'Inspirational' strongman brothers greeted by queues of fans at Inverness book signing
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Inspirational strongman brothers Tom and Luke Stoltman all but dried out the inkwells at Waterstones Inverness today, as they welcomed fans in great numbers for their first book signing.
The brothers' new autobiographical book, "Lifting: Becoming the World's Strongest Brothers", hit the shelves on Wednesday.
Lengthy queues formed in the Eastgate shopping centre store in anticipation of the brothers' arrival, as fans of the Invergordon-based strongmen waited in line for the chance to have their copy signed.
Such was the turnout, the signing actually started 20 minutes earlier than planned.
Watersones Inverness book shop manager Toby Ritty said: "We are delighted to have Tom and Luke with us today. They are Highland heroes after all. Everything has gone really smoothly, and they are both so nice and so accommodating.
"There's such a warmth towards them and people are really keen to support them because they represent us in the Highlands so well. We maybe don't get the same representation that places in other parts of the country do, so to have people from the Highlands who are so famous and at the top of their game, it is absolutely brilliant.
"There has been many people who have come for the signing today saying things such as, 'I see them in the local supermarket', or 'I have visited their house once before', or 'I lived around the corner from them'. Everyone has a little story connected to them – but they still want to come along and stand in a queue and have their book signed. I think this is because it isn't just about getting a book signed, it's about supporting people from the Highlands who have made a success of things.
"The interest and response to the launch of the book has been great. People who have had advanced copies have said they have found it inspirational, and uplifting. This isn't just a sports autobiography, but more a story about two guys finding a place in the world and overcoming their own difficulties to go on to do fantastic things."
The new book tells the story of Tom Stoltman, two-time World's Strongest Man, and brother Luke, a five-time winner of Scotland’s Strongest Man and former Europe’s Strongest Man, growing up in a small Highland town.
An "uplifting" story of overcoming adversity and achieving goals, the Stoltman story tackles the brothers' various challenges, including Tom's autism journey and the devastating loss of their mother in 2016.
The brothers say the book has provided them with "the opportunity to celebrate the things that mean the most" to them – family, community and strength.
