A BEST-SELLING author once based in Beith says he can’t wait to return to Ayrshire for a major book festival.

Denzil Meyrick will be appearing at the Harbour Arts Centre in Irvine this Saturday, September 12 as part of the Tidelines Book Festival.

A former police officer and freelance journalist, the Campbelltown-born author released his first book - Whisky in Small Glasses - in 2012.

And since then Denzil’s work has been acclaimed across the literary world and his second novel, The Last Witness, became a best-seller.

Denzil will be discussing his third book, Dark Suits and Sad Songs at the HAC.

Having spent a short time in Beith, the crime writer says working class areas across Ayrshire and Campbelltown have been inspirations for underlying themes in his novels.

Speaking to the Herald this week, Denzil gave some insight into his background and says he sees a bright future for the Ayrshire literary scene.

He said: “When I wrote my first book I was laid up after being injured while on duty as a police officer.

“I always wanted to write a book so I started writing Whisky From Small Glasses and my other books became best-sellers “I used to live in Beith for a short while and I spent many a day in the Wide Mouthed Frog which is sadly long gone!

“I suppose my police experience did make it a little bit easier for me to write.

“Things have changed a lot since I was in the police in terms of how they catch people.

“The first three books have a lot of underlying themes like employment and drugs misuse which have been prominent in places like Ayrshire and Campbelltown.

“It’s great to see more working class writers in places like Ayrshire.” Tickets for Denzil’s Tidelines appearance cost £5 and are available from ticketweb.co.uk or from the HAC box office on 01294 274059.

Event starts at 4pm.