Bletherin' Blog
Scottish Pipes an' Drums
We've been wurkin' oan the Scottish Pipes an' Drums book fur quite sum time an' we're LOVIN' it! By giein' a wee peek behind the scenes, we're hopin' tae highlight tha' there's so much goin' oan roond Scotland tha' we can aw get involved in. Murdo, a snare drummer Was a shinty centre forward He couldn't bear to be…
We've been nominated? Hurray!
We've been nominated as a finalist in the Business Resilience category. We're so so chuffed! We've wurked so hard tae no'…
HURRAY!!! Highly Commended? HURRAY!!
We are so chuffed tae be recognised a' the prestigious British Book Awards. Jist so chuffed!
Children's Books Exploring Mental Health and Wellbeing
We're SO chuffed tha' Bea and Brodie's Mindful Journey is listed as wan o' the books recommended by the Scottish Book…
Amazin' who ye bump intae!
Whilst we were oan wur travels seein' customers near Balmoral, guess who we bumped intae? Huv a book fur the grandweans? Och, gaun. It'd be rude not to!
Tootlin' Aboot in Van Morrison
We're LOVIN' tootlin' aboot in Van Morrison. Gies us a chance tae meet wur customers - new an' auld - an' it lets us fa' madly in love wi' Scotland again an' again.
Nominee? Me? Hurray!
Susan
Nominated fur a Positivity Award? Crackin'! (mind, they huvnae seen me chunterin' awa' first thing in the morn afore ah sink ma first coffee!)
The brilliant Gavin
Not only is Gavin a great author, he is also wur new publishin' assistant. He's jist brilliant an' a joy tae…
Family Business O' The Year - Finalists!
Well, it's jist brilliant tae receive an email unexpectedly tellin' ye tha' ye're through tae the national finals o' a major competition, isn't it? We're through tae the finals o' the People's Choice Awards, which is a mahooooosive thing as it's wur readers an' followers tha' mean the wurld tae us. Thank you, a'body! Thank you so much!!
Introducing Gavin Keddie, a talented creative writer
Our new publishing assistant, Gavin is not only brilliant a' his job but he's also a very talented writer, photographer an' all-round creative. He's put together a wee film giein' us a flavour o' his work an' hus been practisin' his skills oan design software tae come up wi' his ain newsletters. He's so diligent, such a quick learner, a…
Midlothian Business Champions - Finalists!
We're SO chuffed tae huv been selected as wan o' the finalists in the Town and County Business Champions competition! …
British Book Awards
We're so honoured an' delighted tae huv been recognised a' the British Book Awards. We've wurked sooo hard an' tae be recognised lik' this hus jist put the biggest smiles oan wur faces. …
Dear Old Aunty May's Giving Some Sage Words Of Advice ...
We have missed her! Thankfully, the old Morningside gal's back in the saddle!
Book of the Month - Q & A
There's a braw write-up aboot Bea and Brodie's Mindful Journey oan the Scottish Book Trust's website, wi' a Q & A wi' wur Susan. Crackin'! Click here: Book Of The Month, March 2021
In Memory o' Susan's Much Loved Dad, Tony Cohen, past Scottish Amateur Heavyweight Champion
Susan
Susan's Dad (in the photo) passed away in 2020 an' wus a two-time Scottish amateur heavyweight champion oan the Heighlan Games circuit as well as a shinty player who played fur Scotland. He wus an'…
Book of the Month! March, 2021
We're so chuffed that Bea and Brodie's Mindful Journey has been chosen as The Scottish Book Trust's Book of the Month in March, 2021. As part o' the Book Trust's promotional campaign, our Susan did this Q & A session: Q: Why do you think mindfulness is so important for children (especially in the current…
The British Book Awards - Woo hoooooo!
We were sooooo chuffed today tae find oot tha' we've been named as wan o' Scotland's finalists for the award o' Small Press of the Year, 2021. It's made us so happy! Thank ye, ivrybody fur the…
Inverness Courier
Och, it's so nice when ye get a wee write-up in the newspaper o' yer hame toon. Big thanks tae journalist, Louise Glen fur takin'…
Introducin' Wur Youtube Channel!
We've got sum crackin' stuff oan youtube. Tak' a wee look. Bea an' Brodie jist come alive when they're read by sports presenter, Mark Donaldson. Hunners o' thanks tae ye, Mark! CLICK HERE TAE HOOF IT O'ER TAE YOUTUBE
Scots Humour - A Match In Thon Place Cried Heaven
Susan
On 21st January, 2021 wur ain Susan delivered a wee talk as part o' the National Library o' Scotland's Events Programme oan Scots Humour. Here's the link tae it. Tak' a swatch an' huv a wee chuckle? CLICK HERE
Trade Fairs? Live Events? How We Miss Ye!
