Doug Johnstone – from nuclear physicist to novelist

Born in 1970, Doug Johnstone is a writer, musician and journalist. He grew up in Arbroath and lives in Portobello, Edinburgh with his wife and two children.

After gaining a degree in Physics from the University of Edinburgh, and a PhD in nuclear physics, Doug spent four years designing radar guidance systems for planes and helicopters. 

During this time, Doug freelanced for local publications, wrote short stories and was involved in an Edinburgh ezine.  Having decided that writing professionally was what he really wanted to pursue, he left his job and returned to university, taking up a place on Edinburgh Napier’s postgraduate Periodical Journalism course.  Based at the University’s Craighouse Campus, Doug’s course included a graphic design module (with students tasked with putting together their own 32 page magazine) and a work placement at The List.

He has worked as a freelance arts journalist for over a decade - primarily covering music and literature.  This has included a year long stint on the arts desk at The Evening News.

Doug is also an acclaimed novelist.  His first two novels, Tombstoning (2006) and The Ossians (2008), were published by Penguin and garnered praise from Scottish luminaries such as Irvine Welsh, Ian Rankin and Christopher Brookmyre. 

Irvine Welsh described The Ossians as ‘a drug-fuelled, counter-clockwise state-of-the-nation rock 'n' roll tour’ and Ian Rankin added ‘it’s a powerful and moving commentary on the country and its defining myths’.
The story features a subject close to Doug’s heart - music. He is a singer and musician in several bands, including Northern Alliance, part of the Fence Collective.  Doug and his bandmates have also recorded an album as a fictional group called The Ossians, as an extension of the novel.  

His latest novel, Smokeheads, a tale of four friends on a whisky tasting weekend on Islay, was published by Faber & Faber in March 2011.

Doug is currently Writer in Residence at the University of Strathclyde and is working on his next novel, as well as a screenplay. 

You can catch Doug at this year’s Edinburgh International Book Festival, at a special event with Alan Bisset on Friday 26 August.  Tickets are available here:
http://www.edbookfest.co.uk/the-festival/whats-on/alan-bissett-doug-johnstone

You can hear Doug’s solo ep here: http://dougjohnstone.bandcamp.com/