North Carr Light

November Hotchpotch is now in...December!

2011-11-16T02:12:00.000-08:00

Due to Braes Bar's busy festive schedule, the regular Hotchpotch Open Mic that was originally due to take place on Monday November 28th will now take place one week later on Monday December 5th.

Bring something to read (poetry or prose), bring friends or just bring yourself - a good night out guaranteed! Starts at 7.30pm till late...

Douglas Dunn launches new chapbook in St Andrews this Friday

2011-11-16T02:03:00.000-08:00

Douglas Dunn's new chapbook 'Invisible Ink' (published by Mariscat) will launch at Waterstones in St Andrews on Friday 18 November at 6pm. Douglas will be reading from the collection - a great opportunity to see and hear one of Scotland's poetic greats!

New Writing Dundee 6 launches this Saturday!

2011-10-25T03:12:00.000-07:00

Come along for an evening of music, food, readings and two book launches at the University of Dundee's Dalhousie Building on Saturday 29th October from 7.30pm till late

New Writing Dundee 6 will be launched with readings from some of the contributors. New Writing Dundee is an international poetry and short fiction anthology supported by Literary Dundee and the University of Dundee.

In addition, The Parlour Cafe Cookbook will also be launched at the same event. There will be food, of course, and wine, and music from Panda Su and the AutoDisco DJ's, so please come along and help celebrate this joint launch in style.

Poetry at Dundee Literary Festival this week

2011-10-25T03:01:00.000-07:00

Some great poetry in prospect at this year's Literary Festival at Dundee University :-

Thursday 27th October sees Eddie Gibbons at the Bonar Hall from 12noon for 'Poem and a Piece'. Eddie's Scouse wit is by turns funny and touching. A genuinely human voice and a great poet (tickets £5)

Friday 28th October brings us Dawn Wood, again at the Bonar Hall at 10am. Dawn is a scientist and a painter, and her background in both makes for fascinating and powerful poetry. (Tickets £3)

Later on Friday, Stewart Conn, inaugural Poetry Makar of Edinburgh, reads in the midday 'Poem and a Piece' slot, bringing you his unique blend of people, places and stories in poetic form (Tickets £5)

Saturday 29th sees Chris Powici, editor of the north's only free poetry magazine Northwords Now, providing more 'Poems and a Piece' on a variety of natural and human subjects (Tickets £5)

Add to this Alexander McCall Smith, Val McDermid, Meaghan Delahunt and many more, plus the Dundee Comics Day on Sunday and you have a packed festival!

Tickets available for all events here

Cabinet, a new spoken word night in Dundee THIS FRIDAY October 14th

2011-10-11T02:53:00.000-07:00

This Friday (October 14th) sees the launch of Cabinet, Dundee's new spoken word evening at the Burgh Coffeehouse, 25 Castle Street, Dundee from 7pm-10pm.

Verbatim is Cabinet's launch event - an evening of original works from authors and performers based in and around Dundee. Prepare to be entertained; enthralled, inspired, titillated. Come along and support local artists, and become involved in a collective of emerging talent. Cabinet assures you that you will enjoy yourself!

The event is entirely FREE, and couldn't happen without the kind assistance of the Burgh Coffeehouse.

Come along early, stay all night, arrive late, but DO come along and say hello! More information here.

National Poetry Day 2011 - Patchwork Poem published

2011-10-06T04:13:00.000-07:00

The contributions are in, the poem is assembled - and here it is! Thanks to all who contributed...a colourful pdf version can be downloaded here

Pelmanism

A patchwork poem for National Poetry Day 2011

I had such high hopes for you.

We were so strong on paper,

both on fire. The last time

we'd played was in the old house,

six stolen weeks, secure in your den,

me listening to your stories,

then climbing the ladder

to play a different game.

What games shall we play today,

foul play and slapstick?

Kiss chase, spin the bottle,

not fun like they used to be.

You leap and stretch in High Definition

like a striker taunting home fans.

If you look at the ball closely

you'll see it has bloodstains.

Now we are too tired

to remember the rules.

I am small again, a little girl,

alone and chartless,

separated by legal distance

stretching into infinity,

bewildered on the brink of tears,

fishing for wishes in the long loch-dream.

We get to the heart of the thing -

war games, the unbearable logic

of how it's taking part that really counts,

plenty of time to rest up later.

The game becomes lacklustre,

scrappy, no great shakes

when the moment comes,

same old same old.

We are playing for pride.

This poem was created by taking a line from contributions by the following writers :-

Peter Alexander

Deborah Alma

Anne Berkeley

Di Chorley

Giles Conisbee

Rafael de Swarte

Ian Duhig

Maurice Gartshore

Gwen Grant

Niels Hav

Ailsa Holland

Isaac Hughes-Dennis

Janet Jenkins

Wendy Jane Muzlanova

Stella Pierides

Alison Raybould

Heather Reid

Nicola Robson

Ian Searcey

Elizabeth Taylor

Judith Taylor

Sheila Templeton

Angela Topping
Alice Walsh

Deborah Williams-Kurz

Rodney Wood

Erik Zoha

Poem collated by

Andy Jackson

A Private View - Dundee's Nethergate Writers at the McManus Gallery October 23rd

2011-09-28T09:15:00.000-07:00

In their latest anthology, A Private View, Nethergate Writers find inspiration from exhibits in the McManus collection. The result is an entertaining, illuminating and sometimes suprising read.

There’s a chance to meet the writers at a book signing in Waterstone's, Dundee, on October 15^th or you can enjoy a tour of some of the exhibits featured in the book and listen to the writers read from their work at the McManus on Sunday 23^rd October, 2pm to 4pm. (The venue is the Creative Learning Studio, first floor. This is a free event, no need to book.)

Further readings will take place at Lomond Hills Hotel, Freuchie on November 20^th at 2pm and at The Vine, Magdalen Yard Road, on November 28^th at 7pm as part of Dundee’s WestFest.

A Private View is on sale at Waterstone's in Dundee and at the McManus from October 13^th priced £7.99. For further information on the writers go to http://nethergatewriters.webplus.net

Creative Writing workshops in Perthshire's Big Tree country this October

2011-09-28T02:58:00.000-07:00

During October, writer Linda Cracknell will be running workshops on three Big Tree Country sites - three for adults and three for Higher English students.

Members of the public who would like to take part should send their name, contact details and the location they would prefer to Perth & Kinross Countryside Trust, Pullar House, 35 Kinnoull Street, Perth PH1 5GD or email pmclennan@pkct.org.

Dates and locations:
Kinnoull Hill, Perth – Saturday 1 October;
Birks of Aberfeldy – Saturday 8 October;
MacRosty Park, Crieff – Saturday 15 October.

