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L.J. MacWhirter

All of the information on this page has been provided by the author. If you need an author to have specialist skills, experience or knowledge beyond their creative work, please ask for more information about this ahead of booking them for an event. Please note that authors do not have to have a PVG to be listed.
Other contact method: Website: ljmacwhirter.com/contact
Local authority: Edinburgh City
Languages: English
L.J. MacWhirter's headshot

L.J. MacWhirter writes literary fiction for adults and young adults/ teens and speaks widely to groups, schools and festivals. Her debut novel Black Snow Falling is a richly layered magical-realism thriller. It has been nominated for three book prizes including the Carnegie Medal, and launched at the Edinburgh International Book Festival.

In Black Snow Falling, Ruth has secrets. A love that she and Silas hide from the world. A banned book of science, and a haunting dream. When heart-breaking news shatters her plans, Ruth's devastation splits apart time where sinister creatures are rampaging through the years, plundering hopes and dreams. Now they're hunting her down. The novel draws on Liz's fascination with psychology, the inner workings of minds and mechanical machines, and how people can be controlled by culture. It explores themes such as hope, loss, resilience, heresy, Shakespeare and the Tudors, and sexism.

Her next novel is another thriller set in 15th century Scotland. Liz was born just outside London, grew up in the North West and now lives in Edinburgh with her husband and family. When she's not writing fiction, Liz runs an award-winning copywriting studio, which takes her all over the world. (Photo credit: Chris Close)

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

Panel event; Reading; Residency; Talk; Workshop; Chairing events

Audience can work with

Prisoners & young offenders; Vulnerable young people (under 18); Vulnerable adults; Young people in the community (e.g. Youth clubs, Guides, Scouts)

Topics of work

Activism & protest; Adolescence; Adventure; Death, grief & bereavement; Discrimination & prejudice; Editing & editing your own work; Fairy tales, folklore & mythology; Family; Fantasy; Friendship; Health including mental health & wellbeing; Historical fiction; History; Horror; Loneliness & isolation; Love & romance; Mystery & thriller; Nature; Publishing & getting published; Religion & beliefs; Science; Science fiction; Violence & abuse; World War 2

Age groups published for

Teens; Adults

Age groups can work with

12-14; 15-18; 18+

Audience size

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