Catherine Simpson

I am a novelist, memoir writer, poet and journalist.

My first novel, Truestory, (Sandstone Press, 2016) was inspired by raising my autistic daughter, Nina. Nina and I now campaign together (and separately) for Autism Acceptance. My memoir, When I Had a Little Sister, (Fourth Estate, 2019) is about the death by suicide of my sister Tricia and is an exploration of how we become the people we are. It is also an elegy to growing up in the countryside of the 1970s.  

I was Creative Writing Fellow for Tyne & Esk Writers, 2017/2018 where I helped to run writing groups and offered one-to-one feedback to writers. I was writer-in-residence at Coastword Festival 2017, for which I wrote a pamphlet of poems Mrs Carlyle had Many Lovers.   I have run writing workshops for many groups including Penicuik Arts Association, Midlothian Libraries, Oban Adult Literacy and Open the Door Festival. I tailor each workshop to meet the needs of the group.

I have also run a week-long memoir-writing course at Garsdale Retreat in the Yorkshire Dales. I am happy to take part in talks, Q&A's, readings, panel events and book groups and love to meet readers and talk about all things bookish.