‘People will stick with somebody so long as they are trying to do better’, legendary writer says as he discusses newest release
Irvine Welsh shared the inside story on his latest novel as he took to the stage at Paisley Book Festival.
The Trainspotting creator was in conversation with fellow Scottish author Ewan Morrison as they headlined the event’s first day in Paisley Town Hall on Friday night (April 25).
He read an extract from Resolution, the newest instalment of his recent crime series, and discussed its central character, Detective Inspector Ray Lennox.
Asked by Morrison about the theme of redemption which has run through his books of recent years, Welsh reflected the festival theme of The Lives We Live as he said: “You can make characters as bad, troubled, angry or abusive as possible, but you have got to have them reaching for the lightswitch as well.
“There’s got to be a sense that they are trying to get better.
“Life should be about growth. Part of growth is making mistakes and learning from them. If we don’t make these mistakes, we don’t really grow.
“In fiction, people will stick with somebody, so long as they are trying to do better.”
Resolution is a gritty, gut-punching story which follows the attempts of an Edinburgh investigator to start life afresh on England’s south coast. It is a book credited with confirming Leith legend Welsh’s reputation as an orator of modern life.
Paisley Book Festival – organised by OneRen and supported by Creative Scotland – runs until tomorrow (Sunday April 27).
More information is available at www.paisleybookfestival.com
