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News and Events
At Extremis Publishing we are in the process of developing new titles throughout the year, and information about book releases will be posted to the site along with author news and breaking developments.
Please keep checking back for updates about our forthcoming publications, as well as details of book launches and other Extremis Publishing public events. |
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New Podcast with Murray
3rd March 2021 In this month's Extremis Publishing podcast, Archaeologist Dr Murray Cook drops in for a chat about his book The Anvil of Scottish History: Stories of Stirling, where he considers the complex and lively history of this unique royal city. Murray discusses the changing face of Stirling over the course of millennia, detailing some extraordinary archaeological finds and many little-known historical facts about the area. To listen to the podcast, please visit our podcast page. |
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Visit the Heart 200 Website
25th February 2021 Extremis Publishing is an Ambassador Member for Heart 200, the famous road trip which runs through Stirlingshire and Perthshire. As we all start to make plans for after the current lockdown has ended, Heart 200 showcases the very best that Scotland has to offer. Check out the Heart 200 website for details of the many destinations on the route, or follow their social media channels for more information about everything that's been going on with the people and places that make up the Heart 200. To visit the Heart 200 website, please visit: https://heart200.scot/ |
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An Affair with a Village Released Today
15th February 2021 It is with much pleasure that Extremis Publishing would like to announce that Professor Joy Hendry's new book An Affair with a Village is released today. Joy Hendry explores her lively relationship with Japan over the decades as she discusses her many years of contact with the village of Kurotsuchi. Meet the families who make up this extraordinary community, learn about their customs and social life, and share in their festivities and family celebrations as well as their times of grief. Accompany Joy as she reveals the many changes that have taken place in the village over the years, and describes the unique bond she has forged with its remarkable citizens. An Affair with a Village is available to buy from online retailers and independent booksellers worldwide. For more details, please visit our An Affair with a Village page. |
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An Affair with a Village Video Promo
9th February 2021 With less than a week to go until its publication, Professor Joy Hendry discusses An Affair with a Village, her account of her thought-provoking journeys to rural Japan over the decades which explains the painstaking work of an anthropologist in the field. Her time in the village of Kurotsuchi offered no shortage of cultural insights and intriguing observations, as well as a few surprising developments along the way. To watch the video promo, please visit our YouTube channel at: https://youtu.be/JimK5daYkVg |
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David's Visit to Braemar Castle on the Snow Roads
5th February 2021 There are many incredible locations to visit on the Snow Roads Scenic Route, but few so unique as the majestic sight of historic Braemar Castle. In his book Exploring the Snow Roads, David M. Addison visited this grand castle and was amazed at its long and illustrious history. Located near the village of Braemar, the current structure is a five-storey, L-plan castle which was constructed by John Erskine, Earl of Mar, in 1628, and was a famous stronghold of the Earls of Mar for many years. Braemar Castle had an important part to play in the Jacobite Risings, and was later purchased by John Farquharson, 9th Laird of Invercauld, who ordered the rebuilding of the castle. The Farquharson family entertained Queen Victoria at the castle when she attended the Braemar Gatherings, and many years later was to feature in the music video for Andy Stewart's famous song "A Scottish Soldier". Braemar Castle is still in possession of the chief of Clan Farquharson, and since 2006 has been leased to a local community charitable foundation, Braemar Community Ltd., which is staffed by local volunteers. The castle reopened to the public in 2008 and is one of the must-see destinations on the Snow Roads, sure to be on the list of anyone visiting the area once the pandemic is over and the current lockdown is lifted. To read more about the many astonishing places that David discovered on his road trip, you can find more details about Exploring the Snow Roads on the book's page. Image Copyright © David M. Addison, all rights reserved. |
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The Grocer's Boy Rides Again Podcast with Robbie