Risk-a-Verse Friendly Poetry Slam - St Andrews 8th October

2011-09-28T02:45:00.000-07:00

Risk-A-Verse Friendly Slam

Harry Giles is your MC as the Risk-A-Verse Friendly Poetry Slam comes to St Andrews on Saturday October 8th. The event, hosted by Inky Fingers in conjunction with the StAnza Poetry Festival, takes place at the Byre Theatre, Abbey Street, St Andrews from 7.30pm.

Fourteen poets (including your humble blogger!) compete for your cheers, tears laughs and scores: judged by you, the audience! Special prizes for all types of poet, witty repartee, bad puns, and a lot more besides. A great night of poetry duelling in prospect, and all for only £3 entry (£2 concessions).

Poetry in Crieff - The Drovers' Tryst 15th October

2011-09-28T02:33:00.000-07:00

TRYST TALES AND TUNES
The annual Crieff-based congregation of walkers known as the Drovers' Tryst presents an evening of words and music with a Tryst twist!.... and a fine way to relax after a week of great days on the hills.

Come along for an informal evening of stories, songs and poems with award-winning writers Patricia Ace, Maurice Gartshore, Andy Jackson and Jess Smith with local musicians Andrew Finlayson and Robin Spearing.
It all happens in the Red Squirrel Cafe, East High Street, Crieff 7.30 pm. £5 at the door or tickets in advance from The Red Squirrel Cafe in Crieff. Bar available, and possibly Baa too! More information here.

September Hotchpotch tonight @ Braes!

2011-09-26T01:24:00.000-07:00

The usual shenanigans on Monday, September 26 in the basement of Braes bar from 7.30pm onwards. The optional theme is "welcome"! Bring something to read on the open mic - or just come along and listen.

Writers Anonymous meeting tonight

2011-09-07T01:00:00.000-07:00

Dundee's Writers Anonymous relaunches tonight with its first meeting for a while. Writers Anonymous is an opportunity to have your work (one poem or up to 2500 words prose) discussed in a relaxed atmosphere with fellow writers giving advice and comment. Pieces are submitted anonymously in advance, so there should be less pressure on new writers or writers new to creative writing groups.

The meeting takes place in Dundee University on Wednesday 7th September, starting at 6.30 in Room G9 of the Dundee University Tower Building. Come along and share the conversation!

National Poetry Day 2011 - Patchwork Poem on the theme of 'Playing Games'

2011-09-06T03:22:00.000-07:00

The theme of National Poetry Day 2011 is Games.

Following on from the success of last year’s Patchwork Poem to coincide with NPD2010, I’ve been asked to run another this year. So, if you wish to contribute here’s what to do:-

Please send us your original poetry on the theme of Playing Games - they can be complete poems, either already written or written specially for the Patchwork, or they can be just random lines or poetic thoughts, but should address the theme of playing games – for instance, you could send a poem or a few lines concerning :-

* real or imaginary games

* games of chance, skill or love

* the rules of the game
* the players of the game
* the outcome of the game

We will then create a Patchwork Poem by taking individual lines from your contributions. The resulting Patchwork Poem will be published in a variety of places (including here) on National Poetry Day.

Please email your contribution to a.z.jackson@dundee.ac.uk with the email subject ‘Patchwork Poem’.

Contributions should reach me by September 30th at the latest

Remember, we can only use a line or two from each contribution, so please keep them brief and don’t send long poems. Feel free to spread the word to anyone who you feel might be interested in submitting something – even if it’s just a line!

Many thanks and we wait to receive your contribution…

Callander Poetry Weekend

2011-08-29T07:30:00.000-07:00

The annual Callander Poetry Weekend takes place from 2nd-4th September - this weekend in fact! The usual heady brew of poetry, scenery and food is promised, with readings from the like of Colin Will, Magi McGlynn, Sheena Blackhall, Kevin Cadwallander, Alan Gay and Judith Taylor, among many others, as well as the tireless host Sally Evans. The event begins in the Kirk Hall in Callander and moves on in the evenings to King's Bookshop over the road.

If you've not been to a Callander Weekend before, it's one of the most rewarding and relaxing poetry events of the year - a wonderful setting and some cracking readers make this unmissable for those in the know. It's free, so why not come along?

For details either go to Sally's blog or email sally.king4@btinternet.com, or phone 01877 339449.

August Hotchpotch Open Mic in Braes Bar, Dundee on August 29th

2011-08-23T01:24:00.000-07:00

Just a wee reminder that Hotchpotch takes place this coming Monday, August 29th, in the basement of Braes bar on Perth Road from 7.30pm onwards. Bring something to read, or just come along and listen.

As mentioned at the last Hotchpotch, we have been invited to send representatives along to Dundee University as part of an event showcasing Dundee's creative community for the benefit of new students on the morning of September 9. Please click here to contact Jen Cosgrove via the Facebook group if you're interested.

Dare You! A literary happening at the Dighty Burn in Dundee

2011-08-23T01:17:00.000-07:00

The next two weekends see the presentation of Dare You! A Happening At The Dighty by DightyConnect, featuring original pieces by local writers performed along the banks of the burn.

The performances take place on Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 August and again on Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 September at 3.00 - 4.30 pm.

Meet at the Viaduct at Finlathen Park, on Fontainbleau Drive (close to Morrisons on Forfar Road)

Tickets are £5 (£3 concessions) - for tickets/information phone Ann Lolley on (01382) 436932 or

e-mail: dightyconnectann@yahoo.co.uk

Andy Jackson in 'Immortality Now!' at the Edinburgh Festival Free Fringe

2011-07-21T05:55:00.000-07:00

Hi all

Shameless self-publicity, but I have two 50-minute shows entitled Immortality Now! at the PBH Edinburgh Festival Free Fringe, as follows:-

Tuesday 16th August @1710 - The Banshee Labyrinth, Niddry Street, Edinburgh
Sunday 21st August @1600 - The Banshee Labyrinth, Niddry Street, Edinburgh

The Blurb says - Lively and surreal poetry featuring a cast of bizarre characters and situations brought to life by Manchester-born fortysomething Andy Jackson. Come and hear about conspiracy theorists, cross-dressing aliens, public conveniences and the hokey-cokey - and prepare to be involved! (‘chilly, deadpan funny, and inimitable’ – Northwords Now)

I hope you can come - it's FREE!

July Hotchpotch Monday 25th July @Braes

2011-07-21T05:43:00.000-07:00

Just a wee reminder that Hotchpotch takes place this coming Monday, July 25, in the basement of Braes bar on Perth Road from 7.30pm onwards. Bring something to read, or just come along and listen.

Summer Special Open Mic Night in St Andrews this Wednesday @7pm

2011-07-04T05:50:00.000-07:00

Following the success of the StAnza Poetry Festival's early evening festival Open Mic in March at Zest Juice Bar in St Andrews, here's another chance to enjoy the delights of a Zest-ful hour or so of open mic slots - for poetry or short prose - with Fife's own Milton Balgonie as MC. The event starts at 7pm and runs till 8.30pm at Zest Juicing and Coffee Bar, 95 South Street, St Andrews, Fife KY16 9QW.

