'I love stories. My life has been book-ended and bookmarked by hearing them, reading them and telling them. In my mind's eye, I can see where each of these stories unfolds . . .' __________ In MY SCOTLAND, Sunday Times bestselling author Val McDermid takes readers to the landscapes she has known all her life, and the places where her stories and characters reside. Accompanied by over 100 stunning photographs, this remarkable book uncovers Val's own Scotland in all its glory - from the iconic Isle of Skye to the majestic streets of Edinburgh; from the undiscovered hideaways of the Highlands to the wild and untamed Jura. __________ Featuring excerpts from Val McDermid's bestselling novels and charting Karen Pirie's Fife to Lindsay Gordon's Glasgow, MY SCOTLAND is an unforgettable and uniquely personal journey.

THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER 'Where do you come from? It's one of the most basic human questions of all. But there is another question, which might sound a wee bit similar but is actually very different: What do you come from? And, let me tell you, that question can take you all sorts of strange places...' In Made in Scotland, legendary comic and national treasure Billy Connolly returns to his roots, reflecting on his life, his homeland and what it means – then and now – to be Scottish. Full of Billy's distinctive humour, Made in Scotland is a hilarious and heartfelt love letter to the place and the people that made him.

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * “One of the best golf books this century.” —Golf Digest Tom Coyne’s A Course Called Scotland is a heartfelt and humorous celebration of his quest to play golf on every links course in Scotland, the birthplace of the game he loves. For much of his adult life, bestselling author Tom Coyne has been chasing a golf ball around the globe. When he was in college, studying abroad in London, he entered the lottery for a prized tee time in Scotland, grabbing his clubs and jumping the train to St. Andrews as his friends partied in Amsterdam; later, he golfed the entirety of Ireland’s coastline, chased pros through the mini-tours, and attended grueling Qualifying Schools in Australia, Canada, and Latin America. Yet, as he watched the greats compete, he felt something was missing. Then one day a friend suggested he attempt to play every links course in Scotland and qualify for the greatest championship in golf. The result is A Course Called Scotland, “a fast-moving, insightful, often funny travelogue encompassing the width of much of the British Isles” (GolfWeek), including St. Andrews, Turnberry, Dornoch, Prestwick, Troon, and Carnoustie. With his signature blend of storytelling, humor, history, and insight, Coyne weaves together his “witty and charming” (Publishers Weekly) journey to more than 100 legendary courses in Scotland with compelling threads of golf history and insights into the contemporary home of golf. As he journeys Scotland in search of the game’s secrets, he discovers new and old friends, rediscovers the peace and power of the sport, and, most importantly, reaffirms the ultimate connection between the game and the soul. It is “a must-read” (Golf Advisor) rollicking love letter to Scotland and golf as no one has attempted it before.

Religion is at the very core of Scotland's turbulent, action-packed history and its unique cultural heritage. Indeed, you could argue that Scotland has been, for most of the past 1600 years, an intensely religious country. It is home to some of the most significant early Christian art anywhere in the entire world, and has an amazing 53 cathedrals. In a fast-paced and enthralling epic celebration of Scotland's spiritual heritage, this amazing voyage of discovery reveals that there are echoes of the upsides and downsides of religion everywhere. The distinctive spiritual beauty of Scotland is inspiring and to be found in the most unexpected places. The author also casts a canny eye over some ever-controversial issues such as witchcraft, sectarianism, the Clearances and the DIsruption. Other topics include the Isles, literature, the differences between Edinburgh and Glasgow, Calvanism, Margaret Thatcher, the Declaration of Arbroath, The National Covenant, church buildings, special spiritual sites, spiritual leaders, kings and queens, little-known influential women, religious revivals, Celtic Christianity - and many other elements of the diverse essence of spiritual Scotland. Scotland's Christianity always mixed with politics and was a key part of our national identity....until now, that is. Now Scotland is an apparently secular country, often oblivious to its Christian foundations. Can Christianity be revived in Scotland - or is it dead and buried for ever? Harry Reid has some controversial and perhaps surprising answers.

The dramatic story of Scotland - by charismatic television historian, Neil Oliver. Scotland is one of the oldest countries in the world with a vivid and diverse past. Yet the stories and figures that dominate Scottish history - tales of failure, submission, thwarted ambition and tragedy - often badly serve this great nation, overshadowing the rich tapestry of her intricate past. Historian Neil Oliver presents a compelling new portrait of Scottish history, peppered with action, high drama and centuries of turbulence that have helped to shape modern Scotland. Along the way, he takes in iconic landmarks and historic architecture; debunks myths surrounding Scotland's famous sons; recalls forgotten battles; charts the growth of patriotism; and explores recent political developments, capturing Scotland's sense of identity and celebrating her place in the wider world.