Looking for more in Author Directory?

Alan Bissett

All of the information on this page has been provided by the author. If you need an author to have specialist skills, experience or knowledge please ask for more information about this ahead of booking them for an event. Please note that Scottish Book Trust cannot carry out Disclosure checks on Live Literature authors for most events. It is the responsibility of the person organising the event to carry out the appropriate Disclosure checks.
Contact: [email protected]
Local authority: Renfrewshire
Languages: English, Scots
Author type: Playwright, Radio Dramatist, Screenwriter, Spoken Word Artist, Writer
Alan Bissett's headshot

Since my first short stories were published in 1999, I have written successfully across a range of media - prose fiction, theatre, TV series, radio - which has given me a wealth of experience and awards. I have also performed my work extensively across Scotland, with my 'one woman show' The Moira Monologues being especially popular.

My novels are, in the main, about working-class Scottish teenagers and appeal to those normally alienated by books. However, while they are often about teens they are not teen fiction in the traditional sense, as they were published for and are mainly consumed by adults. My awards include Glenfiddich Scottish Writer of the Year 2012, Fringe First Winner (for More Moira Monologues) 2016, Best Short Documentary San Francisco International Film Festival 2010 and an Honorary Doctorate from Stirling University for Outstanding Contribution to Scottish Culture in 2016.

My background is in teaching: I was trained as secondary school English teacher and have also lectured in Creative Writing at the Universities of Leeds and Glasgow. I very much enjoy talks in school, though, and am often asked to speak or deliver workshops to senior pupils.

(Photo credit: Sean Purser)

(Works in Scots)

 

Websites featuring the author

Local authorities will visit

Aberdeen City; Aberdeenshire; Angus; Argyll and Bute; Clackmannanshire; Dumfries and Galloway; Dundee; East Ayrshire; East Dunbartonshire; East Lothian; East Renfrewshire; Edinburgh City; Falkirk; Fife; Glasgow City; Highland; Inverclyde; Midlothian; Moray; North Ayrshire; North Lanarkshire; Perth and Kinross; Renfrewshire; South Ayrshire; South Lanarkshire; Stirling; West Dunbartonshire; West Lothian

Events will deliver

Mentoring; Panel event; Performance; Reading; Talk; Workshop; Professional development, CLPL or CPD; Chairing events

Topics of work

Adolescence; Class & society; Comedy, humour & funny books; Contemporary fiction; Drug addiction, alcoholism & substance abuse; Family; Friendship; Politics

Age groups published for

Teens; Adults

Age groups will work with

15-18; 18+

Audience size

0-10; 11-30; 31-100; 100-500; 500+