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LITERARY MAGAZINE
LITERARY MAGAZINE CARL MACDOUGALL AND ZOE STRACHAN (EDS) New Writing Scotland 31: Black Middens (Association for Scottish Literary Studies) ●●●●● As ever, the latest edition of New Writing Scotland presents a diverse collection of writing produced in and about Scotland. Part of the joy with this series is that entries are anonymous, guaranteeing a fighting chance for all writers, and giving readers the pleasure of discovering new work by established authors alongside that of new literary talent.
Running to over 300 pages, Carl MacDougall and Zoë Strachan have selected a good mixture of prose and poetry, written in all the languages of Scotland. Highlights include Caitlynn Cummings’ ‘Taste Buds’, a moving tale of the relationship between a father and daughter, told through t, the meals which chart it, k and Colette Paul’s ‘Dark Night of the Soul’, an engaging night spent with the office loser.
There is plenty for everyone here, covering a wide range of themes, and happily proving that our authors aren’t feeling restricted to writing about referendums and political uncertainty. These issues haven’t been avoided, but the breadth of content in Black Middens suggests that there is more to Scottish writing than Scottish identity. (Lauren McKay)
FLASH FICTION
RESULT by William Letford
The voice of a thousand cigarettes crackles over the intercom. ‘Speak,’ it says, and something can be inferred from that one word. Normal people say, ‘Hello’, but in my aunty Mary’s psyche, that relinquishes control. ‘Speak’ is a command. If I don’t defer to the command I have to stay silent. If I stay silent I can’t get in.
I say, ‘It’s Franky’. There’s a gentle snapping sound. It’s the sound of saliva. She’s chewing. And the chewing makes her deliberation audible. There’s a buzz and the lock clicks and the door’s so heavy it falls inward on its own.
The close reeks of disinfectant. The stairs have been scrubbed
so hard the concrete’s like raw skin. At the top of each landing is a window, and each window offers a view of the valley. The journey upward is a series of steps, followed by a sweeping landscape, a series of steps, then a sweeping landscape. My thighs are sore from the walk up the hill and every extra lift brings more hurt. The same as yesterday and the same as the day before, I repeat my mantra: ‘join a gym’.
When I get to the door, she’s waiting. All knowing. Twenty-deck
of Richmond menthol in one hand, rolled up nappy in the other. She says, ‘You’re after a tap.’ That heavy, absolutely knackered sensation washes over me. I wonder why I didn’t get the bus to my uncle Jimmy’s. I take a couple of well-needed breaths. ‘I’m just up for a patter aunty Mary.’
She says, ‘Son, I’ll give you a tenner just to get rid of you.’ ■ Framed Against the Sky, William Letford’s collaboration with composer Brian Irvine and the Red Note Ensemble, premieres at the Wooden Barn in Banchory, Wed 23 Oct.
46 THE LIST 22 Aug–19 Sep 2013
Events are listed by date, then city. Submit listings at least 14 days before publication to books@list.co.uk. Listings are compiled by Jaclyn Arndt. ✽ Indicates Hitlist entry Thursday 19
Glasgow ✽ Gary Gibson: Marauder Waterstones, 174 Argyle Street, 248
4814. 7–8.30pm. £2. The local author launches his new book. FREE Vagabond Voices: In FR Praise of the Garrulous CCA, 350 Pra Sau Sauchiehall Street, 352 4900. 7pm. All Allan Cameron speaks on the history of lan language.
Ed Edinburgh ✽ Canongate Presents: The ✽✽✽✽ Other Side The Jam House, 5
Qu Queen Street, 226 4380. 7pm. £10. To cele celebrate Canongate’s 40th birthday, an an evening with some of the best stor storytellers from the worlds of books, mu music and film. Featuring authors Mi Michel Faber, Matt Haig, Alasdair Gray and and Michael Smith, plus musicians Aid Aidan Moffat, RM Hubbert, Rick Red Redbeard and many more.
Saturday 21 S Edinburgh Ed Pitch Live! Creative Scotland, Pit Wa Waverley Gate, 2–4 Waterloo Place, phi philippajohnston@btinternet.com 10a 10am–6pm. £35 (£25). A masterclass for Sco Scotland’s emerging novelists offering pra practical advice on getting your name stam stamped on the cover of your very ow own book. The panel includes Francis Bic Bickmore (Canongate Books), Clare Hey (Sim (Simon & Schuster) and others. Book via via email.
