Tat Usher

It is a tragedy when a person is sent to prison even though they are dead. The dead are supposed to rest in peace. I try to explain this to Hannah when she starts hassling me to get up. I say to her "Have you no respect for the Dearly Departed?" She says, "Your breakfast's on the table. Get a move on, will you love?" I go through the kitchen. She has put milk on my cornflakes and they have gone mushy. Why does she do that? I sit down and stare at the yellow pulp in the bowl. Hannah is like an annoying fly, buzzing about brushing her hair and changing her blouse three times. She does this every morning. I do not know why she needs to look so perfect just to teach people reverse parking.

From Goatman

Biography

Tat grew up in Aberdeenshire, St Andrews and London, had a horrible time at school, spent a year trying to sell people dodgy paintings in Australia, studied Philosophy at Aberdeen University and has drifted aimlessly around the country ever since. Writing has always been a bit of a neurotic obsession. When she's not writing or sending ridiculously long letters and emails to people she barely knows, she works as an adult literacy teacher. She has tried forgetting about writing and getting on with ‘real life', but it never quite works. She loves teaching but loves writing more. Last year Tat did an MA in Creative Writing at the University of East Anglia, and is still trying to come to terms with the fact that it's all over. Her plan for this year is to finish her novel, ‘Goatman'. Receiving a Scottish Book Trust New Writers Award has given her a huge boost in that direction.   

Comment

"I am completely dizzy and delighted about receiving the SBT New Writers award. It's given me a huge, much-needed, confidence boost and has convinced me that I'm doing the right thing by taking some 'time out' to finish my book.  I'm really looking forward to meeting the other award winners, working with a mentor and spending lots of time writing. Thank you so much!"