Dae ye iver huv wan o' thae days when ye miss gaun aboot, meetin fowk, huvin a laff, huvin a chat, mebbes even huvin a wee cup o tea an a hobnob in a tearoom? Aye? Weel,…
Bea and Brodie's Mindful Journey
Susan
Wan o' the maist remarkable things aboot this book - apart frae the fact tha' the furst print run hus a' but sold oot in a matter o' weeks an' tha' it's e'en got intae the haunds o' Formula 1's David Coutlhard - is tha' it a' came aboot by a writer meetin' an artist who a'ready hud…
Robert Burns - Wur Hero!
Susan
This book is so close tae wur hearts! Robert Burns is wur HERO! The eye-waterin' passion o' the man cries oot tae ye frae ivry line he left behind fur us. Jings! Wharra talent! This Wee Book is intended nae as a piece o' scholarly wurk but rather a wee taster tae introduce ye tae the sheer joy an' beauty o' the Bard's poetry. …
Shortlisted? Us? Family Business o' the Year, 2021? Hurray!
Susan
An email arrived today tellin' us tha' we've been nominated fur Family Business o' the Year! Jings! Noo, is tha' guid news, or…
Poems Frae Wur Hearts
Susan
We're so excited aboot this book o' poems! Oot in time fur Valentine's Day 2021, it's no' jist fur couples an' fowk who are in l-u-r-v-e, it's fur a'body who fancies a wee bit o' heart-warmin' readin' an' a guid laff o'er a nice wee cup o' tea! Wharra Joke! He laughed in Burger King Til chips came doon his nose She laughed in B & Q Til she…
St Andrews Day 2020 - One Million Words of Kindness
Wurkin' in Midlothian is a joy! Bringin' us a' the gither wi' a wee poem wus a delight. Susan took no time at all tae rustle…
Coorie In? A Wee Book fur wur times!
Andrew
Since we're stuck a' hame mair an' mair, we thocht it wus aboot time tae come up wi' a Wee Book which made us see the lichter side o' bidin' indoors. This Wee Book is provin popular as it's gone intae its 2nd print run a'ready!
The Book Whisperers Celebrate St Andrew's Day!
We rustled up a wee poem an' efter much hilarity, we got through it!
Nomination Fur An Award? Me? Wee Me? Crackin'!
Susan
This year's been a tough wan, nae doubt aboot it but we've tried tae crack oan wi' things as best we can. When sumthin' lik' this happens - bein' nominated fur a Business Award - it maks yer wee heart swell. Naw, naw, tha's no' a…
St Andrews Day 2020 - One Million Words of Kindness
Our Susan wrote a poem tae celebrate St Andrews Day which brought us a' the gither - online at least! It wus a lovely thing. No' a dry eye in the hoose.
Federation of Small Businesses - Finalist - Scotland - Start-Up Business of the Year
Susan
Wharra great surprise to huv this certificate drap through the letterbox! So chuffed!
We Won! Scots Business o' the Year, Scots Language Awards 2020
Jings! We only went an' won an award - an' frae wur ain sittin' room tae! The Scots…
Wurds, Wurds, Wurds!
Hoof it o'er tae wur facebook page an' tak' a swatch a' wur Wurds o' the Day. Wur Wee Book Fowk luv wur daily wurds so much tha' we thocht it wus aboot time tha' we came up wi' a new book which hus a' wur favr'ties an' hus sum topical wee phrases which shine light oan them. Crackin'!
Lockdoon? Social Distancin'? Och, we'll jist huv tae go wi' it ...
Aye, okay so it's no' tha' funny, is it? But if we dinnae try tae keep smilin', we're gaun tae lose the plot! Keep singin'!
Life Lessons in Lockdoon
We've been very aware o' fowk's trauma an' distress durin' thae lockdoon times an' we've tried wur level best tae put good positive stuff oan tae wur facebook page which hopefully raise a few smiles noo an' then. Tae a'body oot there we send wur heartfelt luv. Keep diggin' in, try tae keep yer spirits up. It's no' forever, it's jist fur noo.
