An aspiring writer from the Southside of Glasgow, Wendy is in a rut. She tries to brighten her call-centre job by shoehorning as many long words as possible into conversations with customers. But her manager isn't amused by that and, after a public dressing-down, Wendy walks out. Jobless and depressed, she finds consolation in a surprise friendship with another disgruntled ex-colleague, wild-child painter Cat, who encourages her to live more dangerously. It's just what Wendy needs and it's also brilliant for her creative juices. But a black cloud is about to overshadow this new-found liberation, as well as to put Wendy on the wrong side of the law. Fresh, insightful and funny, as well as unflinchingly honest about the tougher side of life, Kenny Boyle's debut novel takes us deep into the psyche of a likeable misfit who treads a fine line between reality and fantasy - and just wants the world to see her true self.

About the Author
KENNY BOYLE is a writer and actor born on the Isle of Lewis. He trained at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and holds a masters in classical and contemporary text, as well as an honours degree from the University of Strathclyde. He is the star, alongside Natalie Clark, of the multi-award winning short film Perfect Strangers (2015) and of the feature-film follow-up Lost at Christmas (2020). His plays include Playthrough and An Isolated Incident, and in 2021 he received a New Playwrights Award from the Playwrights' Studio, Scotland. The Tick and the Tock of the Crocodile Clock is his debut novel.

Reviews
'Very different and engagingly unique. Kenny Boyle is bristling with talent' Peter May, 'Charming, funny and unique. Tackles tough issues with a gentleness and poignancy that really resonated' Clare Grogan, 'Funny, intelligent and insightful. Kenny Boyle is a singular voice' Sanjeev Kohli, 'A bittersweet paean to friendship, art and making your mark, with a sharp line in patter and a big heart' Alan Bissett, 'A brilliant, big-hearted book about friendship, mental illness and the power of poetry and storytelling' Maggie Haggith, 'A fresh and fascinating debut novel, full of vivacity and wit. Kenny Boyle is a born storyteller' Donald S Murray, 'Playful, witty and poignant - a refreshing new voice in Scottish literature' Kevin MacNeil, 'A Thelma and Louise for modern times. A masterful debut' Des Dillon, 'Funny, heart-breaking and compassionate' Catherine Simpson



Book Information
ISBN 9781785633027
Author Kenny Boyle
Format Paperback
Page Count 292
Imprint Lightning Books
Publisher Eye Books
Weight(grams) 300g
Dimensions(mm) 198mm * 129mm * 19mm