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Anne Donovan - Author
A writer and winner of the Macallan/Scotland on Sunday short story competition and the Canongate Prize. Anne lives in Glasgow."Don't censor or judge what you write, just do it. A lot of the best work comes from the unconscious mind and you need to let it free reign."
Scotland and being Scottish...
The Edinburgh International Book Festival - it's a wonderful
mix of books, writers and readers. Not only can you
hear superb authors read their work, you can sit on
the grass and watch people reading and talking about
books.
Highlights include listening to Muriel Spark;
a rare treat. Also hearing AL Kennedy read unpublished
work in progress - a wonderful experience.
Three isn't really enough, but Sunset Song (Lewis Grassic
Gibbon), Confessions of a Justified Sinner by James
Hogg and The White Bird Passes by Jessie Kesson are
all rich and wonderful novels.
The Stone Garden (Alan
Spence) and A Time To Dance (Bernard MacLaverty) are
very special short story collections and The Tree House (Kathleen Jamie) and The Colour of Black and White (Liz
Lochhead) are great poetry collections.
Alive Warm Funny Real Wet
None! I think that there is an enormous difference between a short story and a novel. If a short story doesn't work or isn't complete in itself then it isn't a short story.
Probably still that my short story 'All That Glisters' won the Macallan/Scotland on Sunday Award in 1997.
Yes. I don't claim to always get it right but I do try to be truthful to the place and people as I see it/them.
Not one specific person, but there are lots of guys who, like Jimmy, are cheerful, funny and warm and appear totally immune to embarrassment. Of course everyone has an inner self that may not be like that, which is what makes Jimmy interesting.
A few have said they stayed up all night to finish Buddha Da or read it in one sitting - that's a big compliment. And some have said the novel or stories made them laugh or cry - that's pretty good too!
Chris Guthrie from Sunset Song. I don't know if there is anything particular I'd like to ask her - I think I'd just like to go for a walk with her and maybe spend time at the Standing Stones!
Pick up that pen or switch on the word processor and begin. Don't censor or judge what you write, just do it. In my experience a lot of the best work comes from the unconscious mind and you need to let it free reign. Once you have a draft, then you can be critical.
Of those who are not living, Emily Bronte and George Eliot are very special. Among contemporary
writers I have particular admiration for the work of (in no particular order): Shena
Mackay, AL Kennedy, Shirley Hazzard, Liz Lochhead, Kathleen Jamie, Anne Michaels, Siri Hustvedt.
Though very different, each seems to me to have a great integrity in their work. And all use
language in ways that are original and striking.
Don't know, but I'd like an angel carved on it.
To find out more about Anne please see Edinburgh International Book Festival
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