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Top Crime
Author Stuart MacBride Opens Jura
Writers’ Retreat
 Top
Scottish crime writer, Stuart MacBride
has launched the return of the renowned
Jura Writers’ Retreat programme.
Jura whisky has revived Writers’
Retreat, which celebrates the island’s
storytelling heritage by inviting
eminent authors to spend time on Jura
and write a short story inspired by the
island featuring a character and genre
for which they are most famous.
The Isle of Jura boasts a long literary
heritage, including the fact that
British novelist George Orwell penned
his most famous novel ‘1984’ while
staying on the island.
Building on this special connection,
Writers’ Retreat will run throughout
late 2011 and 2012. Stuart MacBride –
the international bestselling author of
the Logan McRae series, whose latest
book SHATTER THE BONES went to number
one in the Sunday Times list – is the
first in a long list of well-known
writers to spend a week in the Jura
Lodge, where he wrote a short story
entitled ‘Stramash’.
‘Stramash’ follows Detective Sergeant
Logan McRae to the Isle of Jura. He’s
supposed to be having a couple of days
off, but his superior DI Steel has other
ideas. Something suspicious is happening
on Jura, and it’s going to take Grampian
Police’s finest to get to the bottom of
it.
Speaking about the programme, Stuart
MacBride said: "To be honest, they had
me at ‘free malt whisky for a week’, and
the chance to spend a week on Jura,
staying in the lodge above the
distillery, was just too good to refuse.
Jura’s a spectacular island with
inspiration lurking around every corner,
so it’s no surprise that George Orwell
managed to produce one of his finest
works here. I’m really looking forward
to seeing what the writers’ retreat
sparks in the other authors on the
programme."
Fans of MacBride’s work will be able to
download his short story
HERE. Additional information
on Writers’ Retreat and news on the
programme’s bestselling authors can also
be found on the Jura website.
Following in the Aberdeen author’s
footsteps will be bestselling crime
writer, Val McDermid, and Scottish
Sci-Fi writer, Ken McLeod. Previous
writers in residence for Jura include
Alexander McCall Smith, Janice Galloway
and Will Self.
Jura distillery manager, Willie
Cochrane, said: "There’s no shortage of
inspirational material on Jura and we
are delighted to re-launch this
programme, which offers literary giants
the chance to soak up the atmosphere of
this great island."
To mark the creation of ‘Stramash’,
MacBride worked with Jura to set up an
exclusive digital crime tour of
Aberdeen, in line with Logan’s murder
investigations. Hotspots included a stop
at Robert Gordon University, where
Professor Dave Barclay – former Head of
Physical Evidence for the UK – lectures
in forensic science. MacBride regularly
makes use of Professor Barclay’s
extensive expertise to get the details
in his books right.
"I really enjoyed taking everyone on a
tour around some of the locations
featured in Logan’s murder
investigations. And having Professor
Dave Barclay on hand to share examples
from his years helping to solve
real-life crimes made it even better.
Not to mention the occasional nip of
good malt whisky." says MacBride.
His next book, BIRTHDAYS FOR THE DEAD,
is published by HarperCollins in
January.
The crime tour can be accessed
HERE
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