Come along with your own poems to read or just sit back with a good coffee to listen and enjoy a cornucopia of voices. Zest will also provide its wonderful range of juices and smoothies and cakes.

Reading slots will be limited but you can bag one from Monday 4th July by contacting director@stanzapoetry.org.

Cat & Mouse - rehearsed reading of a new play by Ajay Close 7th July

2011-06-27T04:02:00.000-07:00

Stellar Quines Theatre Company in partnership with Perth Theatre, the Gannochy Trust and Ajay Close present a rehearsed reading of CAT AND MOUSE, a new play by Ajay Close about the Scottish suffragettes jailed in Perth and the prison doctor who force-fed them. The reading will take place at Perth Theatre Studio on Mill Street Perth on Thursday July 7th at 6pm. Admission is free and unticketed - do come along for a fascinating and absorbing experience!

June Hotchpotch at Braes on Monday 27th

2011-06-24T01:30:00.000-07:00

The monthly creative writing extravaganza that is Hotchpotch will take place downstairs at Braes in Dundee on Perth Road on Monday 27th June from 7.30pm. Come along and read or just listen to the cream of Dundee creative writing...open mic slots available, so don't leave it too late!

Kevin Cadwallender at Dundee WestFest Friday 17th

2011-06-15T01:25:00.000-07:00

Acclaimed poet and performer Kevin Cadwallender will be appearing at Dundee's WestFest Cabaret Night on Friday 17th June. Kevin has had a long career in stand-up poetry, and is famous for his selection of hilarious Dalek poems - have a look here for an example.

The Cabaret Night also features Roberto Cassani, Pauline Meikleham, The Lazy Susans, Captain Duncan, Ovarian Cysters, and lots more music and comedy routines. Tickets are £20 and include a buffet.

Don Paterson in Dundee 8th June

2011-06-03T00:34:00.000-07:00

Queen’s Gold Medal-winning poet Don Paterson will read at the opening of the annual English Postgraduate Conference at Dundee University next week.

Dundee-born Mr Paterson will give a poetry reading at the conference launch event at 6 pm on Wednesday June 8th in the D’Arcy Thompson lecture theatre in the University Tower Building on Perth Road. The event is free and open to the public. Do come along and see Scotland's most acclaimed contemporary poet read in his home town!

Dundee's Hotchpotch open mic night returns on Monday 30th May

2011-05-27T00:48:00.000-07:00

Join us once again for an evening of poetry and prose on Monday 30th May downstairs at Braes on Perth Road, Dundee from 7.30pm. Bring something to read or just come along and listen - if you've never been before then make this your first time!

Poetry in St Andrews May 3rd - Douglas Dunn, Don Paterson & Chris Jones

2011-05-02T02:53:00.000-07:00

Two poetry events on offer in St Andrews, both on Tuesday 3^rd May. At 5.30pm in the Garden Seminar Room at the School of English on The Scores, Tom Jones will deliver a workshop on “What makes poetic language poetic”. Then at 7.30pm in the King James Library in St Mary’s Quad off South Street, Douglas Dunn, Chris Jones and Don Paterson are giving a poetry reading. Events are free (I think) so get along there if you're able!

Today's penultimate pwoermd is...

2011-04-30T14:23:00.000-07:00

Penpenultimate

Today's pwoermd is...

2011-04-29T01:58:00.001-07:00

Weddinged

Today's pwoermd is...

2011-04-28T13:41:00.000-07:00

Anarchetype

Two Dolls present...a creative writing course in Dundee starting this Saturday!

2011-04-27T02:09:00.000-07:00

Two Dolls are Zoe Venditozzi and Jill Skulina. They are hosting a creative writing workshop in Dundee at their HQ at 72 Meadowside on Saturday 30th April, which will form the first of a four-week short course. The workshop runs from 10 – 12.

Through a mixture of break-out exercises, free writing and workshopping they aim to encourage and develop writing, no matter which stage of your writing career you are at. The course is only £25 for four weeks of tuition, and includes refreshments.

Two Dolls are also hosting a monthly workshop entitled Illustrate and Write, bringing together illustrators and writers to collaborate on work for possible publication. This takes place on the first Thursday evening of each month, starting on May 5th.

If Saturdays aren’t any good for you, Two Dolls plan to start another 4-week course on Tuesday 10^th May. Contact thosetwodolls@gmail.com for further information, or click here.

Today's pwoermd is...

2011-04-27T01:47:00.000-07:00

Detestimonial

Today's pwoermd is...

2011-04-26T02:01:00.000-07:00

Conta[in]er

Today's pwoermd is...

2011-04-25T02:26:00.000-07:00

Undroid

April's Hotchpotch is tonight in Dundee

2011-04-25T02:23:00.000-07:00

The latest in the series of Dundee-based Hotchpotch open mic nights takes place in the basement of Braes bar tonight from 7.30pm onwards. Bring something to read, or just come along and listen - a varied and interesting night is guaranteed. Hope to see you there!

Today's pwoermd is...

2011-04-24T07:09:00.000-07:00

Metrosensual

Today's pwoermd is...

2011-04-23T01:53:00.001-07:00

Surrealpolitik

Today's pwoermd is...

2011-04-20T06:45:00.003-07:00

Annoise

Today's pwoermd is...swa

2011-04-19T05:46:00.001-07:00

Swastard

Today's pwoermd is...

2011-04-18T09:10:00.001-07:00

Tryoomph

Today's pwoermd is...

2011-04-17T15:34:00.000-07:00

Decruitment

Today's pwoermd is...

2011-04-16T12:03:00.001-07:00

Slowmance

Today's pwoermd is...

2011-04-15T01:40:00.000-07:00

knowgress

Today's pwoermd is...

2011-04-14T00:53:00.000-07:00

Propain

Today's pwoermd is...

2011-04-13T07:12:00.000-07:00

Tragician

Today's pwoermd is...

2011-04-12T14:30:00.001-07:00

Relicatessen

Today's pwoermd is...

2011-04-11T01:02:00.000-07:00

Nonwhelmed

Today's pwoermd is...

2011-04-10T09:35:00.000-07:00

Isothrax

Today's pwoermd is...

2011-04-09T15:35:00.000-07:00

Artifictional

Today's pwoermd is...

2011-04-07T01:06:00.000-07:00

klep

Today's pwoermd is....

2011-04-06T02:16:00.000-07:00

prevenge

Today's pwoermd is...

2011-04-05T06:44:00.001-07:00

cachalittle

Today's poermwd is...

2011-04-04T02:57:00.001-07:00

Fraudcast

Today's poermwd is...

