Writer, Filmmaker, Mother, Grandmother
On autumnal days, the sun folds into itself. Its exit leaves me wondering if I’m a stranger in my home. In a single turn of my wrist, I shift from shielding my eyes from the intense glare flooding the window, to turning on the lamp. It tuts at being forced into work so early in… Continue reading Notes of an ordinary life
Delighted to say my prizewinning story Keel is now available to read online in issue 38 of Impspired Magazine. The physical book version of the collection of wonderful stories and poetry will be published in January 2027. There's some lovely work in the issue so grab and cuppa, shut off the world (although to be… Continue reading Time for a story
An announcement below about a brilliant book I am honoured to be writing for Glasgow City FC! Watching Women Win - The Story of the Women who Built Scotland’s Most Successful Football Club, is supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund. It is the story of two incredible women who have consistently broken down gender… Continue reading Watching Women Win!
I'm delighted to say that my short story Keel, an abridged narrative drawn from my as yet unpublished novel of the same name, has been announced as the trophy winner of the Impsired Soundwaves writing competition. The story is about female friendship and male coercive control and I will be performing it at a showcase… Continue reading Short story winner!
The first Celtic history conference was held yesterday (Saturday 6th June) at Celtic Park. As one of the conference organisers we believe this is first conference of its kind of any single football club, so it was a day of making history.The conference itself went incredibly well, kicked off by former Celtic player Tosh McKinlay… Continue reading The inaugural Celtic history conference.
The day finally came; my PhD qualification has been awarded!! This is the final update in my PhD journey. It's a strange feeling... euphoria, obviously, and also an incredible sense of achievement for a working-class girl who was the first in her family to go to university. Three degrees and thirty years later and I… Continue reading Dr. Margot McCuaig
I guess it seems quiet on the PhD thesis front, but it isn't. As you'll know from my last update, I have submitted my thesis, and this is where another chapter begins (if that makes sense!). Given my Viva Voce is really close now, presumably my examination committee are reading, or have read my thesis,… Continue reading It’s all been leading to this…
When we were making the funeral arrangements for my dad's requiem mass and committal, Friday the 13th emerged as the first available date, but I didn't baulk at it. A date with such negative connotations was fitting. How could anything be positive on the day I would publicly say goodbye to my father? As it… Continue reading By God, the old man could handle a spade. Just like his old man.
This is PhD chat, but because my PhD thesis is autoethnographical, it is also entwined in the personal by both circumstance and design. In my last update about my writing journey, I spoke about how I wanted to be able to finish my last draft chapter before Christmas, in the hope of spending the first… Continue reading PhD draft. Breathe in, not out.
It's been a while since I updated on my PhD journey. I may have mentioned that my ambition (intention...) is to complete the four year degree in two years. In theory, this means working full time - times two - every week, but this rigorous schedule is necessary if I am to submit at the… Continue reading 4 out of 5 aint bad
