Russel D McLean/R.D. McLean
@russeldmclean.bsky.social
Novelist, screenwriter, freelance dev editor. Crime/thriller/sff/horror. General miscreant. Dad of cats. Scottish. Latest Book: THE FRIDAY GIRL (as R.D. McLean)
https://www.russeldmcleanbooks.com
https://www.russeldmcleanbooks.com
Pinned
J McNee
Visit Amazon's J McNee page and shop for all J McNee books. Check out pictures, author information and reviews of J McNee
www.amazon.co.uk
At last all five of the J McNee books are on KDP select -- meaning if you have Kindle Unlimited you can read em as part of your subscription! Go on and get yer fill of some late 2000s/early2010s Dundee noir! www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0822L7CP...
I'm getting around 10 marketing/fake author reachout emails a day right now. Lots of "report phishing" "report spam" buttons being hit. Some of them are objectively amusing, at least. I do worry I'm missing one or two genuine, but this is ridiculous...
November 14, 2025 at 2:06 PM
I'm getting around 10 marketing/fake author reachout emails a day right now. Lots of "report phishing" "report spam" buttons being hit. Some of them are objectively amusing, at least. I do worry I'm missing one or two genuine, but this is ridiculous...
Well, I think this AI spammer wasn't paying attention when sending this to me, were they? Unless... am I a professor of law and have just forgotten?
November 14, 2025 at 2:04 PM
Well, I think this AI spammer wasn't paying attention when sending this to me, were they? Unless... am I a professor of law and have just forgotten?
Ifs even more insane than I remembered -- and of course it's a boil, not a pimple -- but that boil wants to sell pimple cream... an absolutely insane movie about the madness of consumerism... and I still love it!
Saw HOW TO GET AHEAD IN ADVERTISING (1989, dir. Bruce Robinson) late night in channel 4 when I was in my teens and have been searching for a copy for years. Richard E Grant as an advertising executive who grows a sentient pimple? If there was a "Russel film" pitch it's this one...
November 14, 2025 at 1:58 AM
Ifs even more insane than I remembered -- and of course it's a boil, not a pimple -- but that boil wants to sell pimple cream... an absolutely insane movie about the madness of consumerism... and I still love it!
Saw HOW TO GET AHEAD IN ADVERTISING (1989, dir. Bruce Robinson) late night in channel 4 when I was in my teens and have been searching for a copy for years. Richard E Grant as an advertising executive who grows a sentient pimple? If there was a "Russel film" pitch it's this one...
November 14, 2025 at 12:36 AM
Saw HOW TO GET AHEAD IN ADVERTISING (1989, dir. Bruce Robinson) late night in channel 4 when I was in my teens and have been searching for a copy for years. Richard E Grant as an advertising executive who grows a sentient pimple? If there was a "Russel film" pitch it's this one...
Its THE DRIVER (1978, dir. Walter Hill) vs The Cop in a stripped back noir tonight -- another 4k restoration of a cool classic with style and attitude to spare...
November 13, 2025 at 12:30 AM
Its THE DRIVER (1978, dir. Walter Hill) vs The Cop in a stripped back noir tonight -- another 4k restoration of a cool classic with style and attitude to spare...
Reposted by Russel D McLean/R.D. McLean
Thinking about entering the First 500 Novel Competition? Last year’s winner Stephanie Torrance shares how entering changed everything for her from confidence boosts to free Jericho Writers membership, agent feedback, and even a finished draft.
Entries are open now: zurl.co/b1k8d
Entries are open now: zurl.co/b1k8d
November 12, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Thinking about entering the First 500 Novel Competition? Last year’s winner Stephanie Torrance shares how entering changed everything for her from confidence boosts to free Jericho Writers membership, agent feedback, and even a finished draft.
Entries are open now: zurl.co/b1k8d
Entries are open now: zurl.co/b1k8d
Reposted by Russel D McLean/R.D. McLean
every company in 2025
November 12, 2025 at 5:59 PM
every company in 2025
Reposted by Russel D McLean/R.D. McLean
Great piece by Zadie Smith. When the right talks about classics or "Western" culture, these works are only important to the extent that it demonstrates their superiority, they have no interest in art in and of itself beyond that www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
November 12, 2025 at 2:29 PM
Great piece by Zadie Smith. When the right talks about classics or "Western" culture, these works are only important to the extent that it demonstrates their superiority, they have no interest in art in and of itself beyond that www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Who knew Oprah Winfrey had a Gmail address and was interested in promoting a tiny wee Scottish crime writer, eh?
November 12, 2025 at 2:24 PM
Who knew Oprah Winfrey had a Gmail address and was interested in promoting a tiny wee Scottish crime writer, eh?