2011-04-02T02:44:00.000-07:00

claffie

Online poetry course with Winning Words

2011-04-01T06:44:00.000-07:00

An online poetry-writing course is about to start. Run by Winning Words and hosted by Jo Bell (director of National Poetry Day and all-round poetry enthusiast), it costs £137 for six weeks of exercises and feedback, and should be lively and challenging for any level of writer. They'll be using links to online resources like videos and sound files, and also encouraging course members to use their own materials at home - like their music collection or bookshelf.

Because it's online, people will be able to use their materials as a prompt, but with the sense of taking part in a proper class, with classmates meeting in a forum and working in a really challenging way. If you're interested you can find more information here at the Winning Words site or by emailing michelleteasdale@hotmail.com

Today's pwoermd

2011-04-01T06:37:00.001-07:00

is Moralysis

pwoermds

2011-04-01T06:36:00.000-07:00

I’ll be joining Geof Huth and others by posting a pwoemrd a day through out April (which is National Poetry Writing Month or NaPoWriMo). For more information regarding the pwoemrd see Geof’s blog and the annual site he maintains for the pwoemrd - InterNaPwoWriMo where links to the other participants are.

No, this is not an April Fool!

Open Mic poetry & short stories in Perth Library this Saturday night March 26th

2011-03-21T08:30:00.000-07:00

Bring your poems and (short) short stories along to the AK Bell Library Café in Perth for the ever popular Open Mic Night. Readers & Listeners welcome from 8pm till 11pm, admission free. Also featuring music from Don Nicolson. Come along and give your work a public airing!

Helena Nelson poetry workshop at Perth Writers Day March 26th

2011-03-21T08:25:00.000-07:00

Avoiding the slush pile

Where do you want to see your poems in five years' time? Helena Nelson will introduce ways of planning a strategy, promoting your work and dramatically improving your prospects.

Maximise your chances of succcess with:
• magazines
• competitions
• publishers

Workshop participants are encouraged to bring up to five poems with them, preferably a set they might send in to a magazine.

Helena Nelson is originator and editor of the award-winning HappenStance Press, which specialises in poetry pamphlets. She is also the author of two collections of poetry, the first of which (Starlight on Water, Rialto 2003) was a Jerwood Prize winner.

The workshop takes place in the AK Bell Library's Soutar Theatre from 2.30-4.30pm. Tickets £10 (£7 concessions). Further details here

.

Fiona Thackeray launches her book at Perth Writers Day 26th March

2011-03-21T08:16:00.000-07:00

Join Fiona to celebrate the launch of her first collection of short stories. The Secret's in the Folding moves between the glamorous Brazil of beachfront and Sambadrome and the backlands, parochial towns and favelas.

Fiona Thackeray lived in Brazil for several years and now runs a national charity based in Perthshire. Her stories have won several prizes, been broadcast on BBC Radio, and published in literary anthologies and magazines.

The launch takes place in the A K Bell Library's Sandeman Room, 1-2pm and it's free!

More details here

Andrew Philip poetry workshop at Perth Writers Day - Saturday 26th March

2011-03-21T08:06:00.000-07:00

“No surprise for the writer, no surprise for the reader” — whether you are setting out on your journey into poetry or have already been on the road a long time, Robert Frost's statement rings true. Join Andrew Philip to explore ways of bringing that element of surprise into your writing.

Andrew Philip has published two pamphlets with HappenStance. His first full collection, The Ambulance Box (Salt, March 2009), was shortlisted for the Aldeburgh, Seamus Heaney Centre and Scottish Arts Council first book prizes. He is an experienced workshop tutor and recently taught an online course for the Poetry School.

This event takes place in the A K Bell Library in Perth, in the Sandeman Room from 10:30am - 12:30pm
Tickets £10.00 (£7.00 concession)

Further details available here

Hotchpotch 1st Birthday event - Monday 21st March

2011-03-15T03:52:00.000-07:00

Hotchpotch celebrates its first anniversary on March 21 in Braes basement on Perth Road, Dundee at 7.30pm – can you believe it's been going for a full year? Organiser Jen Cosgrove sends thanks to everyone who has supported the venture over the last 12 months. It would be great to see some new folk, so if you know someone who has never been before, this is your chance to bring them along.

As ever, if you’d like to read, then please feel free to get in touch with Jen at hotchpotch.dundee@gmail.com. There will be a bit of a party atmosphere at Braes, with nibbles and drinks. If you feel inclined, please do bring along some food of your own to share with others. Also, anyone who has written or read material inspired by Hotchpotch (we know some of you have!) then please bring it along.

Brian Johnstone presents 'The Home Service' at the Dundee Cultural Quarter

2011-03-15T03:44:00.000-07:00

The latest in our Dundee Cultural Quarter series of poetry events sees Brian Johnstone (poet and former director of the StAnza Poetry Festival) present 'The Home Service' in which he reads poems of postwar childhood and upbringing from his recent collection 'The Book of Belonging'. Interspersed with the poems will be popular songs reflecting the times in which the poems are set, rendered lovingly on the ukulele by Dave Burnett.

The event will take place from 6-7pm on Monday 4th April at Dundee Rep Theatre. Just £3 entry will get you an hour of marvellously atmospheric poetry and music - please do come along to what promises to be an unmissable poetry event. Details from Andy Jackson if required!

Your humbler blogger reads in Edinburgh on March 9th...

2011-02-25T03:54:00.000-08:00

This is a bit self-congratulatory, but I will be giving a reading with Kona Macphee for the Poetry Association of Scotland on the evening of Wednesday March 9th. The reading will take place in the Scottish Poetry Library in Edinburgh, starting at 7.30pm. Entry is £5 (£3 concessions).

The evening will also feature the premiere of Alastair Cook's new filmpoem 'Prodigal', from a poem by Kona Macphee, and with a live musical score composed and performed by Rebecca Rowe.

I do hope you can join us!

New Writing Dundee 2011 - call for submissions

2011-02-21T04:47:00.000-08:00

In case you haven't seen it yet, New Writing Dundee is looking for submissions for the 2011 edition. Prose (max 2000 words) or poetry (max 25 lines) both welcome. Closing date is April 2nd - more details here.

Hotchpotch - February 28th

2011-02-21T03:37:00.000-08:00

The February Hotchpotch will take place downstairs in Braes on Monday 28th February at 7.30pm.

It's an Open Mic, so please bring something along to read. It's also suggested that you bring your favourite song lyrics to share with us, in celebration of the Let's Get Lyrical campaign being run by Edinburgh UNESCO City of Literature and Glasgow UNESCO City of Music this month.

If you've not been to Hotchpotch before, do come along and see what goes on - Dundee is a city with a wealth of creative writing talent, and Hotchpotch is a great showcase for what's happening.

