Sheena Blackhall
Email:
s.middleton@abdn.ac.ukWebsite:
www.screivins.blogspot.comBRAW network:
yesLL funded:
yesBiography:
Sheena Blackhall is a poet, short story writer, novelist and illustrator. She is also a traditional ballad singer and registered storyteller, who lives in the North East of Scotland. From 1998-2003 she was Creative Writing Fellow in Scots at Aberdeen University's Elphinstone Institute, and in 2007 was Creative Writing Tutor with the Institute for Irish and Scottish Studies at Aberdeen University. Blackhall writes in Scots and English. Two of her childrens’ plays have been televised. She has published three Scots novellas, ten short story collections and over fifty poetry collections. She has won several national and regional awards for Scots poetry, Scots singing and Ballad writing, and short-story writing.
About writer's work:
I am particularly interested in poetry, and Scots language and cross art initiatives that incorporate storytelling, poetry, song and art. Occasionally I write new lyrics to old Scots/Irish tunes, on contemporary issues. I have sung at Burns Conferences in Scotland and Ireland. In 2000 I represented Aberdeen at the Millenium Dome, and in 2003 I represented Scotland as a poet and storyteller at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington.
1998 Robert McLellan Tassie: best Scots short story
1990 Hugh MacDiarmid Trophy & Robert McLellan Tassie
1992 Sloane Award, St Andrew's University. Shared with Matthew Fitt
1993 Bennachie Baillie award for Best Scots Narrative Ballad
1995, 1996, 1997, 1999 Doric Festival: Best Scots short story
2000 Hugh MacDiarmid trophy: best Scots poem
2001 & 2002 Press & Journal Cup: best female traditional singer
201&2002 Joe Leonard trophy: best song written in traditional style
2001 Best overall newcomer: complete set of Greig-Duncan song-volumes
2001 Hugh MacDiarmid trophy & Robert McLellan Tassie
2005 Shortlisted for Callum MacDonald poetry pamphlet award
2007 William Gilchrist Graham prize, for Scots short story
2007 Shortlisted for McCash Poetry Prize
About writer's events and projects:
Currently I work two days a week in an Aberdeen Primary School, (one day of this delivering ‘The Scottish Dimension’ to classes) and one day on the Aberdeen City Reading Bus, where I am on the editorial team for a forthcoming Doric Anthology for Schools. I also co-facilitate drama workshops for 3-8 year olds at Aberdeen Arts Centre, in-puting song and story. I am free on remaining days to do poetry readings, or run creative writing workshops. Recently I was asked to present a session on writing in Scots in Schools for Moray Ed Authority’s in-service day, and regularly read at Aberdeen’s Word Festival. I would consider one day or very short term residencies. Any Other free time is giving up to writing.
Links to other websites:
">www.abdn.ac.uk/elphinstone/kist (The Elphinstone Kist: co-edited with Les Wheeler, former Advisor for Scots in Grampian Region.)
">www.abdn.ac.uk/elphinstone/kist (The Elphinstone Kist: co-edited with Les Wheeler, former Advisor for Scots in Grampian Region.)
www.screivins.blogspot.com : shows covers and details of complete set of publications with additional info. Edited by Catriona Low, Severin Publishing ">www.screivins.blogspot.com : shows covers and details of complete set of publications with additional info. Edited by Catriona Low, Severin Publishing
Language:
Scots, EnglishAge groups:
0-4, 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 ...
Double Heider comprises two superb novellas for the price of one. Hamish MacDonald's hyper-gallus history of Gilbert McGlinchy in The Girnin Gates and Sheena Blackhall's narrative of young Donnie ...
Pure Ghosters is a themed, linked short story collection that contains a mixture of horror, supernatural and humorous stories all presented by the same thirteen-year old character, Gaberlunzie Joe. ...
You are now entering King o the Midden. But be warned. Bob Dewars brilliant cartoon work sets off the stink bombs and whoopee cushions in this wild anthology of hilarious comic verse. And it is pure ...
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 ...
The Smoky Smirr o Rain is an innovative collection of some of the finest prose and poetry written in Scots. Chosen from the literature of medieval times to that of the present day, the book is ...
