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Liz MacWhirter
My writing explores loss, resilience and liminality in these times.
‘Blue: a lament for the sea’, (Stewed Rhubarb Press, 2025), a lyric epic in free verse, has been performed widely at Yale University, Hidden Door Arts Festival Edinburgh and elsewhere. It is one woman’s journey through the interstices of land and sea, grief and love. Words unravel from deep time to the Anthropocene. Its beauty compels us to lament and love, and to ask: what is hope in these times?
‘Black Snow Falling’ (Scotland Street Press, 2018), my gothic, debut novel, gained a Carnegie Medal nomination. A richly layered, magical-realism tale, it was critically acclaimed and led to events across the UK.
‘When Hope Takes Flight’, my interdisciplinary PhD at the University of Glasgow, explores theopoetics and trauma through writing hybrid fiction (in Thesis Pending). Further publications include peer-reviewed essays and other poetry.
My writing and research has been recognised by an honoraria gift from Yale University Institute of Sacred Music’s Initiative for Religion, Ecology and the Expressive Arts; and with seven awards from University of Glasgow College of Arts Research Support Awards; bursaries from the International Medieval Congress; and Seedcorn Funding from University of Glasgow Scottish & Celtic Studies. I have received funding from Creative Scotland and Publishing Scotland’s Author International Travel Fund. In my other work as a freelance creative copywriter for Ardbeg Whisky and other brands, my work gained 20 creative industry awards for originality and impact.
At the University of Glasgow, I teach Creative Writing as Spiritual Reflection as a PT Affiliate Lecturer. I’ve spoken, lectured, shared, performed, mentored and debated at a wide range of universities, conferences, literary festivals, arts festivals and other venues. My approach is always trauma-informed. I’m happy to work with organisations of all types to create the right event for your audiences.
When I’m not working, I love to spend as much time as possible walking in the hills and by the sea.