Stories, poems and other writing from Glasgow writers.
Genova “La Superba” – Glasgow with sunshine? by Ian R. Mitchell
Italy has such a wealth of wonderful cities, that many which would be the jewel in the crown of most other countries, can tend to become overlooked. Such is Genoa. Little on the tourist itinerary, this Cinderella of Mediterranean cities is nevertheless a fascinating place to spend some time, with a wealth of historical and […]
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Soporific Summers and Antonia Seaward
The fragrance of hazy heat that wrapped us in a warm fuzz as we walked down my street Roses at their fullest bloom in every garden infusing the air with botanical incense Memories of jam jars on my kitchen windowsill filled with petals and home made perfume Gifts for my […]
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Mango – a poem by Leela Soma
It’s Mango Season in India (April, May and June.) Asians in Glasgow also look forward to special baskets of fruit from the sub -continent, sold in Asian shops. You can find different flavours and types quite unlike thos you find all year round in supermarkets. Mango Tiny green mango, picked from on high, Bit hard, […]
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Glasgow Writers: Alistair Braidwood – Scots Whay Hae!
Alistair Braidwood, who runs the popular website and podcast Scots Whay Hae! has a passion for Scottish creativity including books, film and music. Little wonder the site is so popular as it includes a tremendous amount of fascinating features and reviews about Scottish arts events and artists. The podcasts are engrossing, reflecting not only Alistair’s […]
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A Night of Horror – creepy, scary podcasts by Kathleen Kidd
I’ve been enjoying A Night of Horror’s short drama podcasts, made in Scotland by Kathleen Kidd. The podcasts are designed to keep you up at night – you’ll find a selection of spooky stories to listen to on A Night of Horror website. The podcasts are also available to download.. They last between 3 and 15 […]
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Off Balance by Magi Gibson – a poem for Valentines
Off Balance You have knocked me off-balance! I walk like a drunk, tripping Over dogs, falling off kerbs, walking out in front of cars and trucks. This is so physical, this disorientation, this disintegration. A woman is at the door returning a leg I left at the local store. I look in the mirror, […]
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Past Love in the Museum of Transport – poetry by Ciara MacLaverty
Past Love in the Museum of Transport Where’s Daddy? I say, holding your son in my arms, inhaling the baby scent of his head. You’re up on the steam engine with your other son pointing, waving down at us. You still look good and I can hold your gaze without fear of loss […]
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Bloggers Glasgow West End
Weblogging has arrived in Glasgow West End. 🙂 On this page you will find links to Westenders and former Westenders who write a regular diary (and sometimes not regular) about their activities. Note: these may not all be strictly classified as blogs – but most are near enough for me not to quibble about it. […]
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Mary Irvine’s Blog: Christmas Customs and Festivals
Christmas Customs Once again the rush is on and stress increases as the day draws near… I abolished, for myself, the commercialism of Christmas several years ago. It was the year I went to the post office and bought stamps which cost more than double the actual cards being sent. I also considered to whom […]
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Dear Diary by Paul Wright
Thursday 23 December Midnight Dear Diary Been thinking all day about the Prince’s Ball. Grimelda and Safi have been a nightmare all day ordering me around, getting everything ready for THEM. No time for cleaning. I’ll pay for that! Not even had five minutes to myself and been close to tears all day. But didn’t […]
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Ruby saves the day by Gillian Mayes
Ruby is a young woman who lives at home with her mother, father and little brother. She lives in a part of Glasgow called Giffnock, where there are nice houses with big gardens so that everybody there feels very lucky. Most of her days are straightforward – the odd calamity happens of course, like losing […]
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Glasgow Writers: Theresa Talbot
Theresa Talbot is a Glaswegian author and freelance broadcaster/journalist – as Traffic and Travel on BBC Radio Scotland her voice is familiar to many. I met up with her at BBC, Pacific Quay just after her 2 p.m. radio stint and enjoyed chatting about her blossoming career as a writer. Theresa could not be more […]
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Driving to Mass by Micheal Norton
I drove through the sticks over the thick ice and frozen muck that gripped the backroads. The countryside was pitch black, abandoned, with lonely houses spread out like rare driftwood amongst the ditches. My mother was wrapped up in the passenger seat. Her nose poking out from her head scarf as she eyed the road. […]
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Glasgow Writers: Graeme Macrae Burnet
(Photography by CJ Monk) It just gets better and better. Graeme shortlisted for the Man Booker Well done, Graeme: His Bloody Project names on Man Booker Prize Longlist 2016 The Saltire Fiction Book of the Year and is due to published in over 20 countries. Graeme Macrae Burnet will be reading at Creative Conversations, University […]
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Glasgow West End: Poetry and Writing
Bohemian Chemistry by Stephen Watt Saxophone jazz swanks out from the Oran Mor barwhere toy school kids on tightrope wallstry not to fall; plucking air guitars.The instrument does not seem to matter. Streetlights spark bonfires in dying, west end heavens –a half crescent moon is fish-hooked on university buildings,brimming with assiduous students’ laughter. Traffic cones […]
