yonks’ – Irvine Welsh
‘Alan Bissett somehow invests an originality and freshness that’s uncommon in a genre so often hackneyed…Bissett’s ear for cut and thrust, for chiv-sharp wit and tinder-dry insult is incisive, pitch-perfect, informed. While the sentiments may be crude, the writing is subtle, well paced, authentic and compelling. The reader is white-water rafting on a cesspit-flow of verbal regurgitation, repelled, but riveted by the ride… What most impresses is Bissett’s talent. His writing is underscored with wit and, against the odds, he imbues almost all of his characters with dignity, with the force to act against type – especially in a breathtaking, breakaway, counter-intuitive which climax makes you gasp.’ – The Scotsman
‘A blistering, adrenaline-fuelled romp. Should be required reading for both sets of Old Firm supporters, as well as anyone interested in 21st Century Scotland.’ – Doug Johnstone, The List
‘Pack Men does what the author’s previous novels do so well: shines a light into the darkest corners of male psychology and behaviour, and finds, underneath the scorn and suffering, redeeming humanity. Told with narrative flair and demotic brilliance, this is a hugely funny, ruthlessly honest, and desperately necessary book. Bissett’s characters are complex, questioning, and always capable of surprising each other and the reader. One of the funniest, most humane and insightful writers today. Pack Men tackles an unsavoury subject with courage and compassion.’ – Sarah Hall, The Big Issue in the North
‘Pack Men is a wry, entertaining and mature work…Bissett succeeds in making us root for the most unlikely of antiheroes, even as he implodes’ – Scottish Review of Books
‘If Scotland’s father of working class consciousness, James Kelman, had a literary son it might be Alan Bissett…funny, irreverent and moving.’ – Gutter
And here are some reviews from the blogosphere.
‘A hugely impressive novel…Alan Bissett has once more held a mirror up to Scottish society.’ – Scots Whay Hae!
‘Real, very honest, heartfelt, witty, hilarious, clever…tender too, full of conviction and affection.’ – Subtle Melodrama
‘Plays with your expectations and gradually pulls you to places you didn’t expect.’ – Curious Joe
I’m currently on tour promoting the book. See below for dates. Come along and make me even happier!
‘Pack Men is a blistering, adrenaline-fuelled romp. Should be required reading for both sets of Old Firm supporters, as well as anyone interested in 21st Century Scotland.’ – Doug Johnstone, The List
My new novel is out! You can read an advance review in the Scottish Review of Books here. I’m on a promotional blitzkrieg that will see me standing up in front of audiences and blethering the utmost pish (with moments of sparkling insight). Here’s where you can catch me doing, like, my thing:
Sat 17th Sept, 2pm & 8.20pm – Macrobert Centre, Stirling University
Thurs, 22nd Sept 6.30pm – WordPower Radical Bookstore, 43 West Nicholson St, Edinburgh
Fri 23rd Sept, 4pm – The Old Hairdressers across from Stereo, Renfield Lane, Glasgow, as part of KILTR @ Social Media Week
Sat 24th & Sun 25th Sept, 3pm each day – Wigtown Book Festival solo event & 9pm on the Sun as part of Discombobulate.
Thurs 6th Oct – 8.30pm, Behind The Wall, Falkirk.
Sat 8th Oct – Bungofest, Strathbungo, Pollokshields, Glasgow, w/Martin O’Connor. 1.45-2pm Mise en Place. 2.15-2.30pm Samuel Dow’s, 2.45-3pm Moyra Jayne’s.
Thurs 20th Oct – N.Lanarkshire as part of Discombobulate, venue and time tbc.
That’s enough for us to be getting on with eh? See you somewhere, I hope. You’ve got no excuse for not saying hi.
A.x
My new novel, Pack Men, will be launched at Waterstones on Sauchiehall St, Glasgow, on Thurs 1st Sept at 6.30pm. Free entry. I will be in a very, very good mood indeed. Come join me for a wee toast.
“Pack Men is a landmark in Scottish fiction. A unique and special novel.” – Irvine Welsh
In case you’re swithering about buying my forthcoming book, Pack Men, here’s what Irvine Welsh, author of Trainspotting, has to say about it:
Pack Men published Sept 7th
“A landmark in Scottish fiction. A unique and special novel. Disguising it as an archetypal tale of the educated working class boy disdaining and admiring his mates in equal measure, Alan Bissett tackles Scotland’s ongoing sore of sectarianism. With neither condescending sneer nor pathetic apology, he shows how it will always exert a pull on those at the bottom of the social pile. A big enough achievement in itself, but the overall impact is greater still; Pack Men is nothing less than a fearless dissection of contemporary Scottish masculinity. I honestly haven’t read anything as impressive as this from a Scottish writer in yonks.”
The novel is released on 7th Sept 2011, but will be available for special events at the Edinburgh International Book Festival on 26th August 2011 and Waterstones Sauchiehall in Glasgow on 1st Sept. You can pre-order copies here.
Hey groovers,
My new one, Pack Men, will be released on Sept 7th, as a novel and e-book. It’s set in May 2008, on the day when Glasgow Rangers played a UEFA Cup Final in Manchester. I’m fairly certain that if you’ve liked any of my stuff before then you’ll also like this one, and you just mightrecognise some of the characters from a previous novel.
Pack Men
Pre-release copies will be availabe at my main event with Doug Johnstone at the Edinburgh International Book Festival on August 26th, 7pm, then afterwards at 9pm as part of Words Per Minute for the Unbound strand. I will also be featured at the Unbound gig for Gutter magazine on August 15th, 9pm, and will be part of the amazing cast of Alasdair Gray’s Fleck on August 29th, alongside Will Self, Ian Rankin, A.L. Kennedy, Janice Galloway, Liz Lochhead, Rodge Glass, Zoe Strachan and Louise Welsh.
If you’re nowhere near Edinburgh, then you can catch me at the Belladrum festival on Fri 5th Aug in the literary tent, or at the Black Isle Words Festival on Sat 10th Sept.
That should be enough to be getting on with, I think! See you soon, with a book in my hands and a wee spring in my step.
A.x
Alan Bissett 