TONY BLACK

The Last Tiger was written in Australia, where I was working as a reporter on a local daily newspaper at the time. I wasn't looking to write an historical novel, and certainly my agent wasn't looking for one, because she hated it. In fact, she hated it so much that she actually banned me from showing it to my editor at Penguin Random House.       The book became a peculiarity after my Gus Dury crime series was published. I kept talking about it on the road, because the story of the Tassie Tiger has always fascinated me. Eventually, when I was out of contract, and had left the agent in question, I realised I still had the Tiger manuscript gathering dust under my bed.      The book found its home at the brilliant, but now sadly demised, Glasgow publisher, Cargo. I wonder if the Tiger's fate struck a chord with the Cargo staff at the time? Both are now long gone, Cargo seemed to go under just as The Last Tiger was coming runner-up in Not The Booker Prize (it won by a long shot

The 10th Anniversary Edition of The Last Tiger, about a young boy who befriends the last of the species, is available now for nowt on Amazon . 

  Pressing on with the loosening of the style. If you like this one, get in touch at: Tonester1982 (at) Tutamail.com

 

  I've been trying to loosen off the style a fair bit recently, so quite pleased that I've managed to produce something I think's worth putting out there.   My wife's convinced this is the late William McIlvanney, and I can see the similarities, but I don't work from source materials like photos -- it's all in my head -- so I guess we'll never know.  It's a big yin (if not The Big Man) at 22 x 36 inches, not framed yet, but will look imposing when it is. All queries, as ever: Tonester1982 (at) Tutamail.com  

 

   New radio interview about The Lock-In, now available from Amazon.com

 Down the drinker in Leith with Gyles Brandreth for the BBC's The One Show.

  I'm working on a follow-up book to HIS FATHER'S SON, featuring the same central character, Marti Driscol.  It's a few years down the road, Marti's a little bit older, and becoming a little bit wiser, but still has lots to learn.  

 

 

      U.V. Ray, or as he's known around these parts, The Brummie Bukowski, hasn't taken part in an interview for a decade. The rare and original writer has much to say, most of it about his new book, A Cigarette Burn in the Sun which, going on the reviews alone, looks to be his most popular work so far. It's a bleak piece, both terse and terrific, and recounts a period in time which deserves more attention. I identified a lot of truth in the book, recognised the fact and the fiction, but wanted to know what the author thought. So, here we are, a rare insight into the working life and practices of a truly talented practitioner of the writer's craft.  TONY BLACK:  I believe the book's based on a real-life incident, is that right? U. V. RAY:  Fictionalised reality, yes. We used to go to this club in Brum called Snobs and they had this indie night called Loaded. Me and my drinking pal Paul came rolling outta there about two-thirty in the morning and I think we migh

  An interview about THE LOCK-IN (yes, we know that's LAST ORDERS, author copies sold out) with the youngest reporter at Boswell Book Festival.

  The story behind today's Throwback Thursday picture deserves an article in itself, but that'll have to keep for another day.  I was asked by the BBC to help out with a slot for The One Show, which was being presented by Gyles Brandreth. It was a crime piece and involved an Edinburgh police officer in a series of unfortunate events. The producer sent along a DVD of the slot at the time and if it ever surfaces from the cupboard under the stairs, where the DVDs now reside, I'll post it.

 REVIEW: a cigarette burn in the sun by u.v. ray 



 I like the cut of u.v. ray’s jib I like short books, novellas, novelettes I like The Legend of the Holy Drinker I like The Old Man and the Sea Writers who write what they know Like Joyce’s Dubliners Welsh’s schemies Bukowski’s Tales of Ordinary Madness Because it’s definitely everywhere Especially these days, like a cigarette burn in the sun by u.v. ray Set in Birmingham, 1986 Amidst alkies, junkies Those on the outside of the outside The last thin rim Where you’d need wings to balance Like Angel T. Cooley Hero without a halo But a Pentax and a plan That’s not the same as a plot If Joyce made Waugh spit fire ray might bring the brimstone Don’t look for an arc A turn or a twist There’s no nods to the gods Or head girls and editors In London or the Guardian Instead there’s a black moment On every page A horror upon horror To publish and be damned Well done u.v. ray You’re the Brummie Bukowski A star in the making But already burnt out

My Throwback Thursday goes so far back the magazine isn't here now. Arena sent me to Whitechapel for the shoot and I sooo wanted to keep the suit ... wouldn't fit me now!   

