University news

A host of former students and tutors from the University’s acclaimed Creative Writing Programme will be taking part in this year’s Edinburgh International Book Festival.

Seven former students will give readings and talks on their works published since graduating. They include Anne Donovan who will discuss her latest novel Being Emily and Laura Marney, also a tutor on the course, who will present her much anticipated fourth novel My Best Friend Has Issues.

Rodge Glass will host an in conversation event with Will Self, and Karen Campbell, Jen Hadfield and Chiew-Siah Tei will discuss their latest works. Michael Schmidt, convenor of the programme, will be presenting the first Edwin Morgan Award for Poetry, the largest poetry prize in Scotland, organised by the Glasgow poetry society Vital Synz.

Current Creative Writing tutor Kei Miller will take part in a discussion of immigration and home, drawing on his humorous debut novel The Same Earth centring on a West Indian village over fifty years.

Professor Michael Schmidt said: “The number of writers associated with the programme, and their variety, are a testament to the originality and calibre of the students we welcome each year, and of the writers who teach them.”

Three well-established authors and former tutors from the programme, Janice Galloway, James Kelman and Alan Bissett, are also contributing to the festival with public presentations and discussions.

The Edinburgh Book Festival runs from 9 August to 25 August. For a full listing of the events and to book tickets visit the Edinburgh International Book Festival website at http://www.edbookfest.co.uk/

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Notes to editors

For more information contact Kate Richardson in the University of Glasgow Media Relations Office on 0141 330 3683 or email K.Richardson@admin.gla.ac.uk

First published: 13 August 2008