NEWS

Whenever I meet somebody who doesn’t know me, or what my job is - and one thing leads to another – as things tend to do – and they inevitably ask, “And what do you do?” I never quite know what to say.  Usually I stare at the ground and mumble something about “writing, with a bit of acting thrown in”.  But if anything, in 2007, it was the other way round.  2007 was the year I played the main baddie in a horror movie and wrote episodes for a brand new series for CBeebies!  Talk about extremes!  But then, hey – I’m an extreme kind of guy!

The movie’s called OUTPOST by the way and I’d better not say too much about it here, or the producers will hunt me down like a dog.  Suffice to say that it’ll be out sometime in 2008 and it’s most definitely not for the faint-hearted!  If you’re reading this – and let’s face it, you almost certainly are – then the chances are you’re either young, or youngish.  So if you are into gory things, you really shouldn’t be watching this for a very long time!  Rating-wise, if they could make it a Double 18 then they probably would.  So consider yourself warned!  It ain’t my fault if you watch it and spend the rest of your life in therapy!  Right parents?  Right.  And yes, I know that strictly speaking, a Double 18 would be a 36!  Smarty-pants.

What else?  Well, not content with acting in one movie in 2007, I was in another one too!  This one’s called STONE OF DESTINY and is based on the true life story of the nicking of the aforementioned Stone Of Destiny by a bunch of idealistic Glasgow students from Westminster Abbey, back in 1951.  It stars Charlie Cox of Stardust fame, along with Kate Mara from Brokeback Mountain and 24, Robert Carlyle from loads of things, Brenda Fricker and, I think, the legendary Christopher Lee.  Oh and me.  Though stars might be pushing it a wee bit in my case.  I play a detective and have a few lines.  Tearing round the streets of Paisley in an old police car in the middle of the night!  Great fun!  Also out in 2008 I believe.

The CBeebies series is called CARRIE AND DAVID’S POPSHOP by the way.  That’s Carrie and David, as in Carrie And David Grant from Fame Academy and lots of other things.  It’s on air from February 2008.  See press for details.  Remember, your home is at risk if you do not keep up repayments.  Terms and conditions apply.

Which reminds me, I’ve continued to do lots of voice-overs on the radio and on the telly this past year – persuading people to buy various things they neither  want, nor need.  I shouldn’t knock it though.  Someone’s got to do it.

Other recent writing stuff includes contributing a story to a collection called ON THE MONEY, published by Scottish Book Trust www.scottishbooktrust.com 
The aim of the book is to help raise financial awareness in upper primary school children – and if my own kids are anything to go by, it certainly needs raising!  A bunch of free copies are being given to every primary school in Scotland and I believe they’re eventually going to be distributed in England as well.  My story’s called NO CHANGE by the way.  The other stories were written by top Scots pensmiths, Nicola Morgan, Theresa Breslin and Alison Prince.  But mine’s best.  Only kidding.  Or am I?  Yeah, course I am.  If you’re reading this Nicky, Theresa, or Alison, I love you guys!

2007 also saw me doing loads of author visits – see AUTHOR VISITS (funnily enough) – to schools, libraries and festivals, as well as tutoring at Moniack Mhor, near Inverness, on another ‘Writing For Children’ course.  That’s twice I’ve done that now, so I must be doing something right!  Oh and I judged a poetry competition.  So that was a first.  And quite possibly a last.

Er, that’s about it for now I think.  I’m currently working on all sorts of things – some of which might happen – and some of which might not.  But hey, that’s showbiz.  Or bookbiz, as the case may be.  Chief project at the moment is a screenplay for a kids’ adventure film.  Plus various other ideas for books and TV.  Watch this space, as they say.  Whoever they are.

So there you go.  2007 in a nutshell.  OK, quite a big nutshell.

How was it for you?