Scott Neil is an author and journalist. He was born and brought up in the United Kingdom and is best known as the author of Lennon Bermuda, a non-fiction account of John Lennon's stay on the island of Bermuda in 1980.[1]
As a newspaper journalist in England he worked on local and regional titles, including the Bournemouth Daily Echo and the Basingstoke Gazette.[2]
He spent 16 years at The Royal Gazette, Bermuda’s national daily newspaper. During this time he wrote Lennon Bermuda, the novel Dolphin Girl and Eating Clouds, a collection of journalism and memoirs.[3]
Since 2021 he has lived in the Scottish Highlands, where he wrote the science-fiction novella The Bird at the End of Time.[2]
Neil studied journalism at Barnsley College; The Editorial Centre, in St Leonards on Sea, and Los Angeles Pierce College for a semester, where he was a recipient of the Scheibel Award from the media arts department.[4]
He contributed short stories and poems to Inspired (1987), an independently published book featuring the work for five young writers. The following year, living in Australia, Neil had a short story, The Magic Lake, published in the West Australian science-fiction journal Woftam.
In 2012, Neil created a short film, Faeries of Green Lochan, based on his 1985 poem of the same name, combining live action and animation. He directed, animated and appeared in the production. It features the song Deep within the Faerie Forest, by Gary Sadler and Wendy Rule, and premiered in 2013 as the opening film at the first Bakatown Film Festival in Bermuda. It was subsequently released on YouTube.
A keen road runner, Neil won the inaugural Bermuda Triangle Challenge (half-marathon version) in 2008.[5]
In recognition of Lennon Bermuda, Neil was awarded a Crystal Butterfly/Daniel Literary Award by Atlantic Publishing House for outstanding contribution to Bermuda literature.[6]
The Bird at the End of Time was a 2023 finalist in the Next Generation Indie Book Awards[7] and the IAN Book of the Year Awards.
As a journalist, Neil was awarded the News Reporter of the Year Award (Northern region) by Southern Newspapers (UK) in 1998.[4]
Neil is the author of two non-fiction books, one novel and one novella.
Non-fiction
- Eating Clouds (2008). Elvin Books. ISBN 978-1441437013
- Lennon Bermuda (2012). Freisenbruch Brannon Media. ISBN 978-1927750025
Novel
- Dolphin Girl (2015). Elvin Books. ISBN 978-1927750858
Novella
- The Bird at the End of Time (2022). Elvin Books. ISBN 978-1739242800
- Cripps, Charlotte (2013-05-23). "John Lennon and son's double-fantasy trip." Independent. Retrieved 2026-03-21.
- McMorran, Caroline (2023-07-12). "Sutherland author wins Indie book award." Northern Times. Retrieved 2026-03-21.
- Acton, Nancy (2008-12-02). "GOING PLACES." The Royal Gazette. Retrieved 2026-03-21.
- Neil, Scott (2012). Lennon Bermuda. Freisenbruch Brannon Media. p. 120. ISBN 978-1927750-02-5.
- Staff, Royal Gazette (2008-01-23). "Bermuda Triangle Challengers." Retrieved 2026-03-21.
- "Photos: Daniel Literary Awards Presentation." Bernews. 2022-05-04. Retrieved 2026-03-21.
- Bell, Jonathan (2023-07-14). "Former Gazette journalist wins recognition for fiction." The Royal Gazette. Retrieved 2026-03-21.
