Sean introduces the 2025 Christmas Special episode with Chris McDonald (Erika Piper series, the Stonebridge Mysteries, and Little Ghost), Chris also writes as Chris Frost (The Killer's Christmas List and The Christmas Tree Killer).

Sean is also joined by Mark Edwards (The Magpie, Follow You Home, The Wasp Trap, and The Christmas Magpie) whose novels have sold over four million copies and have been translated into 12 languages.

Rounding off the festive group is Chris Willocks from Serenity Booksellers. Serenity is an independent family-owned bookstore aimed at growing the book-loving community in Romiley, Stockport, Greater Manchester and beyond. They host Noir at the Bookshop and Bar and co-direct Stockport Noir with Christ McDonald.

You can find out more about Chris McDonald below:

• Chris's Amazon author page
• Chris's DHH Literary Agency page
• Stockport Noir

You can find out more about Mark Edwards below:

• Mark Edwards's website
• Mark Edwards's Amazon author page

You can find out more about Chris Willocks and Serenity Booksellers below:

• Serenity website
• ⁠Stockport Noir⁠

With an introduction from Bloody Scotland Festival Director Bob McDevitt, Sean Watkin is joined by David Goodman (author of A Reluctant Spy and winner of Bloody Scotland's 2025 Debut Prize), Tariq Ashkanani (author of The Midnight King and winner of Bloody Scotland's 2025 McIlvanney Prize), and Marco Rinaldi (author of Dark Waters and the winner of Bloody Scotland's 2025 Pitch Perfect).

With discussions ranging from the Scottish crime writing scene, the pressures of success, and the most writer thing in their homes, this episode is packed in with insights and laughs.

You can find out more about David Goodman below:

David Goodman's website.

David Goodman's Instagram.

You can find out more about Tariq Ashkanani below:

You can find out more about Marco Rinaldi below:

Marco Rinaldi's website.

Marco Rinaldi's Instagram.

Marco Rinaldi's BlueSky.

Page One podcast.

Sean Watkin is joined by multi-million selling author, Simon McCleave (DI Ruth Hunter Series), and instant New York Times bestselling author Cara Hunter (Murder in the Family), where they talk about how tiny details bring writing to life - and maybe Sean should be on a lifestyle programme instead of writing crime.

You can find out more about Simon McCleave below:

Simon McCleave's VIP Club. If you sign up, you can get two free novellas!

Simon McCleave's The Snowdownia Killings Amazon page.

You can find out more about Cara Hunter below:

Cara Hunter's website.

Cara Hunter's podcast, Watching the Detectives.