I’m available for school, bookshop and library visits as well as for appearances at book festivals and other relevant events. I live in Edinburgh but also have family in the Highlands so I am happy to visit there as well. In fact I can be persuaded to visit most places – try me!
Appearance at Edinburgh Book Festival
Teaching experience
I love teaching. I’ve taught everything from literature and creative writing through to parenting and skiing! I’ve worked for adult education institutes from Inverness to Kent, for the WEA in Scotland and England, and for the NCT in places such as Brussels, Paris, Cardiff, Manchester and London, as well as nearer to home in Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Inverness. I also have a BA in educational studies.
Facilitating a workshop about Scrivener – the writing software – for members of the Society of Chidren’s Writers and Book Illustrators
In recent years I’ve taught creative writing for Inverness College, Moray Firth Tutorial College, WEA Inverness, the Community Domestic Abuse Programme, Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch & Strathspey, Inverness Women’s Aid and Ross-shire Women’s Aid, as well as running occasional training days for WEA W@W. I organised, in conjunction with Moniack Mhor and the Highland Literary Salon, an all day creative writing conference for over 120 highland school students. I’m keen to work with children and teenagers developing creative writing skills, and am happy to run workshops of any size, for any age group. Get in touch to see if we can work together.
Testimonials – what people say about my teaching
Speaking at the Welsh Assembly about my book Babycalming
“I have always been a closet scribbler and while I have always enjoyed it, I find it a solitary activity and sometimes struggle to find the motivation to keep going.The Creative Writing course has given me the inspiration and encouragement to write and to make time for my writing. It has helped me work on specific aspects of writing technique, giving me lots of ideas to get me over the “where do I start?” hurdle.” WEA newsletter “I found the class was not only educational, but also fun. It sparked a great deal of creativity in me.” WEA classes Millburn School “I thoroughly enjoyed the creative writing course and got a lot out of it. I just wish it was continuing for a few more weeks!” Emma, Inverness College “The Creative Writing course has given me the inspiration and encouragement to write and to make time for my writing. It has helped me work on specific aspects of writing technique, giving me lots of ideas to get me over the “where do I start?” hurdle.” WEA newsletter “The course brought my writing up a level to the stage where I felt I could enter competitions or tackle longer pieces of prose” Alastair, WEA classes “I really enjoyed the class…. very good at explaining ideas and made it so interesting that the 2 hours passed very quickly.” Morven, Inverness College
Comments on Women@Work sessions: “Well run session with plenty of time to do individual exercises. Good handouts- some theory and practical. Came away having used 2 specific exercises to reflect on individual issues which really helped. Have some extra tools in the kit bag now which can be used for self and work. Excellent session – really liked the exercises we were given. Thank you I will definitely be able to put into practice on a daily basis what I learned today. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Thought provoking and very useful. Thank you – very helpful workshop”
