Perth is lucky to welcome bestselling author Peter May to give a literary evening with an important message about climate change.
On Wednesday, January 25, the outstanding crime writes and recipient of many awards for both his novels and his journalism will appear in the historic surroundings of St John’s Kirk, Perth to talk about his new book, A Winter Grave.
Peter is on a whistle-stop tour around Scotland, and this is a rare opportunity to hear him speak about his writing.
Peter will be in discussion with the BBC presenter and journalist Fiona Stalker about his latest novel - a gripping crime thriller set in a near future ravaged by the climate crisis.
The new novel is set 30 years from now - in a future where warnings of climate catastrophe have been ignored, with much of Glasgow under water and Scotland hit by extreme snow and ice storms.
Against this backdrop, a young meteorologist checking a mountaintop weather station discovers the body of a man entombed in ice. Veteran detective Cameron Brodie investigates.
This book comes out alongside a musical feature, a song expressing fears for the climate if mankind does not stop and urgently take stock.
Don’t Burn The World is a song Peter May wrote with his lyricist collaborator, Dennis McCoy, as an anthem for the youth of the world, a plea for the future of the planet in the face of catastrophic climate change.
“Music was always my first love,” declared the author to the PA recently.
He has a home in France where he is lucky enough to have a recording studio. Having been moved to write the book, a Winter Grave, Peter felt the need to express his fears for the planet in music too.
“Politicians and commercial interests are ignoring the path to making the right steps forward. Our grandchildren will inherit the mess we are making now.
“Don’t Burn the World is a plea for the future. We recorded the song and had children from the isle of Lewis singing on it. Their voices included just felt right.
“I have always been interested in climate change. My earlier books in the China thrillers tackled this theme, looking at GM food, in the 1990s.
“I spoke to my scientific advisor in Canada and got interested in bee colony collapse. It is all so connected and so important.
“Then I watched COP 26 and read the report about what unequivocally would happen if no radical action was taken.
“Politicians appear to be in the pockets of oil companies, everywhere disinformation is being spread.
“I felt helpless. Then I thought about how in a small way, I have a voice through my writing and I should use it.”
Waterstones will be selling Peter May titles on Wednesday evening with an opportunity to have books signed.
An evening with Peter May is in St John’s Kirk, Perth from 7.30pm-8.30pm. Admission is £8 and booking is essential.
See https://www.culturepk.org.uk/whats-on/a-winter-grave-an-evening-with-peter-may/
Don’t Burn the World is available to stream and download on multiple platforms https://thepetermayband.hearnow.com/ and as a video on YouTube https://youtu.be/KfXaB2AWPuM
May said: “This song is not intended to make money. In the unlikely event that it does, all revenue generated will be donated to charity.”
