Date/Time
Date(s) - Fri 17th May, 2024
3:00pm - 4:00pm
Session 5: Building Community
In the fifth and final session of the week, writer Heather Parry, previously of Society of Authors, will lead the discussion around accessing the support of the literary community, and how to work with other writers to further a literary landscape that lifts all voices. She will be joined by writer, Harry Josephine Giles; poet and director and founder of Open Book, Marjorie Lotfi; and poet and co-director of the Scottish BPOC Writers Network, Jeda Pearl.
Below are a selection of questions and topics the conversation may cover. You also have the opportunity to let us know if you have any other themes or questions you’d like to hear the panel discuss in the booking form below, and there will also be a Q&A opportunity during the session.
Where to find community?
How to connect within those communities?
How to conduct yourself professionally online and in person
How do literary organisations support writers?
How do I get involved?
Coalition: how can I support other writers?
About the Panel
Heather Parry is a Glasgow-based writer. She is the author of a novel, Orpheus Builds a Girl, and a short story collection, This Is My Body, Given For You. She is the editorial director of Extra Teeth magazine and co-created the Illustrated Freelancer’s Guide with artist Maria Stoian. Her first nonfiction book, Electric Dreams: On Sex Robots and The Failed Promises of Capitalism is out now. https://heatherparry.co.uk/
Harry Josephine Giles is from Orkney and lives in Leith. Her verse novel Deep Wheel Orcadia was published by Picador in October 2021 and won the 2022 Arthur C. Clarke Award for science fiction book of the year. She has a PhD in Creative Writing from Stirling. Her show Drone debuted in the Made in Scotland Showcase at the 2019 Edinburgh Fringe and toured internationally. https://harryjosephine.com/
Marjorie Lotfi is an Iranian-American who has lived in the UK for over 20 years. Her writing considers displacement, home and belonging, particularly relating to the lives of refugees and migrants. She is a winner of the inaugural James Berry Prize, and her first collection The Wrong Person to Ask was published by Bloodaxe Books in October 2023. She is a Co-Founder and Director of Open Book, and a Co-Chair of the Board of Trustees for StAnza, Scotland’s International Poetry Festival. https://marjorielotfi.com/
This programme has been developed and funded by Creative Scotland, with support from Hawthornden Foundation with Society of Authors, and facilitated by Moniack Mhor. All sessions are free to attend. A Zoom link will be sent on booking and we will also send a reminder email on the day of the event.
Please let us know when booking if you have any access needs, or contact us on info@moniackmhor.org.uk.
If you would like to book all five panel sessions, please click here, or email us on info@moniackmhor.org.uk
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