For me, writing stories set, well, wherever they're best set, is a form of cultural curiosity that is uniquely Scottish - we're famous for travelling in search of adventure.

The writing talent of Edinburgh is textured - we have poets, novelists, non-fiction writers, dramatists and more.

My father could talk about the Romany way of life and its culture. He could talk about freedom and the Scottish spirit. But that was all he could talk about. I was desperate for someone to talk to but there was just nobody there.

One of Scotland's most important cultural exports - stories.

Scotland consistently produces world-class writers.

I'm proud of the culture I come from - we're a small country and a close-knit community.

Edinburgh is a great big black bastard of a city where there are ghosts of all kinds.

Scotland just isn't terribly Tory.