Today, in Caithness, the sun is shining and the air is clear. I'm sure it will come as no surprise to anyone reading this blog that, certain weathers and certain times of the year ignite certain music in me. And, on late winter days which are filled with sunshine, I am usually to be found singing the songs of The Spinners . Inevitably, I start humming different ones of their songs (and of course adapting them to be about Orlando and Jess) as I go around doing different things. But I remember almost all the words to them. I haven't heard a lot of them in years, but they are all there, rooted in my memory. It is truly fascinating to think about how these songs have passed through history. They are part of my own nostalgia, which is why crisp sunny mornings make me incapable of ignoring the temptation to sing them, but they are part of something much bigger. There are songs amongst them which are a newer step in the folk music movement. Songs like Silver in the Stubble are amongs...
When people say they’re doing something “on the hoof”, it generally implies they’re making it up as they go along. When it came to writing my first book, I did so on the hoof in more ways than one.
The photos that feature in Craggy the Coo Wants a Place to Call Home were snapped all over Scotland, from the top of mountains to the surface of Loch Ness. But the words that accompany the pictures were largely concocted near my hometown of Langholm in Dumfries and Galloway. I’m relatively notorious in these parts for embarking on epic walks of 20-30 miles around the surrounding hills. And while most people would carry their phone to chart their route or maybe listen to music, I used mine to put words to my pictures.
Having all the photos of Craggy’s travels on my iPhone meant I could weave a clear narrative together based on where he happened to be, and what could be seen in each image. So I would set off on a long walk armed with all I needed to create the verses and his direction of travel (while obviously keeping an eye on my own). The “Notes” app became my answer to a Victorian typewriter, with the added bonus that I was able to delete big chunks of text with ease when I’d thought of something better.
Nicol's (and Craggy's!)
"Book Week Scotland 2020" video
The fresh, crisp air and the rolling hill scenery around Langholm also acted as an inspiration for the book’s message – that no matter where you travel and the sights you behold, you’ll know when you’ve found somewhere you are happy to call home. As I piled on the miles, I also created ever-more content, which was eventually distilled into the product that’s being released this week.
For as long as writing has existed, those putting their thoughts down on cave walls, parchment or paper have been stimulated by their surroundings. I’ve been very fortunate with Craggy in the sense that not only have I been able to take the cuddly coo to some of my favourite places around the country – I’ve been able to immerse myself in glorious Scottish countryside as I’ve put the pieces of his journey together.
I can safely say that writer’s block was never an issue in the undertaking of book one. And I’ll just need to ensure that I keep writing “on the hoof” in the great Scottish outdoors when the day arrives that I embark on a sequel.
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