Biography

I am a poet, novelist, short story writer and editor, writing in English and Scots. I was born in Kent in 1958, but grew up in Bridge of Allan, Stirlingshire from the age of six. I studied history at Edinburgh University, and worked in various jobs, including bookselling, before becoming a full-time writer. My first book, a collection of short stories, was published in 1991, and since then I have published more than twenty books, for both adults and children. From 1993 to 1995 I was writer-in-residence at Brownsbank Cottage, the former home of the poet Hugh MacDiarmid, near Biggar in Lanarkshire. I am a founder, editor and a contributing author to the Scots language children’s imprint Itchy Coo. I set up the pamphlet-publishing imprint Kettillonia in 1999 but spend most of my time now working on adult fiction and books for bairns in Scots.

About writer's work

I am interested in history, politics and international affairs, Scottish literature, language and culture, and all these themes appear in my work for adults. Scots language and plenty of humour are important in the books I write or edit for children. My novel Joseph Knight won both the Saltire Book of the Year and Scottish Arts Council Book of the Year awards in 2003/04, and The Testament of Gideon Mack was long-listed for the Man Booker Prize and various other awards. It also featured on the Richard & Judy Book Club. I was awarded a Creative Scotland Award in 2006 to work on a novel about Scotland from 1945 to the present.

Websites featuring the author

Current events and projects

I am happy to consider most types of events, including readings, talks, lectures, workshops, classroom activities etc, and can work with audiences of all age groups.