Between 2009 and 2011 I completed an MLitt in Creative Writing at the University of Glasgow. I studied part-time and self-funded the course by working for an investment bank. During my time on the course I revitalised and edited the creative writing journal From Glasgow to Saturn, which showcased the creative writing of students and graduates of the university.
In May 2011 I was awarded with an emerging writers’ residency at Cove Park, funded by Creative Scotland. During my two-week stay I made considerable progress with my first novel and wrote several short stories, which have since been published. I made connections and friendships with fellow artists which have carried on since our time at Cove. I found the level of support encouraging, and thrived in an atmosphere where I could discuss and treat my work seriously with fellow residents.
Following the Japanese tsunami in March 2011 I helped to establish and co-edit a charity anthology aimed at raising money for the Red Cross. Working with Cargo Publishing, we solicited submissions from writers across Scotland and published the book in conjunction with the Japanese Embassy, gaining endorsement from the First Minister, Alex Salmond. I contributed a short story to the collection as well as editing the book.
I have been invited to and enjoyed performing at various spoken word events across Scotland, including Words Per Minute, the West End Festival, Glasgow University’s MLitt student showcase, Margins Book Festival, Illicit Ink, and the Edinburgh International Book Festival, as well as numerous book and magazine launches.
My first short story was published in September 2010, and since then I have been lucky enough to have had over twenty five pieces published either online or in print, by titles such as Spilling Ink Review, the Red Penny Papers, Weaponizer, Zouch Magazine, Forest Publications, Cargo Publishing, the Federation of Writers (Scotland) New Voices Press, Duality Books, Octavius Magazine, Valve Journal, and the Universities of Glasgow and Stirling. As well as short stories, I have dabbled with poetry and written non-fiction articles for PANK, Friction Magazine, the Skinny, the Scottish Book Trust’s Learning Blog and the Guardian.
I am working on a collection of short stories which could be presented and linked thematically, as well as three novels-in-progress which and are in various stages of production. I have completed a radio drama script and am developing two separate scripts for the stage.
