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The petition
Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) Petition | Fife | Dalgety Bay
Edinburgh-based crime writer Doug Johnstone, (house-husband, musician, author of eight novels, journalist and former nuclear physicist) had our adrenaline pumping with his latest novel Crash Land.
It starts in the departure lounge of Orkney’s Kirkwall Airport, where a chance meeting leads two people to start on an adventure of crime and romance. And at the Edinburgh International Book Festival the author read to a packed audience the opening scene that is set at the airport.
Image of Orkney – Kirkwalll Airport – Image courtesy of Bob Embleton of geograph.org.uk 3623974
Sitting in the departure lounge of Orkney’s Kirkwall Airport, Finn Sullivan just wants to leave the island. But then he meets a mysterious, attractive, desirous and dangerous Maddie Pierce. He steps in to save her from some unwanted attention, and then buys a couple of drinks at the bar. After which his life is changed forever. The question is does love blossom?
For me this is all refreshing, as there are times when one looks for Scottish fiction and it seems to be lost in in the mass of worldwide literacy. Perhaps the only place one might find an abundance could be in the promises of ambitious politicians at Holyrood.
I have always enjoyed trips to Shetland (by overnight ferry) and my first one was meant to include Orkney. I am told it is a beautiful island, and on one of my most northerly visits I nearly arrived there, but time just ran out.
After reviewing this event, I might just choose to travel by ferry. I have never been fond of turboprop planes, especially after one trip from Aberdeen to Liverpool.
it was a high wind, and on take off, I could feel the plane veer to the left and then to the right. I am normally a good flyer, but that sudden set of blasts shook my confidence. I made conversation with God in prayer. A quiet shout of help and a plea…
“I am not ready yet”.
I am glad I did.
It was on the lift off that those sudden, surprise blasts of the wind became insignificant…
My fellow travellers started to show signs of terror, their faces said it all as the plane started on a climb. A climb to avoid and rise above the dangers of a winter storm.
The colour of their facial skin, changed. The darkest of skins turned a whiter shade of grey – it is as if all their blood had been drained from their bodies. A vampire must have had just enjoyed a surprise feast in the Aberdonian skies, at our expense!
The passengers’ minds seemed to have formed a collective image. An image of a silhouette, a silhouette of a skeleton. One that resides in the darkest places of their hearts, a RIP of their life on planet earth.
The plane dropped, and it almost instantaneously was tossed back up again! My stomach turned, for me it was an unexpected lift drop and added to by a surprise rise.
Anne a female colleague sitting next to me cried out
“I am going to die”.
I quietly again prayed. I then gave her a little bit of misinformation…
“No it is just a mild storm. We will be fine and we will be above it soon”.
I hope that calmed her? As it did nothing for me!
But back to the plot…
Doug Johnstone in Orkney doing research – image courtesy of the Edinburgh International Book Festival
This story starts in Orkney which Doug Johnstone visited 13 years ago with his pregnant wife. It is no secret but the story is about a plane Journey, a journey that starts at Kirkwall on a turboprop flight. A flight that quickly ends in a crash land.
During his talk Doug mentioned that one reviewer read his book on the plane. He did suggest that, that was not such a good idea. I would agree it is a bit like watching Titanic on a Ferry Crossing from Aberdeen to Shetland.. That is really a terrifying thought! Will the reviewer ever fly again? Dare I set foot on a ferry to Orkney?
After a question and answer session he finished by singing and playing on his guitar two of his own songs.
