Peggy Hughes

Who are you and what do you do?
My name is Peggy Hughes and I'm the communications officer and events manager at the Scottish Poetry Library. I’m lucky enough to get to bring people and poetry together all day long, using whatever means possible: in person, via our websites, through Facebook, Twitter, podcasts and blogging, at festivals and by organising our events.  I’m also the co-director of the West Port Book Festival, co-editor of Anon: the anonymous submissions poetry magazine and I review books.

Imagine I've never heard of the Scottish Poetry Library. Why should I be interested?
Anyone who likes words should be interested. We have plenty of them, all housed in our award-winning, purpose-built building at the foot of the Royal Mile, - 'a poem in glass and stone' – beautiful! We keep safe over 40,000 items of poetry - Scottish, international, contemporary and less so. There are thousands of books for all ages, of course, but also CDs, DVDs, poetry magazines and journals, as well as the Edwin Morgan Archive.  A library card is free, it’s a gorgeous space for repose and respite, and our lovely librarians or Reader in Residence will be able to find something for you to enjoy. Burrow in and borrow on!

What’s the best piece of advice you have ever been given?
Always say please and thank you and never talk with your mouth full.

Complete this line 'A great poet never...'
...forgets their pencil.

What are your ideal reading conditions?
Ooh, all conditions bring their own pleasures, as do lots of different places! Long train journey (minus someone playing ringtones out loud from the seat behind); Black Bo’s pub by candlelight; the big black leather armchair in the SPL on the mezzanine that gets great light; the slightly fustier but no less comfortable armchair in Edinburgh Books; my grandparents’ velveteen bean bag - the location of reading my first novel (George’s Marvellous Medicine by Roald Dahl) age 5.

If you could have any superpower what would it be?
I am already in possession of very mild superpowers: 'Frequently in kitchens where I've never been/ I can sense the location/ Of the cups and crockery.' (David O’Doherty) Additionally I would really welcome the ability to teleport.

Links:

www.spl.org.uk | Twitter: @ByLeavesWeLive
westportbookfestival.org
www.anonpoetry.co.uk