Evelyn Hood: A tribute to Paisley’s all-time bestselling author

Paisley’s all-time bestselling author, Evelyn Hood, has died. Famed for her Paisley sequence of eight novels, former journalist Evelyn’s books had a global following. A tribute by Brian Hannan from Abbey Books. In my opinion she was unfairly discounted in literary circles and for the worst reason of all – she was a woman.... Read More

Ely Percy – Renfrew-born author of award-winning Duck Feet

After releasing one of the most lauded books in recent memory with Duck Feet, Renfrew-born author Ely Percy takes us through their journey to bring the experiences of high school classmates to the page. Although they may be fresh from a honeymoon to Paris that had been thwarted by an unanticipated bout of Covid,... Read More

Kerry Hudson – Paisley Book Festival 2023 Artist in Residence

Award-winning author, Kerry Hudson, will look to inspire people across Renfrewshire as part of her tenure as Artist in Residence at the Paisley Book Festival. Kerry, whose first novel won the Scottish First Book Award in 2012, will use the power of written and spoken word to make literature and a love for writing... Read More

Kirstin Innes talks writing, activism, Renfrewshire and more

Sometimes, a piece of art comes along that seems to unconsciously tap into the cultural temperature of the times and with her second book, Edinburgh-born, Lochwinnoch-based author Kirstin Innes has accomplished exactly that. But for all that her latest novel presented a layered, often deeply unjust world in which people have seen aspects of... Read More

Lochwinnoch – a Mill Magazine local guide by Diarmid MacArthur

Local author Diarmid MacArthur gives us a whistle-stop tour of his beloved village.  For many people, Lochwinnoch is just a scattering of houses and an indoor-football venue, teamed with a nice old, two-arch railway bridge spanning both the road and the River Calder. Between these attractions and the somewhat remote railway station lie two... Read More

Book Review: Scabby Queen by Kirstin Innes

Reviewed by Keira Brown, co-producer of the Paisley Book Festival After winning Not The Booker Prize with Fishnet in 2015, Lochwinnoch-based Kirstin Innes has exceeded the anticipation surrounding her new novel, Scabby Queen, In fact, five years later, she’s delivered an even better novel than her protagonist, Clio Campbell, does an album in this... Read More

Book Review: Mayflies by Andrew O’Hagan

Reviewed by Keira Brown, co-producer of the Paisley Book Festival Andrew O’Hagan has done it again. Ever since reading The Illuminations, I have noted this author’s ability to revolve novels around sensitive subjects. Anchored by a succinct voice and wonderful characterisation, he does so marvellously in Mayflies. It’s Summer 1986 in the west coast... Read More

Book Review: Resist: Stories of Uprising edited by Ra Page

Reviewed by Keira Brown, co-producer of the Paisley Book Festival At a time in society where political demos and protests are rife, Comma Press’ anthology Resist is a significant historical read, considering mass strikes and resistance since the times of Boudica to the neglectful incident of the Grenfell Tower. With fictionalised accounts from Kamila... Read More