Anthony Watt

Anthony Watt was born is Glasgow and taught in schools in the west of Scotland. He is a person of multiple obsessions; one of these is pantomime, which he spent may years writing and producing. His historical novels are set either during Imperial Rome or the American Civil War - another obsession. His short stories often feature a macabre twist. His short story collection 'Seven Men to make a Shadow', published in 2020, contains a number of prize-winning tales, including 'Lucille's iPad', which won first prize in the Scottish Association of Writers short story competition in 2020.

His first novel, 'Lincoln's Spy', was published in November 2019. It features a beautiful Swedish widow who becomes the First Pinkerton Woman. It is based on the real life story of Kate Warne, the first female detective in America. Throughout the American Civil War, she used various disguises to work behind the lines for President Lincoln. In the book, as in real life, Astrid Karlsson saves Lincoln's life in 1861. The book follows her adventures while posing as an actress, gambler and Southern Belle.

The second book of an intended trilogy featuring Astrid Karlsson will be published in 2020. Called 'Grant's Agent', it will tell of President Grant's struggle with the newly formed Ku Klux Klan.

'The Imperial Coin Maker', due for publication in June 2020, also won first prize in the Scottish Association of Writers historical novel competition. This novel is set in the reign of the brutal Emperor Caracalla; the hero, Zeno, must fulfill his destiny with the help of a mysterious Germanic princess.