Noir lovers, if you can, check this one out tonight on the excellent @talkingpicturestv.bsky.social!
The first film to feature Mickey Spillane's detective Mike Hammer...
🔎 I, THE JURY (1953) tonight at 9pm #TPTVsubtitles
🔎 I, THE JURY (1953) tonight at 9pm #TPTVsubtitles
November 12, 2025 at 12:17 PM
Noir lovers, if you can, check this one out tonight on the excellent @talkingpicturestv.bsky.social!
Reposted by Russel D McLean/R.D. McLean
Read. @sirbenfro.bsky.social. Now. (Especially BROKEN GHOSTS). You won't regret it.
Convincing you to read my novel by the first sentence. Share yours if you want.
From Broken Ghosts, which far too few people have read.
From Broken Ghosts, which far too few people have read.
November 11, 2025 at 2:16 PM
Read. @sirbenfro.bsky.social. Now. (Especially BROKEN GHOSTS). You won't regret it.
The great fanboy fetish of "continuity" is what's sucking the joy out of so many (shudders to use the word) franchises. Yes, a certain level of consistency is needed, but we don't need constant in-universe explanations for every micro-inconsistency etc. The stories need to stand on their own merits.
I don't get all this Bond "continuity" nonsense. Continuity only seemed important (imo) when Craig took over. Before that, no one really cared as long as the essentials were there. Why not just start again? Why not just ignore the Craig Bonds? Or do something simple as this?
…there are a thousand explanations, the easiest of which, that 007 (and with one neuron’s leap Bond’s identity) is a code name handed to multiple agents IS IN THE FILM THEY’RE COMPLAINING ABOUT.
November 11, 2025 at 11:14 AM
The great fanboy fetish of "continuity" is what's sucking the joy out of so many (shudders to use the word) franchises. Yes, a certain level of consistency is needed, but we don't need constant in-universe explanations for every micro-inconsistency etc. The stories need to stand on their own merits.
I don't get all this Bond "continuity" nonsense. Continuity only seemed important (imo) when Craig took over. Before that, no one really cared as long as the essentials were there. Why not just start again? Why not just ignore the Craig Bonds? Or do something simple as this?
…there are a thousand explanations, the easiest of which, that 007 (and with one neuron’s leap Bond’s identity) is a code name handed to multiple agents IS IN THE FILM THEY’RE COMPLAINING ABOUT.
James Bond’s death in No Time to Die is causing a nightmare for the next film. Writers are stuck because Bond “was blown to pieces.”
Anthony Horowitz, author of three 007 novels, says:
“You can't have him wake up in shower and saying it was all a dream."
radaronline.com/p/james-bond...
Anthony Horowitz, author of three 007 novels, says:
“You can't have him wake up in shower and saying it was all a dream."
radaronline.com/p/james-bond...
November 11, 2025 at 11:11 AM
I don't get all this Bond "continuity" nonsense. Continuity only seemed important (imo) when Craig took over. Before that, no one really cared as long as the essentials were there. Why not just start again? Why not just ignore the Craig Bonds? Or do something simple as this?
Reposted by Russel D McLean/R.D. McLean
Re-upping for the weekend (and with my book out in two days)
For the @theglobeandmail.com, I wrote about the persistent myths and misconceptions surrounding spousal rape, and a novel legal theory that might reframe the way lawyers and judges (and society) counters them.
Opinion: Spousal rape remains all too misunderstood
More than 40 years after Canada made sexually assaulting one’s spouse a crime, myths remain pervasive within the legal system
www.theglobeandmail.com
November 9, 2025 at 3:20 PM
Re-upping for the weekend (and with my book out in two days)
The first time I saw GHOST DOG: WAY OF THE SAMURAI (1999, dir. Jim Jaramusch) I had no idea what to make of it, only that I had seen something special-- it remains one of my favourite movies with Forest Whitaker's stunning performance as a samurai influenced hitman owning every frame...
November 9, 2025 at 10:10 PM
The first time I saw GHOST DOG: WAY OF THE SAMURAI (1999, dir. Jim Jaramusch) I had no idea what to make of it, only that I had seen something special-- it remains one of my favourite movies with Forest Whitaker's stunning performance as a samurai influenced hitman owning every frame...
Winding down after an excellent day at Aye Write with one of my fave comfort movies ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK (1981, dir. John Carpenter) in glorious restored edition...
November 9, 2025 at 12:10 AM
Winding down after an excellent day at Aye Write with one of my fave comfort movies ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK (1981, dir. John Carpenter) in glorious restored edition...
Brilliant evening with Marion Todd at Aye Write! So much fun!
