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Ian Spring

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Contact: [email protected]
Local authority: Perth and Kinross
Languages: English, Scots

I am a writer, historian and publisher based in Perth. I worked in universities throughout the UK and I am an experienced speaker. My publications include two books on Glasgow, three books on folk song and two volumes of short stories. My publications can be easily accessed on the web.

I am happy to talk about aspects Glasgow, blending history and biography and Scottish folk song. I can give readings from my short stories and also poetry. I have edited the work of Mary Symon, Crombie Saunders and Freddy Anderson and speak on their work. As the founder of a Scottish small press, I can talk about various aspects of publishing.

My current research is into modern Scottish cultural history and I can talk about aspects of this. Some topics I have spoken on include: depictions of St Kilda, discovering the Scottish mountains, Scottish icons, Scottish urban fiction and the work of Alasdair Gray.

I also write crime fiction under the name Simpson Grears and I am happy to speak about this and read from my detective short stories.

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; Na h-Eileanan Siar (Western Isles); North Ayrshire; North Lanarkshire; Orkney Islands; Perth and Kinross; Renfrewshire; Scottish Borders; Shetland; South Ayrshire; South Lanarkshire; Stirling; West Dunbartonshire; West Lothian

Events will deliver

Reading; Talk; Workshop

Audience will work with

Adult learners

Topics of work

Biography & memoir; Class & society; Contemporary fiction; Fairy tales, folklore & mythology; History; Island communities; Mystery & thriller; Publishing & getting published; Self-publishing & independent publishing; Travel writing; Urban communities

Age groups published for

Adults

Age groups will work with

15-18; 18+

Audience size

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