Wandering Willie's Tale: Original text by Walter Scott

The Tale o Tod Lapraik

Robert Louis Stevenson’s horror story The Tale o Tod Lapraik is a masterpiece of prose written in the Scots language. Scots Hoose is delighted to present Gary Welsh’s world-class artwork in this exciting new comic version of Stevenson’s classic story of suspense and cruelty set in the Firth of Forth on the mysterious Bass Rock.

The Kingdom Chippy

A young woman works in a local chip and has to confront sexism and harassment in the workplace. Scots writer Laura Barbour meets the issue head-on in her powerful story about the challenges women face in modern Scotland.

“Keep the 10p hen – that’ll mibbe cheer ye up eh!” He tuts, pleased wi himsel, tuckin his wrapped single fish under one arm. In ma mind, the pickled egg bursts in ma fist an vinegar dribbles through ma claws.

Jennie’s Story

A personal tragedy unfolds before a young girl’s eyes. Ethyl Smith’s story based on a real event in Scottish history is as shocking as it is moving.

In ma dreams, I see sodgers in reid coats airmed wi muskets an swords, horses champin and snortin. And then, worst o aw, ah see the man that haunts me day and nicht.

A Real Legend

Victoria McNulty skilfully weaves together the history of an Irish family living in Glasgow. The story explores the experiences of immigrants finding their way in a new land and of their children looking back to the old country which they’ve never known.

Legends ur only hauf true. Ma Daddy wis so handsome. Smilin blue eyes, blonde hair and a razor jaw. He worked hard. Labourin stuff. Liftin and cartin mainly. He’d ayeways huv durt undur his nails and muck oan his neck. Aw the wummen in oor close loved him.

A Real Legend by Victoria McNulty


A Real Legend read by Victoria McNulty - audio

Hoast

Jamie's on lockdoon at Grunny Buchan's hoose. Grunny's feedin him fish that mak him boke and his phone's run oot o data. He could be there for weeks. Doric writer Shane Strachan explores the new world Jamie and his grunny have to face together in the first short story in Scots aboot the Covid-19 crisis.

Oh, ye canna shove yer granny aff a bus. Unless it’s yer daddy’s mammy. Then push push.

I’ve been stuck wi ma Grunny for a wik noo and she’s aaready gien ma a curn o reasons tae shove her aff a double decker at high speed.

   Hoast by Shane Strachan - short story

Anna Stewart's powerful short story about a woman whose dog is abducted by aliens and nobody believes her - especially her violent husband. The themes of loss, exclusion and abuse are explored in Anna Stewart's compelling story in Scots.

"Are yi gonnae tell them aboot the aliens Lynne?"

They all laugh. It hurts, him saying that in front o his pals, when I told him in confidence, and I only told him because it wis true. It wis a few weeks ago now, and if it had been someone else I suppose I’d laugh the same, but it’s no something yi forget, and I find it hard tae see the funny side. It’s strange coz sometimes I’d ask tae be taken away . . .

A bedroom with a hatch that leads to the attic. A young person trying to get to sleep but cannae. The father laughing at the TV blaring down the hall in sharp contrast to the quiet sinister sounds coming from the attic above the bed.  Whit's gonnae come oot o that hatch in this gripping Scots horror story by Sam Best ?

At first Ah thought it wis a hoolet that wakened me. The saft, slow hoot cairried intae ma bedroom on the shairp hairst air. But as Ah stirred under ma duvet Ah realised that the noise hadnae come fae ootside ma windae – it had come fae inside ma room.

How Till Hooletgless Learned tae Fly

For years, people have relied on Till Hooletgless to save the day. To them he’s nothing short of a hero. But Till’s had enough of their haivers. And anyway he’s got better things to do with his time. Let Thomas Clark tell you more about this Scots maverick as he rides into Cadzow with tricks up his sleeve and a twinkle in his ee.

“Thon’s the bampot that spent twa weeks tryin tae learn a cuddie how tae talk! He’s aff his heid!”

“Eh,” Till said, frownin, “I’m no shuir ye’ve heard that yin richt… See, whit happened wis…”

“Haw Till!” somebody else shoutit, “Hiv ye got ony o yer baw-heided stunts lined up for us in Cadzow?”

Rolf is a spy in a foreign land. Danger waits round every corner. He must get to the safehoose and send a vital message. Will he avoid the patrols? Can he hold his nerve? Will he keep the heid? Find out in this Scots wartime thriller by Sam Best.

But behind him, followin closely, were twa men. Rolf had seen them a few streets ago, caught in the reflection ae a shop windae. He’d kent instantly that he wis bein tailed. The Gestapo, he had thought, and he’d gone intae evasive mode. In the rucksack slung ower his shooder Rolf carried vital information aboot Nazi forces here in Norway.