Catriona Child Collection

Fade Into You; 9781804250150; Paperback

Trackman; 9781908373434; Paperback

About Fade Into You:

They flickered in and out of sight, between the passing cars, as if a strobe light was on them. She watched them from the corner of her eye, as they appeared and disappeared, like ghosts.

Childhood friendships are simple things, and when ‘90s grunge girl Alex meets the twins next door her bond with Gavin and Banny seems meant to be, held together by their shared language of music.

‘It Just Is’ – Rilo Kiley

‘Very Best Friend’ – Proud Mary

‘The Swimming Song’ – Loudon Wainwright III

Yet as they grow and change, so too must their relationships with each other, and the easy joys of outdoor swimming and Aunt Ruby’s tablet are slowly overshadowed by all the things that never were and those that never should have been.

‘Nothing Lasts Forever’ – Echo and the Bunnymen

‘Twilight’ – Elliott Smith

‘Fade into You’ – Mazzy Star

A snapshot of the nineties/noughties spirit and a poignant exploration of how childhood friendships and first loves echo through the years, Fade Into You presents a tale of mixtapes, the millennium and the impossibility of moving on.

Reviews:

As shocking as it may be for some of us, the 1990s are now part of history. Catriona Child’s ‘Fade Into You’ embraces this and promises to evoke heady nostalgia in those who were there, and offer a step back in time for others. ALISTAIR BRAIDWOOD, ‘Ten Books for 2023’, SNACK MAGAZINE

Music-obsessed Alex’s world is about to change…set against a backdrop of T in the Park, this bittersweet tale will delight music fans. SCOTS MAGAZINE

Written with depth and sensitivity, Fade Into You is a beautifully crafted novel that captures the essence of growing up in a changing world. Whether you’re a fan of Scottish fiction, coming-of-age stories or simply looking for a captivating read, this book is sure to leave you spellbound. KELLEY LACY, Award-winning book-blogger

A nostalgic journey through the 1990s and 2000s as a group of friends take the leap from teenage life to adulthood. KEVIN QUINN, Edinburgh Evening News

It’s a moving, insightful and thoughtful read which touches upon subjects such as mental health, grief, and that move from the keenly felt teenage years into what inevitably becomes wearier, and often more cynical, adulthood. Although Child is too good a writer to paint anything as black and white; she knows it’s in the grey areas where the real stories are told. Fade Into You will take you back to your own teenage years, no matter when they were, and remind you of the good and bad times growing up and the songs that saved you. ALISTAIR BRAIDWOOD, Snack Magazine

I never expected to be left with so many thoughts. It’s left me thinking about the people I’ve known growing up, those that are still around and those that have drifted away.  ADAMTRIESBOOKS

If, like myself, you grew up in the 90s then this is a must-read! These days those childhood memories from the 90s seem like another life but this book brought some of them back and that made me smile. 5* GOODREADS

Catriona Child’s Fade Into You embodies this nostalgic feeling in a coming-of-age novel documenting the increasingly mercurial changes of the late 1990s and early 2000s; changes paralleled in the contemporary music and the choices in our naive and often awkward teenage protagonists make… A beautifully raw, sometimes funny, other times bittersweet, novel. SCOTTISH FIELD

About Trackman:

Davie was about to leave the MP3 player lying on the pavement when something stopped him. A voice in his head.

You'll regret it if you leave it. You'll only come back for it later.

Can a song change your life?
Can a song bring people, places and moments in time alive again?

Davie Watts is the Trackman. He knows what song to play to you and he knows exactly when you need to hear it. Davie seeks out strangers in need and helps them using the power of music.

Reviews:

In her debut novel, Catriona Child has all the makings of a cult hit... She handles the tension between the fantastical premise and the raw and sensitive matter of a dead schoolboy tastefully, and the book's sense of place makes it a delight for lovers of Edinburgh.   The Herald 

This tale of loss and isolation is a powerful piece of contemporary Scottish literature that expertly blends fantastical subject matter with a profound look at the destructive effects of bereavement.   The Skinny

This is a beautifully crafted book, fluid and rhythmic... Trackman is an inspiring and powerful novel that explores harsh realities with humor.   The Student

It's a story that will resonate with creative types across Edinburgh and indeed the world.  Ten Tracks

Catriona Child has a pitch perfect ear for contemporary dialogue and a professional's eye for the detail of a city that the tourists rarely notice. Trackman will be on replay in yourhead for a long time.   Northwords Now  

Don’t let the idea of a fantastical magic mp3 player put you off; this is an incredibly powerful piece of contemporary Scottish literature that expertly weaves the power of music through out what becomes a profound and life affirming tale.   STV Local

Can a song change your life? Can a song bring people,places and moments in time alive again? Set in Edinburgh, this touching, funny and quirky new novel is an entertaining read for music lovers.   Scots Magazine

Trackman is a book which understands the power of music, but is one which has an ability to bring comfort to those who need it...  Scots Whay Hae

All the makings of a cult hit... a delight for lovers of Edinburgh.   The Herald

Child segues in between past events in Davie’s memory and the present day to good effect and there’s a real emotional connection between the reader and her protagonist. It’s a promising debut.   The Week

About the Author:

CATRIONA CHILD was born in 1980 in Dundee. Hailed as ‘one of the brightest prospects among a thriving breed of fresh Scottish writing talent,’ she has a degree in English from the University of Aberdeen and an MA with Distinction in Creative Writing from Lancaster University. Her debut novel, Trackman, was published in 2012 and was described by The Herald as ‘having all the makings of a cult hit.’ Her second novel, Swim Until You Can’t See Land, was published in 2014. She has been published in The Sunday Herald, the 404 Ink Earth literary magazine, Northwords Now and in the Scottish Book Trust Family Legends anthology. She lives just outside Edinburgh with her husband Allan and their two children, Corrie and Alasdair.