Lovely turnout for @russeldmclean.bsky.social and Marion Todd at Aye Write tonight! #AyeWrite
November 8, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Brilliant evening with Marion Todd at Aye Write! So much fun!
Back in the 90s there was a run of great Elmore Leonard adaptations -- OUT OF SIGHT (1998, dir. Steven Soserbergh), tonight's watch, was one of the best, finally showing us why George Clooney was a bona fide movie star (his charm is effortless here) and making the most of a superb supporting cast.
November 8, 2025 at 12:36 AM
Back in the 90s there was a run of great Elmore Leonard adaptations -- OUT OF SIGHT (1998, dir. Steven Soserbergh), tonight's watch, was one of the best, finally showing us why George Clooney was a bona fide movie star (his charm is effortless here) and making the most of a superb supporting cast.
Worst thing about sending off a draft? I now have the urge to keep writing -- guess I should start noodling on another project?
a cartoon character is writing on a piece of paper with a south park sign in the background
ALT: a cartoon character is writing on a piece of paper with a south park sign in the background
media.tenor.com
November 7, 2025 at 11:46 AM
Worst thing about sending off a draft? I now have the urge to keep writing -- guess I should start noodling on another project?
Reposted by Russel D McLean/R.D. McLean
Unsolicited writing advice, no. 86: You don't have to go far to get ideas. They're everywhere around you. What you need is to train your mind to see the familiar in a new and unfamiliar way. Change angles. Play with perspective. Take tired tropes and wake them up.
November 7, 2025 at 10:00 AM
Unsolicited writing advice, no. 86: You don't have to go far to get ideas. They're everywhere around you. What you need is to train your mind to see the familiar in a new and unfamiliar way. Change angles. Play with perspective. Take tired tropes and wake them up.
Two global search and replaces to make, and then the manuscript for what I hope will be the next book is off to agent and editor. Still unsure whether it's actually any good or not. There are moments you just have to let something out into the wider world, though...
November 6, 2025 at 6:23 PM
Two global search and replaces to make, and then the manuscript for what I hope will be the next book is off to agent and editor. Still unsure whether it's actually any good or not. There are moments you just have to let something out into the wider world, though...
Reposted by Russel D McLean/R.D. McLean
Ten years (!) since CRY UNCLE, the fifth (& final?) J McNee novel came out! To celebrate this, the book is FREE for the next few days on Kindle! Grab it while you can, folks! amzn.eu/d/4Fuh0RW #booksky #scotland #crimefiction #kindle
Cry Uncle (J McNee Book 5) eBook : McLean, Russel D: Amazon.co.uk: Kindle Store
Cry Uncle (J McNee Book 5) eBook : McLean, Russel D: Amazon.co.uk: Kindle Store
amzn.eu
November 5, 2025 at 12:22 PM
Ten years (!) since CRY UNCLE, the fifth (& final?) J McNee novel came out! To celebrate this, the book is FREE for the next few days on Kindle! Grab it while you can, folks! amzn.eu/d/4Fuh0RW #booksky #scotland #crimefiction #kindle
Reposted by Russel D McLean/R.D. McLean
New blog post! Free Books and other updates! russeldmcleanbooks.com/2025/11/05/f...
Free book (Limited time only!) and other updates! – Russel D McLean/R.D. McLean
russeldmcleanbooks.com
November 5, 2025 at 8:46 PM
New blog post! Free Books and other updates! russeldmcleanbooks.com/2025/11/05/f...
Great to answer some questions from the awesome @crimebookgirl.bsky.social ahead of appearing #ayewrite2025. Although I fully admit I cheated on one of the "quickfire" questions... but you can never ever ask me to pick just one favourite when it comes to these things...
New interview! Ahead of his #AyeWrite2025 panel, @russeldmclean.bsky.social (pub'd @bwpublishing.bsky.social) talks about his writing, his fave #CrimeFiction characters &his bookmark use - "Everything in the world comes down to stories. They’re all around us, and I’m obsessed with them" #BookSky
Interview: Russel (RD) McLean
The Five By Five Interview with Russel (RD) McLean I don't remember when I first met Russel McLean, but we've bumped into each other at various book launches, crime fiction festivals and suchlike over the years. I still recommend his novel Ed's Dead to people as it's absolutely hilarious and also very clever - it ratchets up so carefully that you don't notice you've gone from a perfectly sane pace to a completely insane one until it's too late...
crimebookgirl.com
November 6, 2025 at 11:21 AM
Great to answer some questions from the awesome @crimebookgirl.bsky.social ahead of appearing #ayewrite2025. Although I fully admit I cheated on one of the "quickfire" questions... but you can never ever ask me to pick just one favourite when it comes to these things...