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Archived comments for The Garngad: Heaven and Hell by Ian R. Mitchell
I was born in villar St Jan 1949 margaret cox | Fri Aug 15 2014 I was born in Villiers Street in 1949. My Grandparents lived in Turner Street. You have written a very interesting piece on the history of industry in Garngad, I have learned a lot from this. However, you have not given […]
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The Garngad: Heaven and Hell by Ian R. Mitchell
A chapter from Ian R. Mitchell’s forthcoming book for Luath Press, called Orange, Green and Red; Class, Community and Conflict on Clydeside, whch takes things all the way from New Lanark to the Vale of Leven, with a few new Glasgow chapters as well. THE GARNGAD: Heaven and Hell. The splendid spire of Townhead and […]
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Glasgow Writer: Stuart Cosgrove
Like a lot of people I first became aware of Stuart Cosgrove through the Radio Scotland programme ‘Off The Ball’. Many a Saturday afternoon I’ve listened to his irreverent chat with co-host Tam Cowan, joined in their raucous laughter and tut tutted at the pair’s more outrageous mockery. Amazingly he programme has been on air […]
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Summering by Nina Quigley
A Summer Poem by Nina Quigley SUMMERING 26/7/14 Rain creeps quietlyinto my consciousnessfrom the open windowas I waken to a soft dayafter several torrid days of heat. For once in Irelandthe hot sand burned our feet,and we had to hop sharpishdown to the water,to spend languid periodsof uncharted timeswanning about in the salton body boards,being […]
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A Summer Story – Full Circle by Leela Soma
Full Circle Saturday 23 rd. August 1969, a day to remember, forever. They waved me off to my new life in Glasgow. My mum and the whole family. Tears glistened in their eyes, mine filled with tears and a nervous chill spread across my spine as I settled into the Air – India seat. The […]
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Mary Irvine: The Whistle
The Whistle I had set my alarm to ensure I was up in good time. I am normally up well before 7am but this morning was extra-special. I turned on the radio and waited, listening to the scene being set. At 728 am I stood in remembrance of an event of 100 years ago. A […]
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West Texas Highs; Be In Your Own Movie by Ian R. Mitchell
West Texas Highs; Be In Your Own Movie. The Country for Cold Men. The image of Texas widely held might not encourage the timorous traveller to head that-aways. Texas is usually viewed as a flat desolation roughly the size of France and Spain combined, full of, at best hard bitten rednecks, and at worst […]
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Shy Wolf by Nina Quigley
On a recent visit to Ireland I met my friend Nina Quigley and we had a great chat on the topic of writing. I learned that Nina had branched out from writing poetry and had written some short stories. When I told her about the Sad and Happy Summer Stories and Poems I had been […]
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Summer Reality – two poems by Brian Whittingham
Hi Ho Hi Ho Trident’s Got To Go and The Boys of The Somme HI HO HI HO, TRIDENT’S GOT TO GO by Brian Whittingham On YouTube a 60’s newsreel. A black and white Dunoon. A smartly dressed Ban the Bomber waves a To Hell with Polaris placard reminding us that H stands for Hiroshima […]
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A Summer Poem: White Nights by Finola Scott
White Nights In twilight silvered gardens in uncurtained bedrooms people stop stumble from dark pubs check their watches look up and smile. This northern sky shimmers with stretched summer light. The stars have bunked off, leaving the Moon to guard their beds. A lonesome fox lopes careless across sequinned lawns, passed the Ancestors saluting the […]
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Summer poem: Eurus/Zephyrus/Notus and Rainbows by K.A. McCafferty
Fallen apples, vine leaves tumble Strawberries bow Like grief stricken women As autumn sends her kiss Eurus carries a child in the white foam Of his sea Zephyrus does not hear the cries Of this tiny refugee Round by the hut a willow- tree weeps, its trunk sodden ‘n’ soft Pear tree has birthed Black […]
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Summer Poem: Eurus/Zephyrus/Notus and Rainbows by K.A.McCafferty
Fallen apples, vine leaves tumble Strawberries bow Like grief stricken women As autumn sends her kiss Eurus carries a child in the white foam Of his sea Zephyrus does not hear the cries Of this tiny refugee Round by the hut a willow- tree weeps, its trunk sodden ‘n’ soft Pear tree has birthed Black […]
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A Glasgow Graduate from Syria – Summer 2016
This isn’t a story as such but a sharing of a pleasant and thought provoking event. Today I met my friend Issi for a little catch up before the holidays. I’m a bit nosy and having had many years of close ties with the University of Glasgow – as a mature, more mature and getting-on-a-bit […]
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1816 – The Year of No Summer by Mary Irvine
In May, 1816, the poet, Shelley and his lover, Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin,travelled to Switzerland to meet Lord Byron. Byron and Shelley had both rented houses near Lake Geneva and were constantly in each other’s company. Shelley recorded that being with Byron inspired him. It was a strange summer for that year summer was non-existent. Spring was as normal in Europe and Northern America but the […]
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Glasgow Writer: James Connarty
James Connarty was born in Bellshill, grew up in Coatbridge and now lives in Wishaw. He would be telling lies if he said he was a Glasgow writer, although he has written in and about the city. James graduated from Strathclyde University with an honours degree in English Literature in the mid 90s and has […]
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