Gael Force

Donald S. Murray comes from Ness in the Isle of Lewis and teaches in Shetland. Widely published, his poetry and prose, journalism and verse have appeared in a large number of outlets, including national anthologies and BBC Radio 4 and Radio Scotland.

His collection of short stories Special Deliverance (Scottish Cultural Press) was shortlisted for a Saltire Award. His pamphlet West Coasters was also shortlisted for a national award, the Callum Macdonald Memorial Award. His second pamphlet Between Minch And Muckle Flugga was published by Kettilonia. His new collection of verse Speak To Us, Catriona is based on Donald MacDonald's Tales And Traditions of the Lews and is published by the Islands Book Trust.

Rhoda Michael was born in Beauly, got away, but is now back again. She lived for many years in Aberdeen and is nostalgic for the bright lights of Pittodrie on a winter afternoon. She won the 17th Poetry Life Prize 2001, and her poetry pamphlet In Long Connected Threads was published in 2002. She is currently editor of Northwords Now.

Karen Ray is inspired by the magic and mystery of her home on the Black Isle, attempting to blend that with a Glaswegian sense of humour, sometimes in the same piece. Her stories and poetry always have something to make the reader smile, but she does enjoy exploring the darker side of human nature. Career highlight to date: runner up in a school poetry competition cribbing the words of Candle in the Wind!

Maggie Wallis says: "My writing ventures began in Stonehaven where I lived for twelve years. My creative space, 'the Henhouse', is a female zone in a house full of men. Dabbling in poetry, short story and novel writing, I have appeared twice in Pushing Out the Boat, including the most recent publication."

Mandy Haggith was born in Northumberland, has spent her adult life based in Scotland and now lives on a woodland croft in Assynt, in the Scottish Highlands. She first studied Philosophy and Mathematics, then Artificial Intelligence, and spent years trying to write elegant computer programs that could help to save the planet. A decade ago she left academia to pursue a life of writing and revolution, travelling all over the world researching forests and the people dependent on them, and campaigning for their protection.

In 2003, Mandy returned to Glasgow University to study for an MPhil in Creative Writing, gaining a distinction. A poetry pamphlet, letting light in, was published in 2005 by Essencepress, and her first book length collection, Castings, has just been published by Two Ravens Press. She is currently writing a non-fiction book about paper.

Deirdre MacTaggart is a Senior Lecturer at the Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen specialising in Tourism and Hospitality. She was born and brought up on the Isle of Islay - her parents being a hybrid of Lewis and Islay. She has sung in local and national mods since the age of 7 and competed as a soloist and in choirs, duets and folkgroups at junior and senior level. She won the Women's Gold Medal in 2000. Still a regular Mod goer she enjoys singing at ceilidhs and concerts more than in competitions. She is in a group called Rapach who have won twice at the Mod and recently recorded for TV. She sings in the Aberdeen Gaelic Choir who will be travelling to Vancouver in May 2007 to attend the Vancouver National Mod.

Promoted by

Dead Good Poets
Wordfringe

Supported by

Aberdeen Central Library
Aberdeen City Council
Books and Beans
Philip King II Dress Hire
Live Literature Scotland (Scottish Book Trust)
Northwords Now