A Taste Of StAnza at Dundee University - Stewart Conn & Dawn Wood 15th February

2011-02-07T06:29:00.000-08:00

Warm up for the StAnza Poetry Festival in March by coming to see two of the poets who will grace StAnza 2011 at the latest Dundee Cultural Quarter event.

Stewart Conn is one of Scotland's best-loved poets, and a former Makar for Edinburgh. Stewart has published ten poetry collections over forty years, and Dundee is delighted to welcome Stewart to give his first reading in the city for some time.

Dawn Wood is from Omagh in Northern Ireland, but now lives in Perthshire. Her first collection 'Quarry' (Templar Press) was shortlisted for the Aldeburgh Prize for the best first collection of 2009.

Both are captivating readers - please don't miss this opportunity to see them, and to hear about StAnza 2011 from Director Eleanor Livingstone.

This hour-long event will take place at the Dundee Rep Theatre on Tuesday 15th February from 6pm. Admission is free but we ask for a small donation of £2 to cover costs.

Spring Poetry Readings at Dundee University

2011-01-20T07:14:00.000-08:00

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

2011-01-13T01:19:00.000-08:00

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

2011-01-13T01:07:00.000-08:00

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!

2011-01-13T00:59:00.000-08:00

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.

Poetry reading & Open Mic in Perth - Friday 26th November

2010-11-16T01:56:00.000-08:00

You are invited to a poetry evening which takes place on Friday 26th November as part of Perth's Lightnight 2010 celebrations. The reading will run from 7pm - 9pm (finished in time for the fireworks display at 9.30!), with four readers followed by an Open Mic, so bring a poem to read, or a favourite poem.

The reading will take place at the Button Hill Tea Room, 10 Charlotte Street, Perth, and entry is free!

Reading at this event will be:

Patricia Ace - born in Cleethorpes and based in Crieff, Patricia was a
prize-winner in the 2008 MsLexia Poetry Competition and her pamphlet
collection, First Blood, was published by Happenstance Press in 2006

Andy Jackson - from Lancashire via North-East Fife, Andy's first collection,
The Assassination Museum, was published in 2010 to great acclaim

Kona Macphee - Australian-born and now based in Crieff, Kona is the author
of two Bloodaxe collections (Tails, 2004 and this year's Perfect Blue) and
is also a composer and a blogger

Judith Taylor - based in Aberdeen but originally from Coupar Angus, Judith
appeared at StAnza in 2009 and her second pamphlet collection, Local
Colour, was published by Calder Wood Press in 2010

Please come along and support this event - great poetry and a great night out is guaranteed!

Writers Anonymous meeting at Dundee University tonight

2010-11-11T04:17:00.000-08:00

There will be a meeting of Dundee's Writers Anonymous group at Dundee University tonight at 6.30pm. The meeting will be held in Room 1.37 of the Baxter Suite in the Tower Building (signposts will direct you to the room).

Writers Anonymous works by email submission to the group co-ordinators in advance. At each meeting, participants offer their thoughts and constructive criticisms on each piece of work submitted, with the authors of each piece free to remain anonymous if they prefer. It's too late to submit for this week's meeting, but please send your submissions to thewritersanonymous@gmail.com if you wish to have a piece or pieces considered for the next meeting, which will take place next month. Pieces should be no more than 2500 words of prose or 3 poems.

Writers Anonymous is a lively and mixed group, and encourages attendance from writers at every stage in their development. Why not come along tonight and try it out?

And you thought THIS was the only creative writing site with a lightship as its motif!

2010-11-11T03:26:00.000-08:00

Lightship Publishing is an independent publisher based in Kingston-upon-Hull, UK. It aims to illuminate exciting literary talents and publish the best new writing in English from around the world. Big names associated with them include Sir Andrew Motion, Jackie Kay and Hilary Mantel. They currently have a number of competitions open, with handsome prizes :-

for the first chapter of a novel
for short stories
for poetry
for flash fiction

Certainly worth checking out! Click here for details...

Dawn Wood reads poetry at the Dundee Science Festival

2010-11-08T02:55:00.000-08:00

Dundee Science Festival, which runs until November 14th, hosts an evening entitled Reclaim on Wednesday 10th November at the Dundee Science Centre (Sensation) from 7pm-10pm. The evening will bring together science, art and creative writing, and will feature a reading from Aldeburgh-nominated poet Dawn Wood.

Dawn is a microbiologist at Abertay University in Dundee, but is also a hugely accomplished writer and artist, with her book 'Quarry' (Templar Press) earning rave reviews on publication in 2009.

The event open to over-18s and is free, with refreshments provided and an opportunity to socialise as you wander round the award-winning 'Sensation' exhibitions. Dawn is a wonderful reader too, so don't miss this event.

Dundee's V&A Museum design - a poetic response from W N Herbert

2010-11-05T09:15:00.000-07:00

WE are proud to publish an exclusive - a new poem from Dundee's W N Herbert in response to the news of the winning design for Dundee's proposed Victoria & Albert Museum - thanks to Bill for allowing us to use this!

The Silvery Bridie

Twas in the year of 2011,
a date McGonagall will be eagerly marking in Heaven
(or, if he isn't there then in some nearby place
they put dead people when Peter can't quite remember your face,
where he’ll be seeking whatever passes for parole
that he might walk amang us and read verses from a scroll),
that in that blazing core of Kulchur known only as 'Dundee'
famed far and wide baith above and below the sea
as the hame of discerning columnists and delicious conserves...
and also some ither thing that is currently evading me,
a Japanese architectural firm called Kengo Kuma
expended quantities of building nous and not a little pneuma
to design a Silvery Bridie to hing ootowre the Tay
and delight the porpoises and sparlings upon a summer day
(at least those who do not read The Courier, who might know to swim away),
and impersonate an aircraft carrier, though one that has no planes
though as neither of our new ones do, the result is much the same
as the Dowager Empress’s great ship of marble, erected in Beihai Park
instead of paying for the Chinese navy, and all that offensive capability lark,
and all at the request of the Victoria and Albert Museum
though our Empress and Prince Regent are never there, should you call to see them –
a situation McGonagall’s bright shade knows anely too well
for they turned him awa from Balmoral as though he wis a bad smell;
not that the V and A are offering to pit their paw in pooch
and pay up for the biggin, sae we’ll aa be on the mooch –
perhaps it shall not happen, which may be just as well,
though surely then McGonagall will do bad deals in Hell
and sell the city’s soul so that he be resurrected
and skelp the city’s arse should this not be erected;
but may badness of all varieties flee far from our prospective Gallery
and may it lure an Englishman hence with sniffs of a respectable salary
to make up for the lines of Casuals from Whitfield and Fintry
who’ll suggest he take his building and insert it in another kintry,
though I’m sure the Silvery Bridie will delight many a Dundonian
such as does not take a drink and sings to their harmonium
the civic psalms beloved by sic as love their municipality
for its bandstands and shrubberies and sic-like banalities
for here is where the couthy meets the anime, the wifie meets the geek
and where those aliens the cultured will meet for coffee in mid-week,
where our robo-zombie bardie hears a dictum he must stick to
as the Reverend Gilfillan cries, ‘McGort! Klaatu barada nikto!’

