The Crime Warp Pays tribute to William McIlvanney: father of Scottish tartan genre and lovely man who died yesterday.

Only last week I referenced, in my Creative Writing MA class,  William McIlvanney's thrilling second person narrative  in Laidlaw.  

Not only was he one of the few to write a successful crime fiction novel in the second person but he was a wonderful gritty writer who influenced many of today's successful Tartan Noir authors.  I felt privileged to hear him in conversation with Ian Rankin in 2013 at Theakston's Crime Writers' festival.  His easy, relaxed personna combined with sharp wit and a true comedic flair made that event the most memorable of the weekend for me.
Afterwards, when we approached him in the bar his lovely easy going personality shone.  He was loving  the attention and what's more is he deserved it.  A legend in Scottish writing and a really lovely man.  He will be sorely missed.  The Crime Warp sends it's warmest regards to his friends and family.