About Tartan Tales Media

Our Story

Tartan Tales Media is a storytelling platform dedicated to powerful narratives from true crime and investigative journalism, history, culture, and the people behind the stories.

Tartan Tales Media exists to go beyond headlines and surface level reporting. Its focus is on truth, context, and meaning the elements often missing when stories are rushed, politicised, or simplified.

This platform was created for readers and listeners who value depth, honesty, and respect for real lives.

Why Tartan Tales Media Exists

Stories shape how we understand the world but not all stories are told well.

Too often, real experiences are reduced to headlines, soundbites, or narratives that serve an agenda. Tartan Tales Media was founded to offer an alternative: thoughtful storytelling that prioritises people over perception.

The aim is not to provoke or persuade, but to document and reflect allowing stories to speak for themselves.

About Simon McLean

Simon McLean is a retired detective, author, and true crime podcaster, alongside the long suffering former Deputy Chief Constable and fellow author Tom Wood. He spent decades in policing and undercover operations before turning to writing and broadcasting, where he examines crime, justice, and institutional failure with the same blunt curiosity.

He is the author of The Ten Percent and the crime novel Kintyre, and a vocal campaigner for drug law reform. Simon also presents Talking Walking Football with Simon McLean on community radio station Sunny G 103.5.

When he is not writing or on air, he coaches and referees walking football.

SUBMIT YOUR STORY

Tartan Tales Media is an independent Scottish publishing platform.

If you have a manuscript you’d like us to consider for publication, please send it to us.

We are interested in crime fiction, narrative nonfiction, true crime, justice and policing, social injustice, and original work rooted in lived experience.

We read every submission, but response times may vary.

Please include

• A brief cover note

• A short synopsis

• The first three chapters, or up to 10,000 words