Craig Herbertson

Craig Herbertson, Scottish Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror author, illustrator, musician and songwriter was born in Edinburgh in 1959.

In 1977, with Michael Robertson, he co-founded the Scottish Punk Rock Band, "The Androids", formed of school friends from Portobello, Comprehensive School, Edinburgh, who, at Telford College, Edinburgh, in 1979, were the subjects of one of the earliest known 'pop' video recordings, performing their 45 single 'Robot Riot'.

In the 1980s, Craig Herbertson joined Stewart Forbes's Silent Theater Company and performed as Querelle in 'Querelle of Brest' at Bedlam Theatre, Edinburgh. The mime company and band folded and in 1982. Craig Herbertson left Edinburgh to attend Manchester University, graduating in Social Anthropology with honours. He began a shadow career of acting and busking that ultimately led him to perform on the streets of Paris and the River boats of New Orleans where he used guitar, fiddle, tenor banjo, and penny whistle to support a strong yet melodic voice.

In cameo roles and as an extra, Craig Herbertson appeared in the German film 'The Miracle of Bern' and also in 'Peak Practice', 'Prime Suspect', 'Kavanagh QC' and numerous other popular television shows.

In 1988 Craig Herbertson's novelette, 'The Heaven Maker', was published in the acclaimed 'Pan Book of Horror Stories' series. Through a mysterious oversight, he was unaware that he had broken into the mainstream market in a collection that included the renowned Stephen King. The discovery was made on the internet, twelve years later, while he taught Philosophy at Sale Grammar School.

Craig Herbertson had continued to publish in the small press: 'Soap 7', a short story published in 1991, explored the concept that a televised Soap Opera would become a 24 hour event that would eventually spill over and ultimately engulf reality.

In the year 2000 Craig Herbertson moved to Germany and joined the Irish Dance show 'Celtic Life', touring Germany and Austria and holding Gala performances with Chris De Burg at Hopetoun House in his home town, Edinburgh.

In 2004 the song 'Hearts of Glory', written as a tribute to 'The Sporting Battalion', reached number 20 in the BBC Independent charts. The song was inspired by Jack Alexander's best selling 'McCrae's Battalion', which documented the fortunes of Heart of Midlothian Football Club's first team who joined up in 1916 and were decimated at the First Battle of the Somme. In the same year a Gothic fantasy novel, 'School: The Seventh Silence' appeared. It was termed a 'brilliant first novel' by Mike Glyer, then chairperson of the World Fantasy Congress.

In recent years Craig Herbertson has returned to Horror fiction, having stories published in 'The Black Book of Horror' series edited by Charles Black.

Craig Herbertson is divorced, has four children and lives in Germany.

Bibliography
Fantasies
*School: The Seventh Silence, (2005) Stafford, Immanion Press. ISBN 1-9048 5321-8

Novelettes
*The Heaven Maker,(1988). The 29th Pan Book of Horror, Editor: Clarence Paget, London: Pan Books Ltd. ISBN 0-330-30481-X

Short Stories

*‘Strange Fruit(2008) Editor: Rog Pile ‘Filthy Creations 3′
*‘On the Couch (2008) Editor: Charles Black 'The Second Black Book of Horror' ISBN 978-0-9556061-1-3
*‘Return to Greenwood (1997) ‘Fantastic Worlds of Edgar Rice Burroughs’
*‘Soap 7 (1991) Editor: Dave W Hughes ‘Works 7′ ISSN 0954-3902
*‘The Glowing Goblins (1992) Editor: Nik Morton ‘Auguries 16′
*‘Under the Moons of Mars (1995) ‘Fantastic Worlds of Edgar Rice Burroughs'

Poetry
*‘Timeless Love‘.(2008) Editor: Rog Pile ‘Filthy Creations 2′
*‘A White Rabbit in Gent(2005) ‘School: the Seventh Silence’ Immanion Press. ISBN 1-9048 5321-8

Recordings
* Robot Riot/ Andwella's Dream (1979) The Androids (AND 001)
* Hearts of Glory maxi Single (2004) catalogue no. 4001 Ruhrfolk Productions
* Hearts of Glory Album (2004) catalogue no. 4001 Ruhrfolk Productions
* Lord of Whisky (2006) Steeplejack Music catalogue no.SJCD007
* A Health to the Ladies (2008) Steeplejack Music catalogue no. SJCD010

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