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I have been giving poetry readings for 50 years, in both Scots and English, beginning with a group of writers called Schiltrom in the late 1960s whose members included Liz Lochhead and Alasdair Mackie. Since then I have given numerous readings and talks in the UK but also in Europe and North America.
I have run writing classes, workshops and poetry fests for several universities, including my time as writer in residence for the Universities of Stirling, British Columbia and Anchorage. In Europe I have given talks in the former Yugoslavia and Italy and wrote a book about traveling across Eastern Europe in the year of revolutions (1989-90).
I regularly gives talks, in French, on topics in French history and literature.
As well as my poetry collections, I have written a large numbers of essays and reviews.on topics including Lord Byron, Hugh MacDiarmid, W.H. Auden and Literature & Homosexuality. I have edited several literary magazines and for some years taught courses for adults in philosophy, creative writing and Scottish history for Perth College UHI.
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
Bilingual event; Mentoring; Panel event; Reading; Residency; Talk; Workshop; Professional development, CLPL or CPD; Chairing events
Topics of work
Biography & memoir; Class & society; Death, grief & bereavement; Editing & editing your own work; History; LGBTQIA+ characters; Politics; Religion & beliefs; Self-publishing & independent publishing; Translation; Travel writing; World War 1; World War 2
