The rich history and beautiful landscape of Kintyre have inspired a long and growing list of authors, some of whom are native to the Peninsula and some who have made this their home. Whilst the subjects of their books vary from non-fiction which is intimately local to a specific community or occupation in Kintyre or Argyll, or childrens' or adult fiction of every genre; autobiographies of Kintyre life or of a life partly lived in places far away from Kintyre, these men and women were all born, or chose to live, in Scotland's Garden.
We generally have their available books in stock and those that are no longer in print can sometimes be obtained if we don't already have copies in stock.
Freddy Gillies
Freddy Gillies, who started his working life as a journalist with the local Campbeltown newspaper 'The Campbeltown Courier' , now lives on the beautiful Isle of Gigha where he is skipper of the Gigha ferry. He is the author of several very popular books, and recently produced a double CD, all of which which focus on Campbeltown and the Kintyre fishing industry. His books are well illustrated with photographs and anecdotal tales providing a fascinating insight into Kintyre Life since the 1950's. Freddy has also launched his own publishing house on Gigha, Ardminish Press, which publishes titles by several local authors and poets.
Angus Martin
Angus Martin was born in Campbeltown in 1952 and lives and works in the "Wee Toon". He has attracted an international following for well-researched and well-written histories, both of Campbeltown and of the Kintyre Penninsula, and his books of poetry. Unfortunately two of his most popular titles - The Ring-Net Fishermen and Kintyre: The Hidden Past - are currently out-of-print but copies do occasionally become available and we will be offering them on-site when they do.
Angus MacVicar
Angus MacVicar is a well-loved author of many titles including some very sought after Children's books and a number of biographical works featuring Southend, in Kintyre.
Naomi Mitchison
One of Scotland's best-known writers, Mitchison lived for most of her colourful life at the 'Carradale Estate' set at the foot of Carradale Glen just 13 miles north of Campbeltown. She was popular locally and involved with many Carradale projects designed to enhance and develop the lives of those she touched. An avowed socialist, her husband was Labour MP for the area. Her writings have a strong feminist feel although she consistently refused to label herself in that way.
Chris Mears
Chris Mears was born in Derbyshire, wanted to go on the stage, went to RADA, but failed to impress anyone so she emigrated to Rhodesia, and stayed there for 25 years, married a tobacco farmer and raised two daughters.
In 1970, the family left their Mashonaland farm and went to work at Victoria Falls for a touring company – a great place for observing not only amazing scenery and wild life, but the strangeness of people on tours. They were later transferred to the south of Rhodesia to the Zimbabwe Ruins, near Fort Victoria. By this time the terrorists were fast chasing away the tourists, the country was about to become Zimbabwe, and it was time to leave.
Throughout her life in Rhodesia, Chris worked on local and national newspapers, and as local correspondent for the Rhodesia Broadcasting Corporation. She wrote many short stories and travel and historical articles for South African, British and Rhodesian magazines, and for SABC and BBC World Service. She first wrote Goodbye Rhodesia before leaving Africa, then revised it in 2005 to bring it up to date.
Chris now lives on the east coast of Kintyre, at Carradale, which is different, in many ways, from the Rhodesian bush she writes about in Goodbye Rhodesia, while having the same “away from it all” feeling. When possible, she and her husband spend their holidays visiting their family in South Africa, returning to the wild parts of the Africa they love.
A. J. Yates
AJ Yates was born in the north-west of England and now lives with her husband in Clachan, by Tarbert, on the Kintyre Penninsula. She has been writing poetry for more than 30 years and has received several awards: in 2004 she won the Scottish regional Ottaker and Faber Poetry competition for White Horses, in 2005 she was awarded the Elizabeth Webster Price for "original and intgeresting use of language" for The Harbour at Dusk and was highly commended by the Writers Forum magazine for The Gift. She has been published in Scottish Islands Explorer, Writers Forum, Scots Magazine and on the Children in Need 2004 and the London Art websites.
Ian Purvis
Born in Lucknow, India, Ian Purvis grew up in Helensburgh and later attended Queen's College Cambridge, reading French and German. In 1942, he trained as an Officer Cadet, volunteered for the Indian Army, and was commissioned in the 6th Gurkha Rifles. Ian joined the 4th Battalion and went to Burma in October 1944. Wounded during the advance on Mandalay, he was evacuated to India.
After the war, Ian returned to Queen's College and read Agriculture, subsequently becoming involved in managing farms and estates on Jura and in Kintyre. Ian lives in Clachan and is married with four children.
£2 from the sale of each copy of 'Memories' will be sent to the Gurkha Welfare Trust.
Fran Thomson
Fran Thomson was brought up in Glasgow and Livingston. Her poetry has featured in several anthologies. She has published three entertaining books of her own poetry, 'Chuckles and Tears from Kintyre', 'Little Gems from Scotland' and 'Little Gems from Kintyre'. Fran Thomson lives in Kintyre is married with four children.
Cnoc Araich Publishing
Cnoc Araich produce calendars of Southend and Campbeltown using photographs and postcards, old and new. They also reproduce accurately postcards of yesteryear, as well as line drawings reproduced as photographs ready for framing.
Cnoc Araich also design and make quality greeting cards and invitations made to individual specifications.
View Cnoc Araich Publishing books