FAQs

• Where can I get your books?

  Thank you for asking! You can order personally signed and dedicated copies direct from me in the shop here. You can ask your local bookshop or library to order them in. You can get them via most online retailers too. See the links on each of the book pages for buying options.

• Will you deliver an author talk / workshop / fire-eating performance for us, please?

  Love to! My fees vary depending on the nature of the event and the time cost. For reference, see the Society of Authors observed rates. If you are in Scotland, it’s a good idea to apply to the Scottish Book Trust Live Literature scheme to help with funding. Most of the information you need about me is on this website, particularly the Press Kit page. Please have a look, then fill out the form on the Connect page and we can take it from there. I can’t do planning meetings or phone calls for one-off workshops or events. (PS I can’t eat fire, either.)

• Can I interview you for an article / podcast / radio show / documentary / Oprah?

  Yes! Please drop a note in the Connect form. (You too, Oprah.)

• Can we discuss an exciting project / opportunity / residency / collaboration?

  Certainly! I love working with others. The Collaborate With Me page gives a flavour of my experience. My fees vary depending on the nature of the project and the time cost. For reference, see the Society of Authors observed rates. Then please fill out the form on the Connect page and we can take it from there. I generally can’t do unpaid planning meetings unless there is a funding commitment in place.

• Can you meet with our book group?

  I love bookgroups and some of the ones I have met with in the past are still my most supportive readers. Thank you! If you’re friends or local to me, then that’s usually easy. For new groups and those further afield, an online meet-up is normally possible. If you can spare a donation for my time, that’s really helpful!

• Will you give feedback on my writing / my aunty's poetry / my dog's unpublished masterpiece?

  Sadly, no. (Unless you are a good friend or family member, in which case you will probably ignore this site and send me a WhatsApp in the middle of the night. I’ll deal with you later.) I’m afraid I read slowly and already have a teetering book pile so simply don’t have capacity for more. The best thing for feedback is to join a writer’s group or link with one or two buddies who write similar work. (But your dog’s magnum opus… now that IS interesting.)

   

• I want to be a writer. How do I get published?

  That’s great you want to write! If you are writing, you ARE a writer. The important thing is to focus on developing your craft, and the best ways to do this are 1. Read lots 2. Write lots. Then link with a writing community to get feedback, advice and support. This could be a writing group, some kindred spirits or a course. Your local library may have information on these, but searching online and in social media platforms can yield good results. I recommend Writers & Artists as a treasure trove of helpful advice. I’m afraid I can’t offer tailored advice to you, but I am currently teaching Story & Poetry through Storylands Sessions, in person and online, if you’d like to join us there.

• Tell me about your dog!

  That’s what most people want to know. She’s a golden retriever, born on the Outer Hebridean island of Harris in September 2013 and has a Gaelic name: Sileas. This looks like ‘silly ass’, which describes her well, but is actually pronounced ‘SHE-luss’, meaning ‘Julia’.  Believing herself to be a Person, not a pet, she is writing her own magnum opus called The Dog Delusion.