In 2018, I received a research and development grant from Creative Scotland to travel to Tahiti to undertake field research for my now published book, I Am Not Your Eve (Bluemoose, 24 March 2022). Book cover of ‘I Am Not Your Eve’ by Devika Ponnambalam, credit Bluemoose Books The genesis of the idea came to me in 2003 when I was undertaking an MA in Creative Writing at the University of East Anglia. I remembered an article about the painter Paul Gauguin and his first journey to Tahiti (1891–93), accompanied by an image of his masterpiece, The Spirit of the Dead Keeps Watch. In it, his mus ..read more

Writer and illustrator Helen Kellock. Photo credit: A McAteer I was delighted to receive Creative Scotland funding to begin developing the first of a new series of children’s picture books set upon a fictitious Scottish island. I came up with the idea back in 2018 while spending time near Oban. Walking along the Ganavan Sands, looking over at the Isle of Mull, I began to imagine an undiscovered island hidden off the coast of Scotland. I sketched out what this forgotten Scottish island might look and found myself so drawn to the ‘world’ that I began to develop a host of unusual creatu ..read more

I Am Loud Productions — Return to Form Season Two Image credit: I Am Loud Productions We were so delighted to be awarded further funding from The National Lottery through Creative Scotland to produce Season Two of our Return to Form Series. Following our successful pilot and the first season of Return to Form, for season two we are working with sixteen poets, and exploring eight forms from Found poetry to the Villanelle. Within this series, we explore different styles of poetry and challenge poets to write in various forms. The aim of this project is to unify the perceived ‘traditio ..read more

Society of Authors — advocating for writers in Scotland Introducing a new Creative Scotland-funded role in association with the Society of Authors, to advocate for and advise on authors’ interests in Scotland Heather Parry, Senior Policy & Liaison Manager for Scotland with the Society of Authors. Photo credit: Dave Parry I’m Heather, a writer, editor and indie publisher based in Glasgow, and at the start of February 2022, I started in a brand new role with the Society of Authors: the role of Senior Policy & Liaison Manager for Scotland, which is a position partially fund ..read more

World Poetry Day is such a wonderful day to celebrate new poetry releases, and here are some that have been joyously filling our eyes and ears: Hannah Lavery’s debut collection, Blood Salt Spring was recently published by Polygon, with Jenni Fagan’s The Bone Library due in the summer. Claire Askew’s latest collection, How to Burn A Woman, from Bloodaxe, is particularly timely in light of the recent Scottish Parliament acknowledgment of, and apology for, the atrocities committed during the Scottish Witch Trials. Lyric, experimental and rooted in quiet, Vahni Capildeo’s recent Like a Tree ..read more

International travel fund for Scottish authors reopens Scottish authors can now apply for up to £1,000 towards travel costs when they have been invited overseas to promote their work. Photo by VOO QQQ on Unsplash This fund from Scottish Book International has recently been on hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but is now open again for applications: full details and application form are available on the Scottish Books International website. The types of things that this fund supports include: Invitations to be part of an event as part of a literary festival or at a liter ..read more

Society of Authors — advocating for writers in Scotland Introducing a new Creative Scotland-funded role in association with the Society of Authors, to advocate for and advise on authors’ interests in Scotland Heather Parry, Senior Policy & Liaison Manager for Scotland with the Society of Authors. Photo credit: Dave Parry I’m Heather, a writer, editor and indie publisher based in Glasgow, and at the start of February 2022, I started in a brand new role with the Society of Authors: the role of Senior Policy & Liaison Manager for Scotland, which is a position partially fund ..read more

Dr Gavin Wallace Fellow 2013, the writer Kirsty Logan. Image credit: Gary Doak/Alamy Stock Photo During her time as the inaugural Dr. Gavin Wallace Fellow 2013, award-winning author and journalist Kirsty Logan worked on her collection of short stories ‘A Portable Shelter’ which explores Scottish folklore, fairytales, family relationships, loss and the sea. Afterwards, she was kind enough to speak to Creative Scotland about what the fellowship meant to her, and you can watch that video here. Logan has gone on to write further novels, Things We Say In The Dark, The Gloaming, The Gracekeeper ..read more

International travel fund for Scottish authors reopens Scottish authors can now apply for up to £1,000 towards travel costs when they have been invited overseas to promote their work. Photo by VOO QQQ on Unsplash This fund from Scottish Book International has recently been on hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but is now open again for applications: full details and application form are available on the Scottish Books International website. The types of things that this fund supports include: Invitations to be part of an event as part of a literary festival or at a liter ..read more

2017 Dr Gavin Wallace Fellow Morna Young. Photo credit Alison White Playwright, actress and musician Morna Young was appointed to the 2017 Dr Gavin Wallace Fellowship, hosted by Creative Learning, Aberdeen City Council. The theme of the 2017 Gavin Wallace Fellowship was, ‘The Folk, Language and Landscape of the Northeast’, and during her fellowship, Young produced a full-length play exploring under-represented female voices in the Northeast of Scotland by conducting grassroots interviews and research in the area. She also engaged with Creative Learning’s wider work, including support ..read more