Welcome to Authors in Conversation! Join us for a lively discussion with Claire Wilson and Callum McSorley in conversation with Elissa Soave at Bothwell Community HUB. Get ready to hear firsthand about their writing process, inspirations, and latest projects. This in-person event is a fantastic opportunity to connect with fellow book lovers and dive deep into the world of literature.
Claire Wilson’s gripping debut thriller, Five By Five, won the inaugural Penguin Michael Joseph Undiscovered Writers’ Prize. Based on her day job as an Intelligence Analyst in a Scottish prison, it has been described by the Guardian as ‘tense, chilling and distinctive’ and by the Queen of Crime herself, Val McDermid, as ‘a bloody good read’. The book was shortlisted for the Capital Crime Fingerprint award in the debut category.
Callum McSorley is a writer based in Glasgow whose short stories have appeared in Gutter Magazine, Shoreline of Infinity and New Writing Scotland. His debut novel, Squeaky Clean—a crime thriller inspired by his years working at a car wash in Glasgow’s East End—was published in 2023. With it, Callum became the youngest ever author to win the prestigious McIlvanney Prize for best Scottish crime novel of the year and garnered critical acclaim from The Times, The Scotsman, the Wall Street Journal and more. His second novel, Paperboy, is out now.
Elissa Soave won the inaugural Primadonna Prize in 2019. Her first novel, Ginger and Me, was published in 2022, and was shortlisted for the Saltire Society Scottish First Book Award 2023. Elissa was a judge on the Primadonna Prize 2022 and the Curae Prize 2023 and 2025. Her second novel, Graffiti Girls, has just been published, with a third novel, Common Ground, to be published in February 2026.
Don't miss out on this unique chance to engage with talented authors in a cozy setting. Mark your calendars and get ready for an evening filled with literary insights and inspiration!