3rd February 2021 In this month's Extremis Publishing Podcast, Robert Murray talks about his book The Grocer's Boy Rides Again: Another Slice of His Life in 1960s Scotland and Beyond, where he discusses his career in retail management and further education before moving into training in trade distribution and the corporate world - all against the backdrop of the Swinging Sixties. To listen to the podcast, please visit our podcast page. |
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Ian in Police World Magazine
1st February 2021 Congratulations to Ian McNeish, whose book From Dumyat to Mont Blanc: Being Alive with Mountains is the subject of a special feature in this month's edition of Police World magazine. Appearing on page 12 of the March issue (Vol. 66, No. 1), 'The Fivepenny Collie Attack' details just one of the many larger-than-life adventures that Ian has experienced during a lifetime in the great outdoors of Scotland. Don't miss this exciting extract - or find out more about Ian's book on our From Dumyat to Mont Blanc page. |
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Amazing Artwork on the Snow Roads
29th January 2021 It wasn't just historical sites and areas of cultural interest that David M. Addison encountered while researching his book Exploring the Snow Roads. The famous Snow Roads scenic route is also well-known for its striking installation artwork which can be seen along this iconic Scottish journey. Among the works of installation art visited by David were "The Watchers" sculptured seats by John Kennedy; the standing stone scupture "A Moment in Time" by Louise Gardiner; the reflective "Still" by Angus Richie, overlooking Tomintoul; and the contemplative "Connecting Contours" (pictured) by Daniel Smith and Philip Zoechbauer which is surrounded by the Glenshee Hills. David discusses these remarkable works of art, and much more, on his unique exploration of the Snow Roads. To read more about the amazing places that David discovered on his road trip, you can find more details about Exploring the Snow Roads on the book's page. Image Copyright © David M. Addison, all rights reserved. |
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Competition Time!
27th January 2021 The Heart 200 Interest and Views En-Route Facebook group are currently running a competition for their members. Entrants must post a photo to the group, taken at an area of their choice and from any period in time, which shows snow. Accompanying the photo should be no more than forty words which explain why the photo was chosen and where it was taken. Full competition rules can be found on the group's page on Facebook; you will need to be a member to enter. The lucky winner will be receiving a copy of David M. Addison's Exploring the Snow Roads, an illustrated, full-colour guide to the amazing Snow Roads Scenic Route road trip between Blairgowrie and Grantown-on-Spey. There's no time to waste, however - the competition closes at noon on Wednesday 3rd February 2021. For more information, please visit the Heart 200 Interest and Views En-Route group on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1702452876571546 |
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Happy Burns Night!
25th January 2021 Wishing everyone a very happy Burns Night! As we celebrate the life and works of Robert Burns, Scotland's national bard, don't forget that the script of Robert Murray's much-loved stage play The Spirit of Robbie Burns is available to buy in book form. Relive the major events of Burns's life, from his humble beginnings to his literary celebrity in Edinburgh. It's the perfect accompaniment to haggis and a wee dram, wherever you might be! For more information about The Spirit of Robbie Burns, please visit the book's page for full details. |
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Surprises on the Snow Roads Scenic Route
22nd January 2021 When David M. Addison wrote Exploring the Snow Roads, he knew a fair bit about what to expect from this legendary road trip - breathtaking scenery, friendly people, and some of the most interesting historical and cultural facts Scotland has to offer. What he didn't expect, however, was the sheer number of surprises that he would encounter on his travels. Take for instance the time he visited the famous Clach-na-Coileach, or "Cockstane", a glacial erratic near Glenshee which marks the spot where Clan MacThomas (from the Gaelic MacThomaidh) hold a clan gathering every three years. The fascinating history of the stone and its unusually enigmatic avian-themed name, dating back centuries, is detailed by David in his book. During his visit, however, he was amazed when he was approached by a keen gardener working on the site... who transpired to be none other than Andrew MacThomas of Finegand, 19th Chief of Clan MacThomas! From the 1970s onwards, he has been fastidiously restoring the Cockstane site to its original glory, planting rowans, cherries, hazel, birch and white beam alongside the Scots pine and the oaks which were already flourishing on the site. The Chief negotiated with Tayside Council to have the new bridge at the Spittal named the “MacThomas Bridge” (which opened in 1984) and remains a tireless ambassador for the Clan, travelling to countries such as Australia, South Africa, Canada and the USA. To read more about David's journey - and the amazing people he encountered - you can find details about Exploring the Snow Roads on the book's page. Image Copyright © David M. Addison, all rights reserved. |
