Scottish PEN launches literary events across Scotland
Scottish PEN, a worldwide association of writers comitted to principles of freedom of expression, and the idea of literature across frontiers and borders, have this week announced a series of readings and literary events at venues across Scotland, featuring writers, poets and publishers such as Kevin Williamson, Ken Macleod and Linton Kwesi Johnson, amongst others.
The events are part of the run up to the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, with the venues for the performances sited along the route of the Queen's Baton Relay. Each event will look at a specific movement from Commonwealth history, with the writers putting things into context, and reading from their work. The events are supported by the Commonwealth games, and Creative Scotland.
The first session takes place at Edinburgh's Summerhall on 14 June (7-8pm), with US-born Nigerian writer Nnedi Okorafor in conversation with Scottish SF giant Ken Macleod. A tenured professor at Chicago State University, Okarafor has written three works of fiction for young adults – Akata Witch, The Shadow Speaker and Zahrah the Windseeker. Her first novel for adults, Who Fears Death, won the 2011 World Fantasy Award for Best Novel and was nominated for the 2010 Nebula Award. Macleod meanwhile is one of Scotland's top science fiction novelists, with a background in left-wing politics. He is credited as being a leading writer in the field of scientificaly accurate 'hard SF.' His latest novel, Descent, was released this year.
The second session, which takes place at the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum in Alloway on 20 June (7-8pm), features Linton Kwesi Johnson and Kevin Williamson. Writer, publisher, artist and activist Williamson is best known as the publisher of literary zine Rebel Inc., which was among the first publications to publish the early writing of Irvine Welsh, Laura Hird, Alan Warner, and Toni Davidson. Now the co-host of Neu! Reekie!, he continues to be a politically engaged and controversial figure in Scottish literature. Linton Kwesi Johnson, meanwhile, is a UK-based dub poet, notably the only black poet ever to be published in the Penguin Classics series. Born in Chapelton, Jamaica, Johnson came to the UK in the 60s, going on to write a celebrated body of outspoken political poetry during the Thatcher era. In 2012, he was awarded the Golden PEN Award by English PEN for a Lifetime's Distinguished Service to Literature.
Further sessions will take place at the McManus Gallery & Museum Cafe in Dundee (27 Jun, 6-7pm), with graphic novelists Amruta Patil and Karrie Fransman, whose work explores mythology, fantasy worlds, and depictions of women in the traditionally male-dominated world of sequential art. At Innerpeffray Library (5 Jul, 7-8pm), exiled Kenyan author Philo Ikonya will be in conversation with Scottish PEN's Linda Cracknell, discussing her poetry and writing, in which she speaks out against injustice and oppression in her home country. At the Woodlands Centre in Stornoway (8 Jul, 7-9pm), poets Lewis MacKinnon, Meg Bateman and others will present a showcase of Gaelic poetry and literature from Canada, Scotland, Ireland and Northern Ireland. Finally, at Glasgow's Empire Cafe (24 Jul, 7-9pm), British-Guayanese poet, novelist and playwright Fred D'Aguiar and Angus-based author, translator and poet James Robertson discuss slavery stories and their place in literature with Allan Riach.
Information and starting times for all events will be available soon from the Scottish PEN website – keep an eye on our Books section for more details as the dates approach.