It was back in 2015 that I last posted on here, writing about the publication of my first book, Seeking Perfection: The Unofficial Guide to Tremors – I’m pleased to say the reviews were positive, the fans enjoyed it and sales are still ticking over.
But one book is never enough, and it wasnt too long after taking a breather from writing Seeking Perfection that I began considering another one, and it was during a podcast interview that I mentioned a book on the Highlander films could be a potential project.
Fast forward to June 2016 and I was interviewing one of Highlander‘s stars on the red carpet before a 30th anniversary screening of the film here in Edinburgh. I spoke to Clancy “The Kurgan” Brown about his time shooting in Scotland, before speaking to him in more detail a day or two later.
That interview sealed the deal for me and since 2016 I’ve been gathering interviews with cast and crew while delving back into the history of the British film industry in the 1980s.
Those interviews include conversations with director Russell Mulcahy, actor Christopher Lambert and actors Beatie Edney and Roxanne Hart. Plus around 45 more cast and crew (you can see a photo of me and the main cast above, taken at a recent event in Birmingham).
I’ve also visited a few libraries to search for news articles and clippings and I’m building up what I hope will be a fascinating picture of filmmaking in the 80s, the work of Russell Mulcahy and the music of Queen.
It’s a fun process, though I don’t have quite as much spare time to write this book as I did for the first when I was self-employed and able to spend the odd quiet day transcribing interviews or writing. This time I’m getting up early in the morning and using some of my weekends while working as a Communications Manager the rest of the time.
I’m posting the odd update on my Facebook page and Twitter feed, and I was also interviewed recently by a Highlander podcast, Blood of Kings, where I discussed my progress and plans for the book’s release in Autumn/Fall 2019.
Unless I lose my head between now and then…