Writer, Filmmaker, Mother, Grandmother
Silence isn't always a choice. Silence is sometimes the only choice. Silence isn't always a comfort. Silence is sometimes the only thing close to comfort. Sssshhhh. Listen to the heaviness of silence. Watch its tracks, splayed in the sand like the spine of a fish, the white tide washing over its nothingness. It is,… Continue reading When silence isn’t golden, but is golden all the same.
Last night team Thunderpoint made a group appearance at Waterstones Byres Road as part of the Byres Road Book Festival. Myself, Kevin Scott and Andrew C Ferguson read from our novels, chatted to one another about character, plot and processes and answered questions from a very inquisitive and quite brilliant sold out audience. It's always… Continue reading Thunderpoints are Go!
It's raining; a mist so soft it is weightless. It's powerful though, its strength masquerading in a subtlety that would pass unnoticed if it wasn't for the damp that muzzles your bones and flows deep into your soul. Autumn is upon us, the crimson rowans rich, the dark nights skulking in preparation for months of… Continue reading It’s a nice day for a white wedding…
Time has been busy. It has been delivering changes, challenges, and a swiftness of currents as fresh and poignant as the ebb. Time has been responsible for expanding creative focus and developing concentration, my quickening breath smothering the distant horizon in a foggy haze before its glass feels too vast, its fathoms too deep. I'm… Continue reading I am silver and exact…
Coconut macaroon bars that shed their coating like drifting snow; rich syrupy Scottish tablet that crumbles on sweetened lips, sugary morsels shimmering in the floodlit terracing; crisps -their discarded salt sachets sinking beyond the turnstile like washed confetti; and alcohol, that swirls in the air, its familiar scent snarled by back teeth and held taut in tightening throats, its taste lingering like chlorine in a swimming pool.… Continue reading A snapshot of Scottish culture. The premiere screening of #Tannadice87.
Somewhat unexpectedly, and with a whirlwind of haste, my lovely aunt died this afternoon. Fortunately, we were able to spend some precious time with her, and chat, as families always do, over her and around her as we recounted tales of days gone past, and despite the heaviness in the air, looked ahead to another tomorrow.… Continue reading Farewell to a lovely lady.
I was delighted to be asked to feature on Shirley Whiteside's weekly book radio show "Booked" to talk about The Birds That Never Flew and my other writing. There's also some fantastic tunes to ease you through your Sunday afternoon. The show will air on Sunday the 19th of March at 2pm on Pulse 98.3FM.… Continue reading Booked on Pulse 98.3FM
I was delighted to learn this week that Jimmy Johnstone, the feature-length documentary film that I wrote, produced and directed with my company and talented team at purpleTV, has been nominated for a Celtic Media Festival award. Did I say delighted? Well, that and more! The festival brings the Celtic nations' creative film and television talent together annually, in the… Continue reading Torc nomination for #JimmyJohnstone
It's my birthday today, and consequently it's a good time to talk about beginnings. My actual beginning to be precise... I shall explain. Last year, Professor Willie Maley, founder of Glasgow University's Creative Writing Masters along with Philip Hobsbawm, asked me to contribute to The Lions of Lisbon, A Play Of Two Halves, being published by Luath Press… Continue reading Birthday beginnings, ‘The Lions of Lisbon’
I've been working on the pre-production of my new film project for a while now but yesterday I finally began shooting Tannadice 87. That's a great place to be! The film is an aspirational tale, rooted in popular culture, showcasing a snapshot of one of the most dynamic periods in the city of Dundee's sporting… Continue reading The making of Tannadice 87
Margot McCuaig 