News Archive

On Saturday September 12, 2009 at 3pm I will be appearing at CatStrand, an arts venue in New Galloway, south west Scotland to discuss and read from my novel No More Mulberries.

I will be ‘In Conversation with’ Godfrey Smith, who runs Galloway Footwear, the last company in Scotland to still create handmade, made-to-measure clogs, of traditional and contemporary designs. Godfrey is based in Balmaclellan, Castle Douglas in south west Scotland.

However, we won’t be talking about clogs as Godfrey is also, along with Robin Ade, part of the Afghan Schools Trust which raises funds to support schools in Nuristan in north east Afghanistan. He has personal experience of Afghanistan, having visited in recent years to check on the progress of the schools and to deliver funds. For more information on the Afghan Schools Trust visit their website on www.afghanschools.org

There will be an opportunity to ask questions, see some Afghan artefacts including embroidery – maybe even try on a burqa – and I will be happy to sign copies of my book, which will be available to buy at the event.
Information about the event can be found at www.catstrand.com

Later in September 2009 I will be taking part in a Hidden City event at Glasgow’s Merchant City Festival, joining 27 of Scotland’s leading poets who have created a Poetry Heritage walk that will explore four found sites in and around the Merchant City in Glasgow. Following on from the success of Hidden City 1 - 4, in recognition of National Poetry Day and to celebrate the final Hidden City event in Glasgow City Centre, the arts organisation, conFAB has teamed up with the Merchant City Festival to bring Hidden City 5.

The poets have written poems inspired by locations deep in the heart of Glasgow's city centre that are usually passed by unnoticed. Our familiar habitats are so often taken for granted that we miss what is there. These sites are filled with sights, smells, atmosphere, heritage, memories, histories, traces of past events and forgotten people…

I can’t identify the site which inspired my poem – the sites are a closely guarded secret until the performances!

The event is on Sunday September 27 at 2pm, 3pm and 4pm beginning at the Ramshorn Theatre on Ingram Street, Glasgow. And it’s FREE, though capacity is limited.

The Merchant City Festival programme can be found at www.merchantcityfestival.com