Neil Broadfoot talks Exit Wounds in Stirling and Belfast

Submitted: 28th May 2025

Neil Broadfoot talks Exit Wounds in Stirling and Belfast

Author Neil Broadfoot has returned to The BookTrail for some more punishing questions. Never one to give an author who writes gritty characters a smooth ride, this time it’s all about Exit Wounds, out on May 29th – tomorrow!!!!

Exit Wounds Neil Broadfoot

This was a hard book to write you’ve been quoted as saying

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So, Neil…

Exit Wounds, the end of an era…..

What does this book mean to you and where are you headed next?

Yeah, this was a ’sair fecht’ as my dad would have said. My mum died while I was writing it, and going back to finish it was the toughest thing I‘ve ever had to do, creatively. That said, what this book taught me is how resilient the creative drive is. We tend to think of creativity as something crystalline and delicate, and that it can be destroyed with a stray comma or wrong word. That’s why writers can be a superstitious lot. But what this taught me is that’s not the case- the creative drive is a tough, stubborn son of a bitch. As for what’s next, Doug and Susie are back, and then there’s a standalone I’m working on.

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You blend the essence of the city of Stirling as well as Belfast. What do these two cities mean to you?

Stirling is a great city, and I love spending time there and the surrounding area. Belfast is dear to me as I spent a lot of time there as a student. It’s also a complicated place, a real character in its own right.

What research theme or question is the most dodgy in your browser history?

I couldn’t possibly comment.

Exit Wounds Neil Broadfoot

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What are the themes in this book and did your journalist background help?

Oooft, good question! Themes? Loss, grief, redemption, love, hope? It’s definitely a darker Connor. I think my background probably helped most when I went back to finish it after Mum died. I put that aside, saw the job in hand, then got to work. Just another day in the newsroom.

There are some strong themes in your work. How do you capture what you will explore in the books and does your journalist background help?

Thanks for saying that, but I’ll let you into a secret, I never know what’s going to come out of the books! I never plan, just start with a vague idea, a line or a scene, then let the book unfold. As I get deeper into the draft and start to understand where the book is going, then I can start picking out themes and playing with them.

Exit Wounds Neil Broadfoot

Dialogue is very hard to get right but your characters speak authentically and are raw. Do you have any special techniques in getting this right?

Not really, it’s just an ear thing. Talk to people, listen, then try to replicate that on the page. For example, you go to Belfast, you’re unlikely to hear someone say “Why, good morning my dear fellow.” you’re more likely to hear “Hey, what about ya?” It just sounds right.

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The Old Town Cemetery

Visit Scotland – Stirling

Where would Connor recommend that tourists to Stirling visit and why?

Knowing Connor, his gym! I’d say he’d probably direct them up to The Old Town Cemetery. He’s been known to take a walk around there…

Would you have a pint with Connor, what would you both drink and what would you talk about?

Whisky, undoubtedly whisky. And he’d probably give me hell for all the scrapes I’ve put him in!

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Connor Fraser on TV or the big screen – any idea about who you would like to have portray him and others? Can you describe him physically as you see him?

Physically, Connor is a big guy, imposing. Not tall, but built. Brownish-blonde hair, bright green eyes that can appear a little cold at times, nose that’s just a little too thin. That’s the book description, but, weirdly, I have no idea what Connor looks like so I’ve not got a clue who would play him!

Stirling on the way to the castle

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LOCATIONS

You feature some key locations and historical spots in your work. How do you choose them. what about their historical and cultural impact you want to explore?

The books really choose the locations. As I’m not planning in advance, I’m at the mercy of where the book wants to take me. That said, when I do go to a city in a book, I like to give a flavour of the place, make it a character that informs the story a bit.

Vancouver’s Stanley Park:

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You take Connor out of Stirling and Edinburgh to somewhere that is important to you. Where do you take him and why?

Canada. I love Canada, and Vancouver in particular. If I hadn’t had family commitments, I would have moved out there years ago. Also, it would be good to see him explore a place that is at once similar and totally alien to him.

You have just republished your McGregor and Drummond series. Now some of the characters here appear in the Connor Fraser novels. This is an interesting cross over and so what could this mean for the future?

At the moment, not much, as I’m parking Connor for a while and exploring other characters and stories. That said, me being me, I do have. an idea for another Connor. Or, at least, the start of one…

Stirling University

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You and Connor are giving a guided tour to visitors to Stirling. Where do you take them and why?

I’d say a walking tour, definitely. There’s so much to see in Stirling, so much history to soak up, that the only way to really do it is get out and experience it. That said, I think given the books, he’d stay away from the University- which they would probably be very happy about!

And with that, thank you Neil! A cracking end to a brilliant series. Can’t wait to read what comes out of that head of yours next!