Spring Poetry Readings at Dundee University

A new season of poetry readings will take place in Dundee University in February - all events are free and open to anyone, so please come along if you can.

Thursday 10th February - JIM STEWART

Jim teaches Creative Writing, and has published in a number of outlets over the years, including New Writing Scotland. He received a New Writers Bursary from the SAC in 2007.

Thursday 17th February - ANDY JACKSON
  
Andy Jackson's poems have appeared in publications such as Northwords Now, Magma and New Writing Scotland. He launched his first collection The Assassination Museum in 2010, and is a regular reader of his work.




Thursday 24th February - JACQUELINE THOMPSON

Jacqueline recently read at the Edinburgh Book Festival, and contributed to the celebration of Burns For A' That. The Scotsman published one of her pieces as Poem Of The Month in January 2010.

All readings will take place in Room G8 of the Tower Extension, University of Dundee, running from 6pm-7pm. Please come along!

Claire Dyer and others read poetry at the Dundee Women's Festival

This year's festival will be held between February 28th-March 13th, and will include a large number of events, including a poetry reading from Claire Dyer on Saturday 5th March, starting at 7.30pm.

Claire Dyer, winner of the WomenWords Poetry competition, will be reading her poetry, accompanied by women poets from Dundee and hinterland.

Also performing in the second part of the evening will be renowned Scots singer/songwriter, Horse. The event takes place in the Meeting Room at Dundee Contemporary Arts. Tickets for the event are £10, and booking is recommended by calling 01382 221545.

Announcing the William Soutar Prize 2011

The William Soutar Prize  is an annual competition, now in its ninth year, alternating between poetry and short stories. 2011 sees the turn of poetry. Entry is free and open to anyone living within Scotland, but you are limited to two poems.

First Prize is an Arvon Writing course at Moniack Mhor (for which the normal fee would be approximately £600), or another of the UK Arvon Centres.Second Prize is £100 in book tokens, and there is also a Local Prize of £50 for the best work from a resident of Perth and Kinross.

The winner will be announced on Writers’ Day, Saturday 26 March 2011, at the AK Bell Library.

Full details of the rules and how to enter are available here. Good luck!

New Year, New Events!

2011 sees a rash of news and activities in Tayside area, starting with news of Perthshire writer Fiona Thackeray, whose new collection of short stories centering on the people and culture of Brazil. If you want something to lift you out of the gloomy weather and bring some colour and rhythm into your new year, this is the book for you. Published by Pewter Rose Press, it's available by clicking here.