“There’s nothing more dramatic than the end of the world as we know it”
Vals radio play ‘Resistance’ has been selected as contender for BBC Audio Drama Awards 2018
With The finalists being announced on Thursday 4 January 2018, the play centered around the dramatic consequences of anti-microbial resistance to antibiotics. The 3 part play was included in Radio Four’s ‘Dangerous Visions’ series. Sadly the play is not currently available on BBC iPlayer, but you can hear Val talking about the play here.
The online charity auction is part of Book Week Scotland, with proceeds going towards the Scottish Book Trust’s programmes.
Signed Harry Potter book (Book Week Scotland)
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets has been signed by author JK Rowling and is sure to be a popular item among fans looking for a piece of Potter magic.
Also on offer is the chance to win a portrait from illustrator Chris Riddell, who was the 2015 – 2017 UK Children’s Laureate and also a political cartoonist for the Observer.
Chris will produce a portrait illustration of the winning bidder, or someone of their choosing, creating a unique keepsake or a wonderful gift.
Other items up for grabs include the opportunity for an unpublished writer to receive advice on getting published from leading literacy agency, Jenny Brown Associates.
“Guitar-toting indie tyro Jake Bugg is sponsoring Notts County’s kit throughout November. Is this the first time an individual has been a professional club’s shirt sponsor?” poses Gregg Bakowski.
“Gregg Bakowski need not have been a detective to find at least one previous instance of an individual personally sponsoring a strip,” quips Raith Rovers fan Iain Wallace. “Crime writer Val McDermid was Raith’s primary strip sponsor for two seasons from 2014 and her name remains emblazoned above our away stand (in memory of her father, a club scout). She also only recently stepped down from the board of directors.”
Val McDermid poses with her valmcdemid.com Raith Rovers shirt. Photograph: SNS Group Craig Foy/SNS Group
Several Knowledgeable folk have written in to point out the very same fact, thank you George Cook, Niall MacGalloway and Iain Wallace.
“Sheffield Wednesday have been sponsored by individuals on two separate occasions. Currently by Dejphon Chansiri their tuna chairman and also by some bloke called Mr Tom!” Whilst Putu Winchester is correct about Mr Chansiri, Mr Tom is a delicious peanut-based snack bar (other peanut-based snack bars are available and they may or may not be delicious). The Chansiri sponsorship was also spotted by Peter Russell.
Along the same lines as Mr Chansiri, Nick Turnbull highlights a similar circumstance at Ipswich: “Marcus Evans has been sponsoring Ipswich Town since he bought the club, which has always seemed slightly bizarre to me.” Not quite sure what Nick considers bizarre, Evans buying Ipswich or putting his name on the shirt.
