Welcome to Extremis Etc.: Edition 3. Tom and I hope that you are ready to embrace the changes in the season, with all of the planning that goes into preparing for the colder, Winter days. The Scandinavian idea of Hygge is one that has always appealed to me - slowing down, cosy blankets, hot chocolate and of course a good book. Which is fine, of course, if you don’t run a publishing house!
This edition highlights some of the things that have been happening at Extremis since the last issue, plus some of our - and our authors’ - upcoming events in November and December. I hope that you will be able to make it along to some of the different events that are happening across the country.
Have a great time if you are heading off to see a fireworks display today, and enjoy the special beauty that Autumn brings.
Julie
Independent Publishing Company of the Year Award 2025
We are delighted to announce that we have been awarded the Corporate LiveWire Innovation and Excellence Award for the second consecutive year! The award was presented by Awards Team Manager Chris Bather at the Village Hotel in Edinburgh on Sunday 12th October 2025.
The award judging panel based their decisions upon areas such as business innovation, corporate responsibility, sustainability, excellence in performance, industry impact, market leadership, customer service and adaptability. It’s always lovely when your hard work is recognised, especially when it is in our 10th year of business.
Forth Valley Chamber of Commerce Member Spotlight Podcast
November has been a month of podcast recordings already for us. We were delighted to be invited to record a podcast for the Forth Valley Chamber of Commerce about Extremis Publishing as part of their Member Spotlight series, discussing the background behind the business and - interestingly - what we would do if we weren’t publishers. (It will come as no surprise to anyone that knows me that mine involved chocolate!) We were interviewed by the lovely Abbie Graham from the Chamber at the Studio King Street recording facility. Thanks for making it such a fun experience, Abbie. If you would like to hear the podcast, here is the link:
Join the Tweed Trail Challenge with James
James R.A. Herriot’s Tweed Trail Challenge: River Mouth to the Source is a deeply personal and evocative journey that makes the River Tweed come alive in an entirely fresh way. As a native of the Borders with childhood memories rooted in the Tweed’s valleys, James doesn’t just describe a river walk - he weaves together travel writing, local history, and cultural portraiture into a captivating narrative. He begins in Berwick-upon-Tweed, where the river meets the sea, and follows its winding course inland toward its source, tracing not only its physical geography but also its human stories. Through vivid colour photography, wildlife encounters, and richly textured anecdotes, ranging from wartime community remembrances to the rituals of local pubs and traditions. He brings into focus the enduring significance of the Tweed to both Scotland and northern England. What makes this account so unique is its balance of adventure and intimacy: James captures the challenge of the trail while also reflecting on his own memories, and in doing so, offers a soulful meditation on how a river shapes, and is shaped by, the life around it.
James also explains the exciting Benchmark at Grinham’s Wood project in his book, which seeks not just to commemorate the past of North Northumberland but also to create a beautiful, peaceful space for the present. For more details, please visit the official Grinham’s Wood website at: https://www.bagw.co.uk/
Set the Film Rolling on Lights, Camera, Dundee!
Tom and I are delighted to announce our latest title, Lights, Camera, Dundee!, which was released on Friday 31st October. This has been a labour of love for us, as we researched some of the many films, documentaries, advertisements and music videos that have been recorded in the Dundee and Angus areas. The hardest part was deciding what to include!
What fascinated me was the way that over the decades, the films that were produced were shaped by the city and towns in the area and how they changed the narrative over time. From the jute, jam and journalism documentaries, a short film that was never shown as it was due to be aired on the evening that World War II commenced, the Caird Hall being temporarily transformed into a theatre in Soviet Russia, not to mention the Christmas In The Schemes music video - all of them have stories which are often just as interesting as the features themselves.
Lights, Camera, Dundee! was conceived during a meeting with Paul Campbell, the Engagement Officer at the McManus Museum, as we discussed some of the ideas that we had about writing a book about Dundee and Angus. We all thought that writing about the films that had been created in the area was something that was missing, and would appeal to people living locally, as we were tapping into the growing interest that tourists from other countries and visitors from the UK have in visiting sites that have been used for filming.
In order to make it easy for people to find out more about the locations in the area that have been used, many of the places that have been written about in the book are also accompanied by a QR code, which will take the reader straight to the venue, helping them to plan their trip when they come to the area. So it really is a case of “watch the movie, then go and see where it was filmed.”
The growth of amazing production and animation studios in the area is testament to the talent and the cutting edge technology that exists to attract worldwide interest to Dundee. We highlighted the importance of this development in the book, and saw the special effects that could be created when we had the opportunity to visit the CoStar Realtime Lab at Abertay University.
Tom and I had the pleasure of recording our November Extremis Publishing Podcast with Phillip Vaughan, Senior Lecturer at Abertay University’s Department of Games Technology and Mathematics, as our guest presenter. We discussed how the area has such great geographical diversity, meaning that within just a few miles you can have a cityscape, industrial landscape, seaside coastal vistas, castles, museums or a farming backdrop, making Dundee and Angus an ideal place to produce films, as the possibilities are only limited by the creator’s imagination. We’d like to thank Phil for taking the time to have such a great discussion with us.