Tuesday 24 T Edinburgh Ed Creative Writing Riddle’s Court, 322 Cre Lawnmarket, 220 1232. 9.45–11.45am. £60 for ten weeks (£13–£30). A ten-week course for writing newbies to find their voices, in a variety of forms. Iain Martin: Making It Happen Appleton Tower, University of Edinburgh, Crichton Street. 7pm. £4 (£3). The author discusses the RBS disaster, as detailed in his book Making it Happen: Fred Goodwin and the Men Who Blew Up the British Economy.
Mary’s Street, 557 1050. 7.30–10pm. £3 suggested donation. With guest storyteller Rosie Mapplebeck.
Wigtown ✽ Wigtown Book Festival Various venues, 01988 403222. Times vary.
Prices vary (£3.50–£12). Until Sun 6 Oct. For ten days, Scotland’s National Book Town buzzes as this established and celebrated feature in the Scottish literary calendar rolls into town, with book events accompanied by theatre, music and visual arts events in quirky venues. This year’s highlights include appearances from Joanna Lumley, Peter Snow, Sally Magnusson and Fred MacAulay. See preview, page 44.
Saturday 28 Edinburgh Starting with Stories 1 Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. 1.30–4.30pm. £18 (members £15). Ruth Kirkpatrick leads this participative introduction to developing your storytelling skills. Booking essential.
Monday 30
Glasgow ✽ TS Eliot Prize for Poetry Mitchell Library, North Street,
287 2999. 6–7.30pm. £5. This year’s shortlisted poets – Don Paterson, Kathleen Jamie and Robert Crawford – read from their work, alongside up- and-comer William Letford. See Flash Fiction, left, for a taste of Letford’s writing.
Edinburgh ✽ William Boyd: Solo Royal Lyceum Theatre, Grindlay Street,
248 4848. 7.30pm. £15. The writer discusses his new Bond novel and what it’s like being Ian Fleming’s successor. In discussion with David Robertson, literary editor at The Scotsman. Plus, special Solo cocktails will be on offer (shaken, not stirred, but of course).
Tuesday 1 Edinburgh Nothing but the Poem Scottish Poetry Library, 5 Crichton’s Close, Canongate, 557 2876. 6.30pm. £5 (£4). Poetry discussion forum with no preparation or previous knowledge required. This month’s focus is the Forward Prize, with a look at its shortlist.
Wednesday 25 Thursday 3
Glasgow FREE Banned Books Week: Let Women Speak Glasgow Women’s Library, 23 Landressy Street, 248 9969. 2–3.30pm. A reading of banned or persecuted women writers from around the world.
Thursday 26 Glasgow FREE Catherine Deveney: Dead Secret Waterstones, 153–157 Sauchiehall Street, 332 9105. 6pm. Ticketed. An in-store appearance from the thriller writer.
Friday 27
Glasgow Glasgoes Poetic Various venues, marcsherland@me.com. Times and prices vary. Until Wed 9 Oct. This festival of all things versified brings together several poetical events happening in Glasgow and adds in a few more of its own, all aiming to get you celebrating caesura and enthusing about iambs. Edinburgh Guid Crack Club Waverley Bar, 1 St
Glasgow Poetry for Fearties Glasgow Women’s Library, 23 Landressy Street, 248 9969. 2.30–4.30pm. £3 (free). Discover some new poems and have a go at writing your own at this National Poetry Day event. Plus, a chance to submit your poem to the GWL’s Dragon’s Pen (friendly) judging panel. Edinburgh Celebrate National Poetry Day with CK Stead and Kapka Kassabova Scottish Poetry Library, 5 Crichton’s Close, Canongate, 557 2876. 6.30pm. £5 (£4). The New Zealand poets and novelists read from their work and celebrate all that rhymes (or even that doesn’t rhyme).
Friday 4 Glasgow FREE Gnommero Visibility Launch CCA, 350 Sauchiehall Street, 352 4900. 7pm. Visibility, the newest issue of the Gnommero pamphlet series, explores the third of Italo Calvino’s six worthy literary qualities (the others being lightness, quickness, exactitude, multiplicity and consistency).