 

  I believe this week's Throwback Thursday comes from the Ayrshire Post, at the launch of HIS FATHER'S SON, my dad-and-a-lad novel that's dedicated to my son. A follow-up is on the way, completed and awaiting an edit. Marti Driscol is a little bit older and a little bit wiser, but life might not be treating him any kinder in IVORY ELEPHANTS.

 

'Get Me Some More, Just Like Him' I unearthed my Certificate of Scottish Education today, during what my beloved, late  Grandmother would once have referred to as a "right good bogle" about the loft. It can be unnerving up there, balanced on rafters, juggling baby clothes and bags of tax returns, whilst past-lives flood back. I spied the document before I recognised it, in its latest incarnation it has become dog-eared, tattered, the colour of butter. But, there it was, present-day proof of my teenage self's attainment in higher education. Aside from the subjects of Art and English, believe me, these long sweated-over results were anything but assured. And for a while, even Higher English, to steal a line from the class's set text, was as dead to me as the undiscovered country from whose bourne no traveller returns.   However, as fate would have it, beneath my teacher's Fair Isle tank-tops beat the raging heart of an iconoclast. If he couldn't breathe

 

Nice piece in The Ayrshire Post, above, this week, and also Ayrshire Magazine, below.                    

 Roll With It is available now from Saatchi Art .

Those lovely folks at the Rozelle Tearoom in Alloway have a couple of my limited-edition (of 50) Rabbie Burns prints. There's also some of my festive Burns Christmas cards of offer there too.    

 

  Grab a copy of THE LOCK-IN at Amazon or from the publisher McNidder & Grace .

William McIlvanney November 25, 1936  — December 5, 2015 I see we've lost quite a few legends recently, so I'm betting there's quite a time to be had upstairs now. Today is the anniversary of the late William McIlvanney's death and I often wonder how he'd feel about who we've become since. I like to look at pictures of Willie in laughter, he laughed a lot, made me laugh a lot, and I'm ever grateful for the memories. He didn't waste much time wondering how he'd be remembered, though, as the extract below from one of my interviews with him shows, but remembered he is. TONY BLACK: How do you think you'll be remembered?    WILLIAM MCILVANNEY: First of all, I'm not sure I will be remembered. I mean, I can't quite believe in posterity because I'll not be here — it's a bit idle to say, will I be remembered? In a way a bit of me doesn't give a monkey's because I'm not going to be here and I think often of the writers I love,

 Read Ayrshire Magazine in full online.

Prestwick Library will host the launch for Tony's new book, The Lock-In.  Glasgow writer Barry Graham will be there on the night (Thurs, Nov 30, at 7pm) to talk about his recent portrait and his own work. Come along and meet them both.    

The Lock-In , my new anthology of short fiction featuring the Gus Dury story, Dead On , is out now and available from Amazon and bookstores .

 

 

 

  Instagram influencer @tintinfellow with my recent portrait. If you'd like a portrait, get in touch via the contact button, top left.

The Lock-In featuring my portrait of Glasgow writer Barry Graham is coming soon from McNidder & Grace.  Advance orders on Amazon UK available now.  

  Read about my portrait of Zen Monk, Barry Graham, in Glasgow Live today.

 

 Original SOLD, but limited edition framed prints available from Portfolio Fine Art.

One of the recent shots taken in the studio by photographer James Dean Divine.  

      

            Limited edition prints  of my famous writers series available from Portfolio Fine Arts . 

  Read the whole piece in the Press & Journal .

 

 

  Highlights of my recent trip to the BBC to chat with Michelle McManus about my latest artworks.