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Moffat Writers Ink 

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Moffat Writers Ink is a group of writers who meet, on a monthly basis, to support each other in their writing careers.

What started off as a crime offshoot of a creative writing group, has developed into a group of authors from various genres. We now cover crime, fantasy, horror and sci-fi and all cross-genres in between. The group was set up to help writers who were at the publishing stage of their writing process but needed support to take that final step.

Getting published, whether traditionally or self-published, is a difficult process. From getting your book in the best possible condition before submitting to agents and publishers, to writing a submissions package, using social media for promotional purposes or the whole self-publishing process, there is someone in the group who can advise.

Many of the members are happy to alpha and beta read their fellow members’ books, checking on how well the story flows, how well the characters resonate with the readers, any plot holes or other big issues. Having people you can trust at this stage is incredibly important. Some people will charge you for this service. Family and friends won’t necessarily give you decent feedback. Other authors know exactly what’s required and how to explain what the problems are.

Some of our members are already self published. Their guidance has been invaluable to others who want to take this route. We’ve had authors doing talks on finding decent editors and proofreaders, how to format the book, how the financial side works and how best to promote your book. This final subject is something we can all learn. Whether you’re traditionally published or self-published you need to do a lot of the promotional work yourself. Some of us are of an age where TikTok and Instagram are foreign concepts. The younger members of the group keep us updated with what works and what doesn’t.

Many of the group have gone on to be published authors with great success. May Rinaldi has been shortlisted for the Bloody Scotland debut crime novel and long listed for the McIlvannie Crime Book of the year – results in September. Other members who have been on the shortlists for these major prizes are Daniel Aubrey and Doug Sinclair. FD Quinn was shortlisted for the Crime Writers Association (CWA) short story award – we’re looking forward to her debut. Iain Alexander’s Dark Necessities won the Pitlochry Quaich for Best Crime Novel at the Scottish Association of Authors annual awards ceremony. And if that wasn’t enough, his TimeShift took second place. Looking forward to Dark Heart, coming soon – don’t read alone.

Perhaps our best known member is MW Craven. His Washington Poe series has won numerous awards, and the books always make the top of the best sellers’ charts. Look out for Poe and Tilly coming soon to your TV screens.

Last year we worked with Moffat Town Hall Trust to run the first Moffat Crime Fest, bringing top crime authors to the town for a day of panel chats, signings, author dinner and quiz. It was a great success and will return next year – keep a look out on here for details.

We are a free to join group, with thanks to Moffat and District Community Council for funding to enable us to meet monthly.

We meet every third Thursday in St John the Baptist’s church in Moffat at 7pm. If you have a book at the ‘ready to publish’ stage, come and join us for some great advice and support.

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Bloody Scotland 2026

Writer: May Rinaldi
May Rinaldi
Oct 18
4 min read

I’ve been going to Bloody Scotland for years, usually as a reader, keen to see and listen to my favourite authors and rub shoulders with my heroes in the bar. In 2018 I took part in Pitch Perfect, Bloody Scotland’s opportunity for unpublished authors to pitch their books to a panel of industry professionals. I didn’t win; DV Bishop author of the City of Vengeance historical crime series did. He was amazing, so relaxed, looked fabulous as ever and really sold his book. The whole process was so exciting; if you’re an aspiring crime writer why not give next year’s competition a go. Follow https://bloodyscotland.com/take-part/ for details of when 2027 competition opens.

This year was something else. Liar Thief was shortlisted for the Bloody Scotland Debut prize and long listed for the McIlvanney Crime Book of the Year. I would be at the festival as a ‘real’ author. Those heroes of mine would be pouring me a cup of tea in the green room, people would be coming to me for an autograph on their copies of my book. This was the stuff of dreams.

In June the shortlisted authors attended the launch of the festival, interviewed by a range of publications, from the Scotsman to Scottish Field, taking part on podcasts and radio shows, being photographed for the Bloody Scotland website and social sites. This was just the warm-up to the real festival in September.

My fellow shortlisters – Frances Crawford, Linda Duncan McLaughlin, Kirsty Lockwood and Zoe Rankin and I set up a wee What’sApp group, Fun Wimmin Criminals. We gelled as soon as we met (even though Zoe was in New Zealand) and became a wee team. We were the first ever, all woman shortlist. Each of our books was a very different take on the crime genre although we noticed some cross over subjects which we covered, in particular the effect of family on our protagonists. We didn’t care which of us won, being shortlisted was enough. On the Friday morning of Bloody Scotland, we met up in Café Pompeii – my favourite place for coffee in Stirling – and finally met Zoe in the flesh. Even better for me, Ruth Knafo Setton, who also writes with my publisher Black Spring Press, had come across from the US to promote her book, Zig Zag Girl. After chatting on Facebook for months, it was great to meet up. Even though I blame her for the US Covid variant I was struck down with after the festival.

The Fun Wimmin Criminals were herded into the green room then taken three doors up King Street to Made in Stirling, the venue for the Debut Panel. The room was packed. It was great to see some of my Mayniacs group with their t-shirts. The panel chat was great fun, our moderator was festival co-founder and author, Alex Gray. We were in good hands. She kept the chat flowing and knew exactly how to get the best out of five newbie authors. After the panel, we signed copies of our books and chatted to the audience. Two women whom I hadn’t seen since leaving school appeared – now looking forward to organising a reunion in Airdrie.

Then it was time for the official opening ceremony and prize giving. Bloody Scotland knows how to put on an event. The venue was the Church of the Holy Rude where Mary Queen of Scots infant son, James was crowned King of Scotland; John Knox’s preaching shaped Scotland’s political and religious landscape and Medieval Gothic craftsmanship and stained glass reveal Stirling’s history. The perfect backdrop to the opening ceremony.  All the shortlisted authors for the debut and McIlvanney prizes were piped into the hall. Frances and Zoe were on both lists – an amazing achievement. They were joined by Philip Miller, Tariq Ashkanani and Gavin Bell for the top prize in Scottish Crime.

The debut winner was announced first. Frances Crawford’s book, A Bad Bad Place, brought the house down - not least because of our cheers. Frances is the loveliest, most talented person you could hope to meet and her book is fabulous. So fabulous she went on to win the McIlvanney too. This is the first time this has ever been done. More records broken and you’ll never see a more popular winner.

The presentation was followed by a procession back down through Stirling, accompanied by the pipe band with Frances, her husband Willie, and festival guest programmer, Denise Mina leading the way. More photographs and interviews filled the rest of Frances’s weekend, whereas Linda, Zoe and I took to the stage at Karaoke at the Coo with our fabulous rendition of Tainted Love. The rest of the festival is a blur. I talked to all my favourite authors in the green room and bar at the Golden Lion, saw some wonderful panels, met up with pals, old and new, and had the most amazing weekend. I’ll never do this again – you’re a debut author just once in your life - but I’ll never forget it. My cheeks still ache from the constant grin on my face. And the Fun Wimmin Criminals are still getting together to appear as a group on panels at bookshops, festivals and anywhere that will have us.

 

 

Fiona and Hayley - Mayniacs and Twisted Sisters
Fiona and Hayley - Mayniacs and Twisted Sisters
All the shortlisters and a piper
All the shortlisters and a piper

 
 
 

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