Dundee poet Cathy Whitfield launches 'Dark Side Of The Moon'

2010-11-04T02:17:00.000-07:00

Dundee poet Cathy Whitfield will launch her debut collection 'Dark Side Of The Moon' on Tuesday 16th November in the Baxter Room 1.36 at Dundee University. The event will start at 7.45pm with a drinks reception to follow. All are welcome to attend - please contact Cathy at whitfieldcathy@gmail.com if you intend to come along.

Cathy has been writing on the Dundee scene for many years, and it's great to see her finally with a full collection at last. In 'Dark Side Of The Moon' she covers topics as diverse as a Ben Macdui ghost, Pictish ancestors, a Dundee weathervane and the inheritance pattern of comb shape in chickens.

Dark Side Of The Moon will be published by WomenWords Books, priced £5.99. Please contact Cathy if you can't make the launch but would like a copy.

Dundee Open Mic night at Drouthy Neebors - October 31st

2010-10-28T03:00:00.000-07:00

Owen Pilgrim is putting together a night of spoken word at Drouthy Neebors in Dundee on October 31st from 9.30pm to midnight. If you are interested in performing - poetry, storytelling, singing (Owen promises a broad church) please contact him on 01738 730235 or via email at storypilgrim@hotmail.com.

Spirit of the Dighty - Dundee writers inspired on the Banks of the Burnie

2010-10-28T02:53:00.000-07:00

A group of Dundee writers present 'Spirit of the Dighty' - original pieces by local writers performed along the Banks of the Burnie. There will be several 'performances' of this, as follows:-

Saturday 30 October:   3pm - 4.30pm
Sunday 31 October:   3pm - 4.30pm
Saturday 6 November: 3pm - 4.30pm
Sunday 7 November:   3pm - 4.30pm

Meet at 2.45pm in the car park at Mains Castle (Caird Park)
Tickets £5 (£3 concessions) and numbers are limited, so you are advised to 'book early to avoid disappointment'. Tickets available from Douglas Community Centre, Finmill Centre and Broughty Ferry Library - call Dighty Connect on 01382 436932 for more information.

2nd annual James Kirkup Poetry Competition

2010-10-28T02:28:00.000-07:00

After a successful inaugural year, Red Squirrel Press host the second annual James Kirkup Memorial Poetry Competition. Details available from the Red Squirrel website here. Closing date is 31st December 2010, with judges Ian McMillan, Andrew McMillan and Kathleen Kenny. The first prize will be the publication of your poetry pamphlet...so get writing now!

Sing A Sang O' Soutar

2010-10-28T02:15:00.000-07:00

As part of the Perth 800 celebrations, the city will play host to a celebration of the poems of William Soutar on November 11th at the AK Bell Library. The event promises poetry, music and song to celebrate the life of Perth's most famous poetic son, starting at 7.30pm on Thursday 11th November 2010 in the Soutar Theatre within Perth's central library. Tickets cost £6 including refreshments - details can be found here.

WomenWords Books present 'Sunrise over Machu Picchu'

2010-10-22T07:11:00.000-07:00

WomenWords Books of Carnoustie havev published a new anthology of poetry from across the world entitled 'Sunrise over Machu Picchu'. It's available for the special price of £5.00 each (cover price £6.99) plus £1 postagefrom Penny Ward, the person behind WomenWords.

Contact WomenWords at WomenWords, 28 Maule St, Carnoustie, DD7 7AP or email them at womenwordspoetry@googlemail.com

Andrew Philip at Dundee University

2010-10-19T09:07:00.000-07:00

This is a bit last-minute, but Andrew will be reading tomorrow (20th October) at Dundee University, in the Dalhousie Building Room 2G14 from 1-2pm. Free!

Dundee Literary Festival - Poem and a Piece with Brian Johnstone

2010-10-19T03:03:00.000-07:00

Brian Johnstone, distinguished poet, musical collaborator and former Director of the StAnza Festival, will be reading from The Book of Belongings at the Dundee Literary Festival. The reading takes place in the Bonar Hall on October 28th from 12.30 -1.30. Tickets are available for £5 from the Literary Festival's online store here.

Other events at the Dundee Literary Festival include readings from Booker-longlisted Alan Warner, novelist James Robertson and Dr Finlay actor David Rintoul, with Norman Watson discussing the career and legacy of the singular Dundee poet William Topaz McGonagall. Details of the whole festival available here.

Tea with Maureen & Mae at Dundee Central Library

2010-10-19T02:52:00.000-07:00

Join two of Dundee's best-known local authors Maureen Reynolds & Mae Stewart for afternoon tea at Dundee Central Library. The two writers will be discussing their work from 2.30pm on Thursday 18th November at the Steps Theatre within Dundee Central Library. Tickets are free, but booking is essential. To get one in advance call 01382 431500...

Cat And Mouse - a new play about the Perth Suffragettes (October 20th)

2010-10-11T05:32:00.000-07:00

You are invited to a rehearsed reading of Cat And Mouse, a new play written by Perth's former Writer-in-Residence Ajay Close and performed by the Stellar Quines Theatre Company. A rehearsed reading gives a potential audience the chance to comment on the text and staging of a play, and gives a fascinating insight into the transition of a play from page to stage.

The reading will take place at the Soutar Theatre within the AK Bell Library in Perth on Wednesday 20th Ocober at 7.30pm. Entrance is free, but please be prepared to discuss and offer opinions on the play! Please contact mltodd@pkc.gov.uk if you wish to come.

Patchwork Poem for National Poetry Day 2010

2010-10-07T01:41:00.000-07:00

Our project to produce a Patchwork Poem for National Poetry Day 2010 is now complete, and the poem is below. My thanks to all 43 respondents for submitting lines to go into the final poem - from established Scottish poets such as Sheila Templeton and Eleanor Livingstone to a group of schoolchildren from Aberdeenshire and attendees at an Adult Learning Centre on the West Coast. We also had submissions from south of the border and as far away as Germany, which proves that the written word cannot be constrained by boundaries.

The poem takes one line from each sunbmission to form the overall poem, which hopefully moulds independent lines into a coherent finished product. It was certainly a challenge, but ultimately an enjoyable one.

The poem is also available as an attractive download, including colour images of 'natural tartan' provided by Terri Turner, a photographer from Perth (the Western Australian Perth rather than the Scottish one) and sourced through Flickr. Our thanks to Terri for the free use of these images. The poem can be downloaded as a 2-page A4 version here or as a poster-sized A3 copy here.

