The week commencing April 7 is a big one for the Scotland squad as they get ready to take on Italy at Hive Stadium in round three of the Guinness Women’s Six Nations on April 13 – and it is also a big week for former internationalist Lee Cockburn.
That is because her fourth book – called Sylph or Satan which follows on from Devil’s Demise, Porcelain: Flesh of Innocents and Demon’s Fire – will be hitting shops and websites on April 10.
“It is always a nervy, but exciting time before a book is available to the public,” Lee said.
“The new book is a haunting tale of a young girl that has been betrayed by the ones she loved.
“Her trust in others is broken forever and, in her twisted mind, others must suffer for her pain. Her vengeance begins against those who you might think deserve to be punished, but soon her lust to harm others becomes indiscriminate and without reason. Her slight stature and her air of vulnerability leaves those searching for answers not even looking in her direction as a suspect.
“Through the streets of Edinburgh the body count rises and the police, through no fault of their own, find themselves at a loss as to what is actually going on. “The main protagonists Taylor and Marcus have finally pieced the evidence together, but are they too late?
“The book winds up to a nail biting, terror filled finale as they close in, but has one of life’s most vulnerable succumbed to her cruelty?
“You’ll have to wait and see – book four in the series will have you looking at others a little differently now.
“I am excited about this book coming out because it has been five years since I started it. Covid, home schooling, work and many other things just seemed to keep me away from my computer. Even the editing process took over eight months, but once this one is out I will begin book five and I promise I won’t take as long this time!”
Before she took up writing thrillers, second-row Lee played in Scotland’s first ever women’s international versus Ireland at Raeburn Place in 1993 and is cap number five in the roll of honour.
With 77 caps she is also fourth equal with Paula Chalmers in the all-time Scotland women’s caps list with Lana Skeldon set to join them on that number soon and only Donna Kennedy (115), Heather Lockhart (89) and Karen Findlay (86) ahead of them.
“Nowadays I watch the women’s rugby with pride, expectation and even a little jealousy, as rugby has been such a large part of my life,” she stated.
“I played for 30 seasons, from 21 to 50 and we as Liberton Ladies were the first women’s team and struggled to find teams to play against. I played two years in the Scotland Select squad from 1991 to the very first international in 1993.
“I then played as number four for 14 seasons until 2006, and retired from the top level due to a facial injury.
“The current Scotland women’s team have found their feet over the last two years and can now compete against the best. My heart is in my mouth – as all Scottish sport spectators know all too well – when I watch them at times, but I believe this team can do great things.
“With a little bit more belief and a little more growl then the Rugby World Cup later in the year in England could be their platform for greatness.
“This is the current team’s biggest year and they have the tools to do the job. They all have to believe and play out of their skins for every minute of every game, and maybe, just maybe, they could do something special at the World Cup after they finish off this Six Nations with, hopefully, some strong results.
“I would love to head into camp and give the team a wee motivational speech before the World Cup.
“We used to hear the story about the wee scabby dug which finishes with ‘it’s not the size of the dog, it is the size of the fight within’.
“I would say to them ‘think victory, believe in victory, be aggressive, make people not want to tackle you because the last time it hurt – be rough, be formidable and be everything you can be because every game could be your last’.
“If she plays against Italy, Lana Skeldon will equal my 77 caps and I am proud of her, proud of the longevity and proud of the feeling that thrives within this group of committed women.
“I am happy to watch many others go past my 77 caps going forward because it has been 19 years in the making.
“Good luck to the team for what is to come – and get buying my books!”
Keep an eye out in your local bookshop for Lee’s latest book and her other three or visit here or a number of other websites to get your hands on them.
The Guinness Women’s Six Nations runs from March 22 to April 26 and, next up, Scotland are at Hive Stadium in round three versus Italy on April 13 – get tickets for the two Scotland remaining home games here.
Lee Cockburn and her book covers are pictured
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