Forthcoming events
Next HighlandLIT event:
February 18th - Writing Workshop: Hands and Feet led by Merryn Glover. Merryn will be leading a reflection on things we do with our hands and feet; we will develop ideas for creative writing that explore our identity, our sense of giving and direction and our 'prints' in the world.
This event will be held in the Hanover Room at the Glen Mhor Hotel, Inverness
on 18th February 2020 at 6.30pm
Writer in residence for the Cairngorms National Park 2019, Merryn has over 25 years' experience in arts facilitation with expertise in inspiring creative writing, developing reading for pleasure, and working with minority, disadvantaged and vulnerable groups.
Merryn's work includes the novel A House Called Askival, set in India across 70 years of its recent history; six plays: two for stage, two on Radio Scotland, two on Radio 4; short stories widely anthologised and broadcast on Radio 4; poetry, journalism and blogging. Her second novel for adults is set in the Cairngorms and her third, for 8-12 year olds, is a world-hopping adventure that kicks off in a library. Both are with her agent Cathryn Summerhayes of Curtis Brown.
Born and brought up in South Asia and university educated in Australia, she has called Scotland home since 1993; much of her writing, therefore, explores themes of place, identity, culture and belief. Merryn's HighlandLIT workshop will draw upon such themes under the title Hands & Feet.
Outline programme for the first half of 2020
February 18th - Writing Workshop: Hands and Feet led by Merryn Glover. Merryn will be leading a reflection on things we do with our hands and feet; we will develop ideas for creative writing that explore our identity, our sense of giving and direction and our 'prints' in the world.
March 17th - Open Mic
April 21st - Author Event with Helen Sedgwick Helen (author of the highly-acclaimed The Comet Seekers and The Growing Season) will be reading from, and discussing When Death Came Calling - the first book of her new crime series - which is published in January 2020.
May 19th - Writing Workshop
June 16th - Open Mic
July 21st - Author Event - Members' Showcase In the first half, Terry Grigg will present his latest book; in the second half James Andrew will read and discuss his prose and poetry. Both Terry and James are HighlandLIT members.
Terry writes about the book he will be discussing:
A Scam in the Ashram, the second volume in the Terry's Travels series, is all about the Indian subcontinent.
From the lamas of Ladakh in the Himalaya to the Sikhs of Amritsar, the Jains of Jodhpur, the Muslims of Mahasthangarh, the Christians of Kerala and monks and holy men just about everywhere, not to mention the clowning Atsaras of Bhutan. And from staring up at the highest point on earth to wandering along the seashore on a crowded Sri Lankan beach.
It presents an eclectic mix of sadhus, saints, Sunnis, sinners, spirituality and scams; and tales of bureaucracy, baksheesh and the Buddha. The timeline for the book goes back to 1994, starting in Delhi and finishing in Tibet. The book pulls no punches. It is a sardonic look at humanity and the world with no Pollyanna gloss, and may well be the most controversial book you will ever read - certainly the most controversial travel book. Enjoy the journey. Now time to get some Delhi Belly... My book is available on Amazon in both Kindle and Paperback formats.
August 18th - Multi-media presentation/research workshop Calum Maclean (Maclean Architecture and Conservation) will use his history of the architecture of Inverness, from pre-history to the present day - which is to be published in May and which reveals a story of drama and intrigue few people will be familiar with - to share insights into his research techniques.
September 15th - Open Mic
October 20th - Author Event
November 17th - Writing Workshop led by Cathy McSporran Good Beginnings: how to hook your readers' attention from the very first sentence.
December 15th - Festive Open Mic