Now, the poem itself....

I Sing Of Bricks

Sometimes, when a person asks my place of birth,
I'm looking at my watch, planning my exit
with every beat in my step,
just waiting for the right time,
until eventually it's now, and here I am again,
where love lies, where I feel safe,
a building where I explore within myself,
created out of homelessness.
A place to go when I need to rest my head,
where my dreams float,
my happiness blows like an ember,
my door at the twist of its key falls open.

Tonight the wind gnaws and stabs with icy daggers,
grinding us the same relentless grey.
The wardrobe yawns shut, the blinds droop heavy lids.
You're behind me in the room, busy with music,
a masterpiece waiting to be born,
the melody in a score. You linger in backgrounds,
happy, mostly; open, always,
your voice merry at the necessity of sheltering.

Sometimes, in the corner of my eye, I see it, still,
a cupboard under the stairs and one locked drawer,
an alchemy of yellowed photographs, family in a freckled time-lapse,
the room that came alive when a coal fire was lit,
a glowing oil lamp, a warming hearth, a spacious kitchen,
a spoon that pirouettes gracefully across a non-stick dance floor.
Bath, bubbles, books and a glass of wine,
the night our skins finally touched
where hats were laid on grandma's feather mattress,
my love's hands, cool as wood.
A snapshot of paradise,
the tree of life, embroidered by me,
a discovery, whose beauty is ingrained forever
and, through its grace, I am welcomed home.

My thoughts now shape what once shaped me,
fingers pointing to the coming, the going,
the all-embracing hug of it, the lights-down-low relax of it,
such beauty by day and peace by night.
It remains as elusive as a falling star,
defiant as weeds between the paving.
Here I've bidden aa these years.
I will never be here bodily again.
The van? Packed. The house? Empty,
but if you return you've never left.

Contributors

Helen Addy
Lauren Boyle
India Bruckner
Hazel Buchan Cameron
June Cadden
Mark Carlisle
Di Chorley
Jen Cosgrove
Amy Devlin
Irene Ewen
Robinette Featherstone
Pascale Free
Anne Gerono
Eddie Gibbons
Sally Hood
Alissa Jones Nelson
Helen Lawrenson
Pippa Little
Eleanor Livingstone
Anastasia Lumsden
Anne Mackley
Roderick Manson
Lyn Moir
Wendy Jane Muzlanova
Lucy Neil
Stella Pierides
Ann Prescott
Heather Reid
Lydia Robb
Martin Rowbottom
Anna Ruddiman
Kirsteen Scott
Elizabeth F Sinclair
Elizabeth Taylor
Judith Taylor
Michael Taylor
Sheila Templeton
Fiona Thackeray
Jacqueline Thompson
Anji Topping
Deborah Trayhurn
Christie Williamson
Erik Zoha

Poem collated by Andy Jackson

Images reproduced by kind permission of Terri Turner

Fife Book Festival 2010

2010-10-06T01:54:00.000-07:00

This takes place in the Rothes Halls Glenrothes from 10am-4pm this Saturday, 9th October. Poetry, prose, novels and non-fiction all represented, with readings from the likes of Rob MacKenzie, Ross Wilson, Ian Nimmo White, Andrew Ferguson, Maureen Sangster and others. And it's free!

Brilliant Poetry Night this Friday

2010-10-06T01:38:00.000-07:00

Another reminder - this time for the poetry evening hosted by Brilliant Poetry at the Links Hotel in Montrose this Friday, 8th October from 8pm - headlining is Tim Turnbull, with support from a Calder Wood trio of Juliet Wilson, Anna Dickie and Morgan Downie. Entrance £5 at the door, tickets £4 in advance...

Soutar Writers Open Mic night

2010-10-06T01:29:00.000-07:00

Hello all - quick reminder of the Open Mic night at the AK Bell Library cafe in Perth on this Saturday, 9th October. Music from Kenneth Steven and spoken word entertainment of the highest quality. 7.30pm kick-off...

Dundee Literary Salon - Jonathan Falla

2010-09-29T01:22:00.000-07:00

The first in a new season of Literary Salons kicks off on Thursday of this week with Jonathan Falla at Braes Bar in Dundee, starting at 5pm. This event is free, but is ticketed on a first-come first-served basis, so get to Braes early!

The Dundee Literary Salons are brought to you by Literary Dundee, and this first one is a precursor to the upcoming Dundee Literary Festival which moves to Winter 2011 from its usual June slot. There will be a series of readings and events on October 27th-28th - more details to follow.

Upcoming events - Tim Turnbull in Montrose and a Perth Open Mic

2010-09-23T02:04:00.000-07:00

Two events to let you know about...

Tim Turnbull (left), a veritable legend of performance poetry, will be appearing at the Brilliant Poetry night at the Links Hotel in Montrose on October 8th. Details here - support from three Calder Wood Poets (Anna Dickie, Morgan Downie & Juliet Wilson) and Dundee's foremost girl group Loadsaweeminsingin. MC'ed by Rachel Fox.

Soutar Writers will be hosting an Open Mic night at the AK Bell Library in Perth hosted by MC Lachlan Renwick with musical interludes - free entry, bring something to read.

More events upcoming including the Dundee Literary Festival - Brian Johnstone, Andrew Philip to name but a few. Stay tuned, space cadets.

National Poetry Day - Please contribute to 'A Scottish Patchwork'

2010-09-20T03:22:00.000-07:00

As some of you may know, October 7th is National Poetry Day, with the theme this year being Home. To celebrate, North Carr Light would like to construct a Patchwork Poem or Cento for Scotland on the theme of Home.

How can you contribute?

Please send us your original poetry on the theme - they can be complete poems, either already written or written specially for the Patchwork, or they can be just random lines or poetic thoughts, but should address the theme of home - for instance, you could send a poem or a few lines concerning :-

* the building you live in
* the place you came from
* the people who mean 'home' to you
* the tastes or smells of home
* journeys to or from home

We will then create a Patchwork Poem by taking individual lines from your contributions. The resulting Patchwork Poem will be published here on North Carr Light on National Poetry Day.

Please email your contribution to a.z.jackson@dundee.ac.uk with the email subject 'Patchwork Poem'.
Contributions should reach us by October 1st at the latest

Remember, we can only use a line or two from each contribution, so please keep them brief and don't send long poems. Feel free to spread the word to anyone who you feel might be interested in submitting something - even if it's just a line!

Many thanks and we wait to receive your contribution...

Kona Macphee and Lydia Robb reading at Dundee University September 15th

2010-09-06T04:21:00.000-07:00

On Wednesday September 15th at Dundee University we will have the great pleasure of hearing from two of Scotland's most interesting and celebrated poets - Kona Macphee and Lydia Robb. Australian-born Kona has had two critically-acclaimed collections published by Bloodaxe, and Lydia is one of Dundee's favourite poetic daughters, with a fantastic collection 'Last Tango With Magritte' released a few years ago. Both excellent readers - I promise you will not be disappointed.

