The Scottish Writers’ Centre is delighted to be collaborating with the Transatlantic Literary Women Series to bring you an evening of creative writing this Tuesday, hosted by poet and author Carolyn Jess-Cooke. We’ll be celebrating the work of contemporary writers in Scotland, showcasing their responses to the theme Transatlantic Literary Women. We have a selection of poets and prose writers, who each engage with transatlanticism in unique and fascinating ways. Whether you’re a writer yourself or just want to enjoy an evening of readings by talented locals, our speakers will give you a flavour of some of the exciting work that women writers are currently creating!
Cultural Connections: Transatlantic Literary Women offers a series of free public talks, workshops, a day symposium, and a reading group. Attention has traditionally focused on the writings of male (usually white) contributors to the transatlantic tradition and their place in the special Anglo-American literary relationship. As we approach the centenaries of suffrage and partial suffrage on both sides of the Atlantic, this project directs the spotlight to the often overlooked work, achievements, struggles and impact of transatlantic literary women, and what we can learn from their lives and work today. All events are free, fully open to the public and held in Glasgow, a city with a rich transatlantic cultural heritage.
A little bit about our speakers… Carolyn Jess-Cooke is a poet and novelist published in twenty three languages. Her third novel is published in 2017 by HarperCollins and is being adapted for a TV series, and she is currently working on a poetry sequence on the life of 19th-century social reformer Josephine Butler. Our other speakers include several exciting new poets: Maria Sledmere, Angie Spoto, Mairi Murphy and Kathryn Metcalfe. Author Louise Turner will be reading an excerpt from her latest book, and we’ll be welcoming writer and artist Alex Hackett, slam poet Carly Brown, and archivist writer Sandra Whitnell to share their work. For more info check out our Facebook event, or the Transatlantic Literary Women website, which has a full programme for the evening. We look forward to seeing you there!
Words by Saskia McCracken
Poster design by Katrina Falco
