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Paul Bristow

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Contact: pbristow74@gmail.com
Local authority: Inverclyde
Languages: English
Paul Bristow's headshot

I'm Paul Bristow. I write mostly children's fiction, folk tales and comics, sometimes all at once. I live in Greenock, Scotland. My first children's book The Superpower Project was shortlisted for the Floris Books Kelpies prize 2014 and published in 2016. I have also been published in literary magazines such as 404 Ink.

As part of heritage group Magic Torch, I've written folktales and ghost stories which celebrate the more unusual history of the West of Scotland and beyond. I also run Magic Torch Comics CIC, a social enterprise which encourages the use of comics in classroom and community activities.

I have worked for Scottish Book Trust as a digital storyteller in residence for Inverclyde Libraries and have been a comic writer in residence for a number of school projects. While I enjoy creating and sharing my own stories, I enjoy helping people of all ages find the confidence to tell their stories.

I'm available to do readings and talks on my books and the writing experience. I work regularly with primary schools to help classes create stories and comics based on their own characters, with projects exploring everything from issues around bullying to Gaelic language superheroes.

Local authorities can 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 can deliver

Reading; Residency; Talk; Workshop; Professional development, CLPL or CPD

Audience can work with

Adult learners; Care-experienced people; Carers; English as an additional language (EAL); Intergenerational learning; Adults with additional support needs; People experiencing mental health problems; People living with dementia; Prisoners & young offenders; Reluctant readers; Vulnerable young people (under 18); Vulnerable adults; Young people in the community (e.g. Youth clubs, Guides, Scouts); Young people with additional support needs (under 18) (ASN/SEN)

Topics of work

Activism & protest; Adventure; Comedy, humour & funny books; Emigration & immigration; Fairy tales, folklore & mythology; Fantasy; Health including mental health & wellbeing; Historical fiction; History; Horror; Publishing & getting published; Seasonal books; Self-publishing & independent publishing; Urban communities; Wars & conflicts; World War 1

Age groups published for

Children; Teens; Adults

Age groups can work with

6-8; 9-11; 12-14; 15-18; 18+

Audience size

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