Carnoustie is in the Spotlight for October’s Podcast
Robbie Murray came to treat us with some stories about his latest book, My Life In Carnoustie: A Lang Time Ago, for our October Extremis Publishing Podcast. For those of us who know and love Carnoustie and its people, it was a nostalgic walk down memory lane. For anyone who is moving into the area, or just enjoys reminiscing, it is a lovely memoir of a town that has grown and evolved over the years. Robbie is a master storyteller, and he brings his childhood memories, teenage years, and his family and characters in the area to life in this podcast. There’s a number of opportunities to meet Robbie in November, so if you happen to be at Dobbies Garden World near Dundee, make sure to go and say hello.
Extremis Publishing Author Events
Some of our Extremis authors are out and about over the coming months in the lead up to Christmas. Please make sure that you check on social media or the organisers’ websites to ensure that an event that you plan on attending (especially if it is outdoors) is still going ahead.
Saturday 8th November - Robert Murray, Author of the Grocer’s Boy Trilogy and My Life in Carnoustie, will be personalising his books from 10am to 4pm at Dobbies Garden Centre in Ethiebeaton Park, Monifieth, Dundee DD5 4HB. (https://www.dobbies.com/dundee)
Friday 14th November - Neil Hallam, Author of The Robin Hood 500 Route, will be providing a talk at Darby Stroke Club, St Mary’s Church Hall, Darley Lane, Derby, DE1 3AX at 2pm. (https://www.communitydirectoryderbyshire.org.uk/view/3001/derby-stroke-club-one)
Sunday 16th November - Robert Murray will be personalising his books from 10am to 4pm at Dobbies Garden Centre in Dundee. (https://www.dobbies.com/dundee)
Friday 21st November - Lights, Camera, Dundee! An Extremis Publishing presentation for Book Week Scotland, 2.30pm, at Dundee Central Library, Wellgate Shopping Centre, Dundee, DD1 1DB. Come along to find out more about Lights, Camera, Dundee! and the films and videos that shaped the book. The event is free, but please book your ticket via the Dundee Libraries website events page on EventBrite at: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/extremis-publishing-lights-camera-dundee-tickets-1921746789379
Saturday 22nd November - Meet the authors at a book signing event for Lights, Camera, Dundee! We are looking forward to seeing you at the iconic McManus Museum and Art Gallery, to answer any questions about the book, and to personalise any copies purchased. McManus Art Gallery and Museum, 11am - 2pm, Albert Square, Meadowside, Dundee DD1 1DA. (https://www.mcmanus.co.uk/events/lights-camera-dundee-book-signing-event-mcmanus-shop)
Saturday 22nd November - Robert Murray will be personalising his books from 10am to 4pm at Dobbies Garden Centre near Dundee. (https://www.dobbies.com/dundee)
Saturday 22nd November - “From Policeman to Crime Writer.” Meet the author event with Neil Hallam and book signing, 11am at Bizy Lizy Books, Unit 1, 27 Market Place, Heanor, Derbyshire, DE75 7EG. Free admission. (https://bizylizybooks.co.uk/)
Sunday 23rd November - Neil Hallam will be out to meet the Christmas shoppers and personalise their books at Mosborough Hall Hotel Christmas Market from 11am until 3pm. Entry to the Market is free. (https://www.mosboroughhall.co.uk/christmas/christmas-fayre)
Thursday 27th November - Robert Murray will be personalising his books at a special Christmas Evening Event from 5pm to 8pm at Dobbies Garden Centre in Dundee. (https://www.dobbies.com/dundee)
Saturday 29 November - Neil Hallam will be attending the Farmers’ Market to sell and personalise his books from 9am until 2pm, at the Agricultural Business Centre, Bakewell, DE45 1AH. Entry to the market is free. (https://www.whatsonbakewell.co.uk/regular-events/bakewell-farmers-market)
Sunday 30th November - Robert Murray will be personalising his books from 10am to 4pm at Dobbies Garden Centre in Dundee. (https://www.dobbies.com/dundee)
Sunday 30 November - Neil Hallam will be at the Christmas Craft Fair, 10am until 3pm at Creswell Events Centre, Creswell, Worksop, Derbyshire, S80 4BH. (https://www.creswellevents.co.uk/)
Author Neil Hallam, pictured out on his travels!
Christmas Cracker - Extra Edition at the Start of December
As Tom and I love the festive season, we will be bringing you a Christmas Edition of Extremis Etc.! Bursting with Yuletide cheer, you can expect exclusive behind-the-scenes glimpses into forthcoming projects, and a sleigh-load of festive features about Christmas events. Whether you’re curled up by the fire or out and about on your Christmas adventures, we hope that you will join us.