James McGonigal
Home address:
G/R 21, Camphill Avenue, Langside, Glasgow, G41 3AU, ScotlandTelephone:
0141 632 1766Email:
j.mcgonigal@educ.gla.ac.ukBRAW network:
noLL funded:
yesBiography:
Born in 1947 in Dumfries, I have lived and worked there and in the West of Scotland. I combined writing with English teaching, in urban and rural secondary schools for 14 years and then in primary and secondary teacher education, producing development materials for schools (including Talk about Poetry, 1987 and My Mum’s a Punk, 2002) as well as research studies of classroom interaction, early literacy, and identity and language issues among migrant children. Poetry has been my constant creative interest, although I have also published short stories in English and Scots, and literary criticism. I like editing and anthologising new and established writers.
About writer's work:
My poetry reflects how it feels to be alive in the world: births, birds in flight, cars, angels, memories, losses, clouds, children and trees. It emerges from a mainly Scottish and Irish world, lyrical but unpredictable, and has won awards in both countries: Scottish Arts Council Writer’s Award (2002), Davoreen Hanna Poetry Competition (2002), and the Deric Bolton Long Poem Award (2004).
About writer's events and projects:
I can do readings or workshops, shaped to the needs, age or stage of the audience. There is material for adults and children, in both English and Scots. I’m interested in memory, the creative process, children’s own writing and writing for children. Recently I’ve been working with P6 and 7 children from a wide range of backgrounds using prose and poetry in Scots, but I have a lot of experience in secondary schools and have worked happily with adult writers groups too.
Links to other websites:
www.gla.ac.uk/faculties/education/staff/jamesmcgonigal/www.scottisharts.org.uk/1/artsinscotland/scots/poemofthemonth/archive/poemseptember2004.aspx
www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/10/31125406/0
www.itchy-coo.com/booktitles/weekingothemidden.html
www.spl.org.uk/poets_a-z/mcgonigal.html
Language:
Scots, EnglishAge groups:
5-8, 9-12, Teens, AdultsBooks written
Originally published in 1997, A Braw Brew has proved to be enormously popular with young folk throughout Scotland. Ranging from the traditional tales of Stanley Robertson and James McGonigal; sea ...
Growing up in Scotland today is partly about learning to listen to others and this anthology should provide useful classroom material to think or talk about as well as encouraging young people to ...
