On Friday night at Bloody Scotland crime festival in Stirling, it was my honour and privilege to receive The McIlvanney Prize for Scottish Crime Book of the Year 2023 for my debut novel SQUEAKY CLEAN. And I’ve only just about picked my jaw up off the floor.

In a state of shock, I mumbled out a few thanks on stage so I’d like to take the space now to do things properly.

Bringing a book to publication is a massive team effort, and I must thank Pushkin Vertigo for everything they’ve done for me.

I’m hugely indebted to the work of my editor Daniel Seton, publicist Kate Wilkinson (best of luck with the new gig!), Rima Rashid, Ríbh Brownlee, and everyone else on the team who made Squeaky Clean what it is and made this win possible.

(And just to clear up a slight misunderstanding, I’m not the first debut author to win the McIlvanney Prize, that achievement belongs to the inimitable Francine Toon for PINE in 2020.)

Mark Swan (AKA Kid Ethic) created a fantastic, eye-catching cover which no doubt has pulled in plenty of curious readers.

My agent Emily MacDonald at 42mp has worked tirelessly to champion my writing, her editorial insight and vision, and constant reassuring belief, has brought me to this point.

I may not have written anything at all if it wasn’t for my wife, Lisa, whose love and support keep me going, always.

My extremely proud maw and guerilla marketeer, Marion, who you probably heard screaming on Friday night if you were in attendance at the Albert Halls, has been my first reader since I first started scribbling as a child. Love you!

I’d also like to thank Bloody Scotland for having me. It’s an incredible festival and I had an amazing weekend. I’ve seen some brilliant authors speak, bought a lot of books, hunted for autographs, met some fabulous and passionate people – readers and writers alike – saw Val McDermid and Mark Billingham singing ABBA in terrible wigs (a sight which can’t be erased from memory), and marched through the city with a flaming torch in the pishing rain, itself an unforgettable sight but in a good way this time.

The shortlists for both the McIlvanney and the Debut awards were a who’s-who of twisted literary genius and it could easily have gone to any one of them. It’s been lovely getting to know my fellow debuts this summer and massive congratulations to Kate Foster for winning Scottish Crime Debut of the Year for THE MAIDEN, which is an incredible piece of work.

I have received so many wonderful messages since Friday and I apologise for not replying personally to them all but they really are so much appreciated. I worried that saying variations of ‘cheers’ over and over would start to sound disingenuous, especially stacked up in a social media feed, but I am honestly so grateful to everyone who has reached out – friends, fellow authors, readers alike. It’s been really heart-warming.

Last but not least, my sincere thanks to everyone who has read the book, bought the book, borrowed the book, reviewed the book, told their pals about it. It’s everything.

 – Callum

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