Monthly Archives: March 2014

In which the Author gives a writing class in SW France…

WRITING CLASS 2.1Calling all hopeful novelists living within a reasonable distance of the Gers, SW France (so  that means you,

Landes, Haute-Garonne, Lot-et-Garonne and Haute-Pyrénées). On Saturday 12th April I’ve giving another full-day writing class. The previous class was a blast – thanks to all those who came – and by popular demand the next

class will focus on writing fiction, specifically, creating memorable characters.

We’ll be looking at character physique, names, motivation, personality and what I like to call character

archaeology – the effect of the past on the present.

All are welcome, no matter your level or experience of writing fiction.

The class will be in Nogaro, Gers, from 10am-4pm. Cost is only €20. Many of the students from the previous class have already signed up.

To book, email me at geoffholder1@mac.com or call 05 62 09 81 19.

In which the Author has a bodysnatching review on the Spooky Isles site…

That fine institution the Spooky Isles website has just upped a nice review of my book

Scottish Bodysnatchers: A Gazetteerscribed by Fortean writer Mandy Jane Steel Collins. You can indulge your

eyeballs at the Spooky Isles site here, while the book can be reached here, and I’ve a video trailer here.

Scottish Bodysnatchers came out a couple of years ago so perhaps it’s worth a brief recap. It aims to provide a

comprehensive guide to every physical remnant of the bodysnatching era in Scotland, from mortsafes and

morthouses to watch towers and other protection devices. It tells you where to find these relics (whether in

graveyards, churches or museums), and what to look for. Many of the sites are obscure, hidden, long-forgotten or have not previously been written about. Yes, the fieldwork research was fun…

In addition, there are anecdotes and news stories from the bodysnatching era, some of which may be early

versions of urban legends. Burke and Hare of course make an appearance, but bear in mind that they were serial killers, not bodysnatchers, their murders being driven by greed for the cash being offered for fresh corpses.

Scottish Bodysnatchers - A Gazetteer

The book covers not only the well-trodden bodysnatching paths of Edinburgh and Glasgow, but sites across the

country, from Aberdeenshire and the Highlands to the Scottish Borders, Ayrshire, Perthshire, Fife, Dundee and

Stirling. Given that there really isn’t any similar book out there, a number of readers have written to me describing how useful the book is for those interested in hunting out bodysnatching sites in their area – “well-thumbed” is a

typical comment. “An invaluable reference work” was another.

Happy to be of service, fellow bodysnatching fans. And remember to wash the dirt from your hands before

handling food…