Black Isle 'shooting' of crime writer echoes novelist's execution
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CELEBRATED crime novelist Ian Rankin was ‘shot’ by a fellow author when the pair appeared at a literary weekend on the Black Isle.
But Mr Rankin took his ‘execution’ in his stride after he was roped into an unusual re-enactment as part of the event.
Fortrose author Vee Walker explained that she took a risk when she decided against the traditional reading approach for her novel Major Tom’s War during the Cromarty Arts Trust Crime and Thrillers Weekend.
“I knew I only had 20 minutes at most in my spotlight slot as the warm-up act to the lovely Ian Rankin, who was the real reason everyone had turned up. I decided that rather than simply reading a bit aloud and just plugging Major Tom’s War I would ask the audience to re-enact a key scene from the book.
“I had already asked Ian if he would be my ‘victim’ but the audience did not know this. I then told the story of how my gentle military policeman grandfather had had to execute a Hindu murderer on the Western Front - and how he tried to make that execution as merciful as he could. I did not want to trivialise this grim event, as although it is part of my plot, it really happened. It must have deeply traumatised all who witnessed it at the time.”
“When the ‘firing squad’ shot Ian (by pointing at him and shouting ‘bang’!) he was blindfolded and the poor soul jumped out of his skin – because Tom gave the order to fire not in words, but by dropping a handkerchief.
“I was so grateful to Ian for being such a sport and helping me and I hope I did not traumatise any of my audience, too!”
Vee’s novel Major Tom’s War will be coming out in paperback and Kindle later this year.
The hardback first edition is still available through all good booksellers or from the publisher at www.kashi house.com
