ABOUT
“This is a writer able to pace a story, with believable characters and a telling sense of time, place and culture.”
John MacKay is the author of four novels and two non-fiction books.
His books are all set in the Western Isles of Scotland and have been Scottish best sellers.
His first novel, ‘The Road Dance’ has been adapted into an award-winning film of the same name. It was released to critical acclaim in 2022.
‘The Road Dance’, ‘Heartland,’ ‘Last of the Line’ and ‘Home’ have all been published by Luath Press of Edinburgh.
John made his name as the presenter of Scotland’s most popular news and current affairs programmes, the STV News at Six and Scotland Tonight. His experiences as a journalist witnessing the transformation of Scotland over the last forty years are recorded in his non-fiction book, ‘Scotland Today & Yesterday’, also by Luath Press.
He left STV News in 2026 to pursue his writing career.
He is currently writing his fifth novel.
Readers’ Online Reviews
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This writer can do no wrong…This author puts you right there, you know these people and care what becomes of them. The croft the sea and sky are characters too.
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So pleased to have found this very talented writer whose face is so familiar to us here in Scotland. Brilliant
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I have read all of John Mackay's books and all of them appeal to me. I like the quietness of his books.
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John MacKay writes so well and his descriptions of the island are very evocative.
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His description of the islands is breathtaking and makes you feel you have been there. His folk are also very down to earth and become friends. I am waiting for his next book.
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John Mackay's descriptive writing immediately pulls you into his characters' world and keeps you there until his very last word.