A primrose in autumn? And other strange things happening in the woods...

Added on 04 November 2017

Primroses shouldn’t be out in October, should they? I spotted this in the woods a few weeks back, and it has been bothering me. I wanted to share it. I’m thinking a lot about climate change, and in particular the vital role that forests and woodlands play in helping to mitigate the impa...

A-B-Tree re-launch and e-launch

Added on 04 November 2017

The Overton-prize-winning short collection of tree poems, A-B-Tree is now reprinting and available to buy, complete with concertina of lovely pictures by Bill Ritchie. It's only available from me, direct. There's a paypal button on this page: A-B-Tree or contact me direct if you don't do...

Still in the Iron Age

Added on 09 September 2017

The dig at Clachtoll broch is still going on and I'm writing regular dig diaries on the broch website. It's getting really exciting, with daily finds from the layers that have been undisturbed for more than two thousand years. So far the parts of my forthcoming novels that are set at the bro...

The Tree Charter

Added on 09 September 2017

I'm really proud to have been commissioned to write the Scottish poem for the launch of the Tree Charter. It is one of ten poems, one for each of the principles of the Charter, and it will be engraved on a totem pole that will be erected at Langs Craig, near Glasgow, on Saturday 25 November (10....

Alphabet

Added on 11 August 2017

I'm delighted to have a long poem, called 'Alphabet', published in this year's gathering of New Writing Scotland (called She Said, He Said, I Said). There will be two launch parties for the book, but I can't be at either of them, so instead I've put a reading of the poem (com...

Upcoming events

Added on 11 August 2017

Here are some events when I'll be reading or doing workshops over the next few months: Sunday 20 August, 5.30pm, Edinburgh Book Festival, Amnesty International event, FREE! Friday 1 September, 8pm, Callander Poetry Weekend. Tuesday 19 September, 8.30am, Scottish Parliament Committee on Environme...