Introducin' Wur Book Whisperer Pals
Susan
Aye, the Book Whisperers' trio o' authors are VERY professional. We huv VERY high level discussions behind the scenes. As ye can see, we tak' things VERY serious. An' we're obviously copin' wi' this lockdown malarkey VERY well. Nae bother. Susan's…
Stir Crazy! Self Isolation Tales
Susan
The Book Whisperers' facebook page hus so far attracted 800 fowk. Tha's amazin', eh? Wha's e'en mair amazin' is tha' thae beautiful fowk huv started tae post pieces o' their own truly stunnin' writin'. Seein' as we're livin' in extraordinary times, we've a' decided tae compile a book called 'Stir Crazy' which'll be a compilation o' the Whisperer's work. It'll record wur hopes, wur fears, wur…
Stay strong - coronavirus self isolation - The Book Whisperers
Susan
During thae troubled times, we so-o-o want tae help fowk oot there who are feelin' alone an' anxious so we huv teamed up wi' twa o' wur pals, authors Mary Turner Thomson an' Lea…
The Outlander's 'Sassenach'
Susan
Wan o' the beauties o' the series 'Outlander' is the way language is used. The Gaelic is bandied aboot hither an' thither bringin' it richt intae wur hearts an' giein' it a' a sense o' ither-wurldliness. Mind, it's the wurd 'sassenach' which is wan o' the wurds which hus gripped a'body's imagination. The wurd comes frae the gaelic 'sasunnach' which referred tae 'Saxon' - originally used by Gaelic speakers tae refer tae…
Dreich, Drookit, Mingin', Buggert ...
Susan
Thing aboot wur Scots language is tha' it does wha' it says oan the tin. The wurds express so much tha' it maks the imagination flee! Tha's why we choose tae write in broad Scots. It's lik'…
A Panto Record-Breaker!
Workin' wi' Allan Stewart, wan o' Scotland's best-loved entertainers, hus been a joy, a sheer joy! Huvin' been a' the top o' his game fur so long, playin' pantomime dame at the King's Theatre, Edinburgh, mair than ony ither actor, Allan knows wha' he's aboot. He writes lik' a demon an' maks ye laff 'til ye're bent double! Mind, who knew he cuid draw an'…
Gettin' Shte Done - we a' huv tae dae it, micht as well mak' the maist o' it!
Ye know tha' thing when ye've been workin' hard an' puttin' a' yer blood, sweat an' tears intae sumthin'? Then, lo an' behold it turns oot e'en better than ye cuid huv iver hoped? Weel, this is the way o' it wi' this latest Wee Book! Honest tae Crivvens, it's a game changer! It's a' aboot the stuff we huv tae face frae day tae day an'…
Scotland's Trade Fair Autumn
We feel so lucky cos we're jist back frae Scotland's Autumn Trade Fair, huvin' had a hooley! We met so many crackin' fowk an' we displayed a couple o' new posters we'd rustled up a' the last minute. We want tae say a heartfelt thanks tae wur brilliant customers, auld an' new, an' tae wur fellow exhibitors.
Clarty
Thaur's nothin' lik' the excitement o' takin' delivery o' a new book frae Bell & Bain, wur printers. Sure enuf, we're jumpin' fur joy a' the arrival o' Ma Wee Book o' Clarty Wee Secrets the day. Crackin'! Accordin' tae wur new book, there's nae big secret tae feelin' foo o' the joys, it's a…
A'hings Tae Dae Wi' The Kitchen
Susan
Sumtimes, cookin' doesnae go accordin' tae plan in the kitchen. We know tha' only too well wursel's! We're wurkin' awa' oan sum new kitchen journals tha' are goin' tae be a richt hoot: 'Bite Ma Scone' (fur bakin') an' 'If It's Broon It's Cooked, If It's Black It's Buggert' (cookin'). Wha' a laff we're haein' wi' thae…
Big Tam's Kilted Wurkoots is Oooot Noooo!
Big Tam's Kilted Wurkoots is no' Tam Rannachan's furst book, but it is the best-est! Tam's been a personal trainer fur as lang as he can remember ... which is gie lang ... an' doesnae put up wi' ony o' this 'och, it's too dreich outside tae go oot' or 'there's sumthin' oan the telly, I'll gie ma exercises…
Greetin' Cards
We're lucky enuf tae huv retail clients who are keen tae give us feedback oan wur business an' wan o' the things we've been asked time an' again is, 'wha' else dae ye sell as well as yer books'? Hmmmm. Weel, the 'wha' else' hus turned oot tae be a range o' greetin' cards! An' who knew how much fun we'd…
Big Tam's Kilted Wurkoots featured on BBC Radio Scotland
Big Tam hoofed it o'er tae the BBC studios the day tae talk tae Kaye Adams aboot how his new book addresses…
Latest Arrival - Wee Book O' Pure Stoatin' Joy
JOY HUS ARRIVED! HURRAY! Thaur's nae big secret tae feelin' foo o' the joys, it's a feelin' we…
Award Winners? Who us? Ya dancer!
Susan
Edinburgh Reporter Weel, we exhibited a' wur furst trade fair, an' we won an award. An award! Did we mention tha' we won an award? Weel, we won an award! Wur furst wee book won an award an' we…
The Wee Book O' Grannies' Sayin's
Susan
When we wur gettin' the gather material fur wur furst Wee Book, The Wee Book o' Grannies' Sayin's, we were struck by jist how much times hud moved oan. Grannies today are oot there, giein' it laldie an' then sum. They're auf bungee jumpin' an' queuing…