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Travelling the Snow Roads with David
15th January 2021 In this short series of features, we're going to be taking a look at just a few of the highlights on the amazing Snow Roads scenic route from Blairgowrie to Grantown-on-Spey, as described by David M. Addison in his popular title Exploring the Snow Roads. First on David's list of must-see road trip destinations is beautiful Corgarff Castle, near the village of Corgarff in the Scottish North-East. Standing in splendid isolation amongst the rolling hills of beautiful Aberdeenshire, the castle is a dominating feature which reflects its long and turbulent history. The castle was constructed by the Elphinstone family around the year 1530 and had a troubled history, being burned in 1571 by Adam Gordon of Auchindoun, then captured in 1607 by Alexander Forbes of Towie before eventually coming into the ownership of the Earl of Mar in 1626. Following further burnings, this time by Jacobites, in 1689 and 1716, the castle was purchased by the British government and converted into a barracks. It eventually passed into the hands of the state in 1961, and is now a schdeuled ancient monument under the custodianship of Historic Environment Scotland. Members of the public can visit Corgarff Castle to discover more about its role as a residence of Scotland's nobility as well as its later function as a base for troops combating whisky smugglers. Visitors can admire the castle's eye-catching star-shaped perimeter wall, marvel at the natural beauty of the building's surroundings, and view the specially-reconstructed barrack rooms which reflect its 18th century environment. Following the current lockdown, please check the Historic Environment Scotland website for details about the castle's opening times before you visit. For much more about Corgarff Castle, please check out David M. Addison's Exploring the Snow Roads. Image Copyright © David M. Addison, all rights reserved. |
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Announcing An Affair with a Village for Pre-order
11th January 2021 It is with much pleasure that Extremis Publishing would like to announce a new book by Professor Joy Hendry. In An Affair with a Village, this renowned, award-winning anthropologist relates her experiences with the Japanese village of Kurotsuchi, providing cultural insights and observations gained during her time spent with its fascinating inhabitants. Meet the families who make up this extraordinary community, learn about their customs and social life, and share in their festivities and family celebrations as well as their times of grief. Accompany Joy as she reveals the many changes that have taken place in the village over the decades, and describes the unique bond she has forged with the remarkable citizens there. The book is presented in full colour with many photographs of Joy's experiences in Japan and beyond. An Affair with a Village is released on Monday 15th February 2021. For more details of the book, including participating online retailers for pre-order, please visit our An Affair with a Village page. |
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Congratulations to Robbie, FRSA!
7th January 2021 Warmest congratulations to Robert Murray upon being elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts! Fellowship to this learned society is awarded to those who have demonstrated that they have made significant contributions to social change, and who support the RSA's mission of finding practical solutions to social challenges. Since 1754, the RSA Fellowship has been a community of leaders in the fields of art, literature, journalism and business who have made significant contributions to society or the arts, and Robbie joins a fellowship which is elected from eighty countries worldwide. Our most sincere best wishes to him on the news of this much-deserved accolade. |
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First Podcast of 2021
5th January 2021 In respectful tribute to our dear friend Eddie Small, lecturer in creative writing at the University of Dundee, we are presenting a special interview that Eddie recorded with us before he sadly passed away last year. In this podcast, Eddie talks with Tom Christie about his five favourite films - the cinematic features which have most inspired Tom, and which have influenced his writing on the subject over the years. To listen to the podcast, please visit our podcast page. |
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