British Council-Scotland

Transcript of the podcast

Interviewer: Hello and welcome back listeners. In our “what’s new?” section today we have a special guest – James McMullan – who is going to talk to us a little bit about his new prizewinning book “In Search of Nessie”. Before we meet James, I’d like to remind listeners that they can phone in and ask our guest a question by ringing 1445 456280

?Interviewer: James …. Do you mind if I call you James

.McMullan: Not at all

Interviewer: First of all it’s a pleasure to have you here with us today, talking about your book. Why don’t we start off with you telling us a little bit about it

McMullan: Alright. Well, the book is called “In Search of Nessie” and – as the name suggests – it’s about my own attempts to spot the elusive monster. But it’s not just another Loch Ness Monster book, it’s much more than that. It’s a book that’s full of Scottish traditions and stories, interviews, poetry, even recipes and jokes

?Interviewer: So, who is the book for

McMullan: That’s easy. It’s for people who like to learn about old customs and History, people who like reading travel books or stories, people who are interested in the old tales that our grandfathers’ used to tell, about Scotland and all things Scottish

?Interviewer: So, is it primarily for Scottish people

McMullan: No, no, not at all – the book is about Scotland – but there’s a lot in the book that is universal. At the end of the day, everyone likes a good story

.Interviewer: In the book you interview several people who claim to have seen Nessie

McMullan: Yes, this is what formed the basis of the book from the start – it was wonderful, travelling around collecting these testimonies from men, women, children – each one with a story to tell

.Interviewer: A story about the Loch Ness Monster

.McMullan: Exactly – about Nessie

Interviewer: Hello? Yes? Ah – we have our first call of the afternoon – a Pauline Cummings from Manchester. Hello? Pauline? Have you got a question for our guest

Pauline Cummings: Hello. Yes. I’d like to ask James if he’s seen the monster with his own eyes

?Interviewer: James

!McMullan: (laughing) Aah – now that would be telling. You’ll have to read the book

?Interviewer: But can you tell listeners whether you believe in the Loch Ness monster

McMullan: Yes – yes I DO believe in the monster. I am absolutely convinced of its existence

?Interviewer: Pauline? Are you still there? What do you think

Pauline Cummings: Well I’m a bit sceptical myself. I don’t believe in monsters. I think that Nessie is one of Scotland’s best tourist attractions.a part of the folklore maybe but certainly nothing more

Interviewer: Thanks for your call, Pauline. Let’s see what James has to say about that? Is Nessie a tourist attraction

McMullan: Yes, of course. But that doesn’t mean he’s not real. In fact, listeners don’t have to take my word for it. They can visit the Nessie web page at www.nessie.co.uk and see documented evidence, photographs and even film coverage

.Interviewer: Or they could read your book

!McMullan: Well yes

Answers