Bainsford man publishes 18th novel in eight years

A motorcycle enthusiast who turned his hand to writing has clocked up his 18th novel.

Bainsford resident Wullie Nolan began penning a three-book series titled ‘Black Bats’ in 2012 after a friend suggested, due to Wullie’s ability to recall so much from their past, he should jot down his memories.

The ‘coming-of-age’ books focused on a teenage boy who, growing up, became involved with a Scottish motorcycle gang.

Drawing parallels from his own youth and upbringing, Wullie (57) – or Ochil Kinnaird, to use his pseudonym – has been around the motorcycle scene for more than 40 years.

His long-term dedication has gifted Wullie with an array of anecdotes to work with for his “fictitious autobiographies”.

The former South Lanarkshire College curriculum manager, who is now medically retired due to a disability, went on to write several more texts after realising he had too much material.

He quickly decided to turn it into a trilogy, with the final book, ‘Black Bats 3 (Is it really over!)’, published in February 2015.

Due to the success of the books and feedback he received, Wullie, originally of Plean, carried on with his newfound passion for writing and produced the fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth editions of ‘Black Bats’.

He then wrote ‘Prospect Street’ and ‘A Blast From the Past’ which cover the background story of how the Black Bats Motorcycle Club came into existence and tales about some of the key members down the years.

Two other motorcycle books Wullie has written, although not Black Bats books, are also set in Scotland but are standalone novels: ‘Born Racer’ and ‘There and Back’.

He has also tried his hand at the thriller category and counts ‘Deadly Hobby’, ‘A Secret no More’ and ‘Bona Vacantia’ among his work.

A member of the Alba Trike Club, Wullie has returned to writing about his boyhood passion and has completed the first two novels in a new motorcycle-related series called Trouble Brewing, the second part of which should be released at the end of the month by OK62 Publishing, a firm he set up himself.

The dad-of-two said: “I have now published part one of the new series, which again is set in Scotland, and so far the initial reviews have been really positive, so hopefully the rest of the series will be as well-received as my previous books.

“However, I would just like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who followed me on the Black Bats journey, I really enjoyed it and appreciated every comment and review I received.

“Trying to get your works published is the biggest single pitfall for aspiring authors, and is the main reason for great manuscripts never making it to print. That, and the exorbitant costs, can put off even the most determined of people.

“Creating our own company has allowed us to be much more aware of the process, the pitfalls and actual costs involved.

“We’ve have since published all of Ochil’s books though OK62 and will continue to do so in the future.

“We’ve managed to streamline the process, allowing us to make it much easier and more cost-effective to publish.

“Anyone who has been down the route of broken dreams and false promises, not to mention the expense, I’m sure will agree that all they want is a simplified trouble free way of publishing.

“If you think we can help you write, edit or publish, please let us know.”

Visit www.ochilkinnaird.org for more information.