The reading will take place on Wednesday 15th September at 6.30pm in the Baxter Conference Suite in the Tower Building at Dundee University. Details of the location can be found here

Entrance is just £2 and all are welcome. Let me know if you intend to come by emailing a.z.jackson@dundee.ac.uk.

This is the first in a sequence of poetry/creative writing events we hope to host in Dundee entitled 'Cultural Quarter'. We hope you will support this first one as you have done with other local events over the last year. Dundee is starting to come alive as a city of literature - please support this event to help it grow!

Pushing Out The Boat launch - a reminder !

2010-09-01T03:26:00.000-07:00

Pushing Out The Boat, the acclaimed magazine of new writing from the north-east of Scotland, is hosting an evening of poetry, stories and song on Sunday 5th September 2010 (7pm-9pm) at the Links Hotel, Montrose.

Readers are now confirmed as:-

Poetry: Rachel Fox, Judy Taylor, Robert Ramsay, Sheila Reid.
Fiction: Cal Wallace, Stephen Pacitti, Martin Walsh, Eleanor Fordyce

Please see the earlier post on this blog for full details!

Callander Poetry Weekend - this weekend!

2010-08-31T03:32:00.000-07:00

One of Scotland's best-loved poetry events takes place this weekend in the Perthshire town of Callander. Hosted by Sally Evans of Diehard books and Poetry Scotland, the event runs from early evening on Friday 3rd September until late afternoon on Sunday 5th.

Among the plethora of readings, highlights are sure to include the world premiere of THE HOME SERVICE or A Twentieth Century Life, being a mother's story in poems and songs presented by Brian Johnstone and Dave Burnett. Also featured are Lancashire dialect poetry (as an exiled Lancastrian, something close to my heart), tributes to the late Edwin Morgan, and readings from the likes of Eleanor Livingstone, Kona Macphee, Colin Will, Margaret Gillies Brown, Kevin Cadwallender, Judy Taylor, Sheila Templeton, Alan Gay, Chris Powici and many more. This is a free event - please do come along if you can!

Programme details plus other information is available here.

Scots Language Centre invite you tae a pairty!

2010-08-19T02:52:00.000-07:00

Luath Press an the Centre for the Scots Leid is richt joco tae inveet yersel an a guest til a pairty in the Pairty Pavilion [the gless-frontit marquee that neebors the main RBS lecture chaumer] at the Embra Aw-Kintra Buik Fest in Charlotte Square. The theme o the gaithering is grundit on the leids o

Scotland

Authors kything includes John Cairney, Angus Peter Campbell, Christine De Luca, Alistair Findlay, Robert Alan Jamieson, Stuart McHardy, Liz Niven, Mark Thomson and Rab Wilson. Mair parteeclars anent thair buiks is ablow.

The pairty is free but ingait tae this event is bi inveet alane. Please reply til events@luath.co.uk 0131 225 4326 wi yer name(s) bi Thursday 26 August.

Pushing Out The Boat - an evening of poetry, stories and music

2010-08-12T02:20:00.000-07:00

Pushing Out The Boat, an acclaimed magazine of new writing from the north-east of Scotland, is hosting an evening of poetry, stories and song on Sunday 5th September 2010 (7pm-9pm) at the Links Hotel, Montrose.

The successful publication is now in its ninth year and several contributors to the current edition will be presenting their work at this event. Music will be provided by local musician Gary Anderson. Tickets for the event are £3.

For more details about Pushing The Boat Out click here, or for more information, contact Eleanor Fordyce on 01307 465056 or at info@pushingouttheboat.co.uk

Edinburgh Festival goings-on - Tim Turnbull, Patricia Ace, Morgan Downie and (ahem) me!

2010-08-10T01:04:00.000-07:00

Some local writers and poets are appearing at the Edinburgh Festival - if you're down there then please check them out.

Tim Turnbull will be appearing in his one-man spoken word event at the Banshee Labyrinth from the 18th-28th August, starting at 8.40pm each day. Details here

Crieff-based poet Patricia Ace is appearing in a Loose Tongues performance on Friday 27th August at the Forest Cafe, 3 Bristo Place, between 4-5 pm. Patricia is reading with Stephanie Green, Jane McKie and Mandy Haggith.

Perth-based poet Morgan Downie will be reading a selection of his work at various venues
August 13th and August 19th at the Captain's Bar, South College St (7.30pm start)
August 16th at St John's Church, Princes St (2pm start)
August 21st 'al fresco' at Craig's Close - this involves what Morgan describes as a 'weaving installation' which must be a first for poetry!
August 22nd at the Banshee Labyrinth cinema on Niddry St (4.45pm start)

I will be joining Morgan for a reading at the Captain's Bar on Friday August 13th. Good job I'm not superstitious!

Upcoming events in the Dundee & Fife area

2010-08-06T06:30:00.000-07:00

Hello all - three events to fill you in on :-

Six Aberdeen poets including the marvellous Judy Taylor will read at the Pittenweem Arts Festival on 12th August at 7pm. Tickets £8, details available here.

Margaret Drabble will talk about her latest edition of 'A Writer’s Britain' at St Andrews Town Hall, Friday 20th August at 7pm. Tickets required - details here.

Karen Campbell, crime writer, will read from her books and talk about her writing at Broughty Ferry Library on 26th August from 7pm. Free event, but tickets required. Again, details available here.

New edition of Northwords Now out!

2010-07-29T03:46:00.000-07:00

Northwords Now is the free poetry and prose magazine (in newspaper form) for the north of Scotland. It comes out 3-4 times per year under the new editorship of Chris Powici and contains short stories, poems (some in Gaelic or in dialect) and reviews by some of the best-known names in Scotland - Diana Hendry, Ken Steven, Donald S Murray, Gerry Cambridge and others in this issue alone.

It's available for free right across the Highlands and Islands in a wealth of places, but locally you can pick up a copy at the following places:-

Aberfeldy : Watermill Gallery
Callander : Diehard Bookshop
Dundee : Dundee Contemporary Arts
St Andrews : The Byre Theatre
plus a variety of locations in Edinburgh & Glasgow

Alternatively, you can receive a copy in the post or view it online.

The best free creative writing read in the country - pick yours up now!

The Asham Award - short story competition for women writers

2010-07-28T02:45:00.000-07:00

This looks an interesting opportunity for short-story writers - a national competition for the Asham Award. Judges are Lennie Goodings, Sarah Waters and Polly Samson. Closes 30th September, 4000 words max on the theme of a ghost story, with an encouragement to 'go gothic'! Best of luck if you decide to enter - I'll post up similar competition details as and when they come to me, if people are interested?