About

I am an author, and poet, currently based in Burntisland.

In April 2013, it was announced that I was to be one of Granta’s Best of Young British Novelists 4.

My debut novel The Panopticon is published in the UK, France, Czech, Audio, Kindle, Apple iPad, and it is about to be released in the US, Germany, Australia, and Canada. It was part of the Waterstones 11 — as one of the best worldwide debut novels of 2012.

My debut poetry collection Urchin Belle sold out on Blackheath Books. My poetry collection The Dead Queen of Bohemia won 3AM Poetry Book of the Year and is available on Blackheath Books. Several poems from these collections were nominated for The Pushcart Prize.

I have won awards from Scottish Screen, Peggy Ramsay, Scottish Arts, Dewar Arts and Arts Council England. I taught creative writing at Norfolk Blind Association, worked with young offenders, and homeless youths to create a monthly magazine, and I was Writer in Residence at Lewisham Hospital, focusing on Neo-natal practices.

The Scolds Bridle is a large sculpture I built out of sheets of steel. I spent several months engraving this sculpture with words written by women in prison in the UK and US. The Scolds Bridle aims to raise awareness of issues facing women within prison and young offenders systems. It was exhibited in Greenwich Gallery, London.

Just finished:   new short story collection, new poetry collection.

Currently working on:    second draft of my current novel (excerpt in Granta Best of Young British 4).