Crime In The Spotlight at Bloody Scotland 2021

The Open University is delighted to support Crime In The Spotlight at Scotland's International Crime Writing Festival,​ Bloody Scotland 2021.

Bloody Scotland is continuing its drive to support new authors, by letting them share a stage with the biggest names in the business. 

Spotlight authors have gone on to great things, not least Graeme Macrae Burnet who ‘opened’ for Ian Rankin before being shortlisted for the 2016 Man Booker Prize. 

This year's selection of up-and-coming crime writers are, in order of appearance: Patricia Marques, Tariq Ashkanani, Stuart Johnstone, Ann Bloxwich, Sarah Sultoon, Anna Bailey, Abigail Dean, Tina Baker, Emma Haughton, Danny Leigh Marshall, James Cairns McMahon, Ewan Gault, Lynne McEwan, Alan Gillespie, George Colkitto, Mark Findlay Smith and Sarah Goodwin.

They will be will be reading a snippet from their works, ahead of best-selling writers, such as: Danny Leigh Marshall before Stephen King, Tariq Ashkanani before OU honorary graduate Ian Rankin; Emma Haughton before OU honorary graduate Val McDermid, and Mark Findlay Smith before Lee Child and Andrew Child. 

All events will be available to watch online. There are also tickets to watch the events in-person at the Albert Halls in Stirling. Some of the authors will be joining the events via live-stream. 

For more info and to book your place to watch online or in-person, please go to the Bloody Scotland website. 

You can try Creative Writing course content for free, on the OU site OpenLearn, such as Start writing fiction. 

The OU offers the modules Creative Writing and Advanced Creative Writing, a BA (Honours) English Literature and Creative Writing, and an MA in Creative Writing.