Rodge Glass put together a youthful, diverse, international programme focussing on writers who have worked in several fields (prose, journalism, poetry, drama etc.) all drawn on very different traditions, and are known for their performances of their work.
Talks in Ramshorn Theatre at 5.15pm.
Tueday 24th November 2009 - KAPKA KASSABOVA
Kapka Kassabova was born and raised in Bulgaria, and educated by her scientist parents, the French College in Sofia and two New Zealand universities. In 1990, their family moved to England and later to New Zealand. Five years ago Kapka moved back to Britain, living in Edinburgh now.
Her latest poetry collections are Someone Else's Life (Bloodaxe 2003) and Geography for the Lost (Bloodaxe 2007), titles which grossly hint at her preoccupations. Her travel essays were twice recipients of the NZ Cathay Pacific Travel Writer of the Year award, and she writes the occasional travel guide.
Kapka's memoir Street Without a Name: Childhood and Other Misadventures in Bulgaria (Portobello Books, 2008), is a coming of age story at the end of Communism, and an unsentimental journey across the interesting mess that is modern Bulgaria. It was named shortlisted for the Dolman Travel Book Award and has just been named finalist in the 2009 Prix du Livre Europeén.
Kapka contributes with book reviews and travel articles to the Guardian, Vogue, the TLS, The NZ Listener, The Sunday Times, and BBC Radio 4 and Radio 3.
Thursday 11th February 2010 - LOUISE WELSH
One of Scotland's most popular, critically acclaimed writers. Her publications include The Cutting Room (2002), Tamburlaine Must Die (2004), The Bullet Trick (2006), and a new novel Naming the Bones (forthcoming March 2010 in Canongate). She is a regular radio broadcaster, and has also written for the stage. Her latest play, Memory Cells was performed at The Arches, Glasgow, in October 2009.
Thursday 25th March 2010 - KEVIN MACNEIL
Born and raised on the Isle of Lewis and is a graduate of the University of Edinburgh. As poet, novelist, aphorist, lyricist, screenwriter and playwright, his books include Love and Zen in the Outer Hebrides (Canongate), Be Wise Be Otherwise (Canongate), The Callanish Stoned (Theatre Hebrides) and The Stornoway Way (Penguin).
The William Campbell and Kevin MacNeil single Local Man Ruins Everything (Fantastic Plastic) was Single of the Week in The Guardian, in The List and on Steve Lamacq’s radio show.
In September 2009 MacNeil cycled 1300km of the Danube, from source to Budapest, on a single-speed fixed-gear track bike, for two cancer charities; there will be a non-fiction travelogue/memoir and a television documentary shortly thereafter (Two Wheels by the Danube).
Archive of Author Talks Series 2008/2009