Scottish legends such as River City’s Leah MacRae and Sanjeev Kohli, Gregory’s Girl’s Clare Grogan, author Peter May, and Scot Squad’s (officer) Karen Bartke have come together to endorse a new book by writer Kenny Boyle.
Dumfries and Galloway locals will recognise Kenny from his appearance at the DG1 pantomime pre-pandemic playing the role of Wishee Washee, and for his appearances across Dumfries and Galloway with his murder mystery company Can You Catch The Killer which performed at Youthbeatz and a host of venues.
His book, entitled The Tick And The Tock of The Crocodile Clock, was written during 2019 and 2020 and he was delighted that it was quickly snatched up by publisher Eye Books to be released worldwide in May of 2022.
“When I knew the book was going to be getting published I reached out to some of my heroes, and told them how much their work had meant to me. I asked them if they’d like to read an early draft of the novel.”
Leah MacRae and Karen Bartke are no strangers to fans of Scottish tele! Bartke plays the long suffering Officer Karen in Scotsquad while MacRae began her career in Gary Tank Commander before beginning at River City.
Having read the book MacRae said of it: ‘it’s very difficult to believe Kenny Boyle hasn’t written a trillion novels before. I enjoyed every minute of it and laughed and cried several times. Bloody bravo.’ Bartke had similar feelings about the book, calling it ‘A cracking read,’ and saying she ‘fell in love with it instantly.’
The hilarious Sanjeev Kohli, who played Naveed in Still Game and can now be seen regularly alongside MacRae in River City, had said the book is ‘Funny, intelligent and insightful’ and that ‘Kenny Boyle is a singular voice,’ whilst film star and rockstar Clare Grogan called it ‘a charming, funny and unique story that tackles tough issues with a gentleness and poignancy that really resonated with me’
Well known author Peter May also weighed in. Of Kenny’s novel, May said: “Kenny Boyle is bristling with talent, and this may well be the best book I’ve read in years”
“I nearly fell of my chair when I read all of these,” Kenny told us, “for artists that mean so much to me to say such warm, encouraging and supportive things about my book is incredible. Honestly, when I got these endorsements it was so overwhelming I had to ask my wife to read them just to make sure I wasn’t imagining them.”
And what is Kenny’s book about? He told us, “The Tick and The Tock of The Crocodile Clock has been described as a cross between The Catcher in the Rye and Thelma and Louise, but set in Scotland. The initially shy and retiring main character, Wendy, falls in with wild child painter Cat and they go on a spree of mischief which sees Wendy on the run from the law with a stole priceless work of art.”
This may be Kenny’s first foray into novel writing, but he is no stranger to the spotlight. As well as his performances on the Gaiety stage, he played the main role of Rob in feature film Lost At Christmas which aired on BBC Scotland and BBC one on Christmas day last year, alongside co-stars Sylvester McCoy, Natalie Clark, and Frazer Hines
“I’m still an actor,” Kenny told us, “and I have no intention of giving that up, I don’t think I could. It’s such an important part of me. Acting and writing are both a form of storytelling. I suppose that’s how I think of myself. A story teller, regardless of the medium.”
Asked if he would return to Dumfries for another panto or for another tour of his award winning murder mysteries, Kenny said, “Of course! I loved every minute at DG1, and I find the audiences in Dumfries so warm, friendly, down to earth, and up for a good night! My Auntie and Uncle are from Dumfries so it’s very much a home away from home for me.”
Kenny’s book, the Tick And The Tock of The Crocodile Clock, will be available to buy at all good bookshops on the 3rd of May 2022, and is available to pre-order from Eye-books.com, Amazon, Waterstones, and other online retailers now.
