For Scottish Refugee Week 2011 Glasgow Women’s Library will be hosting Amnesty International’s ‘Celebrating Freedom of Expression’ event.

Tuesday 21 June, 2.30pm to 3.30pm
Glasgow Women’s Library, 15 Berkeley Street, Glasgow G3 7BW

Well-known authors Alice Thompson, Karen Campbell, Catherine McPhail, and Sara Sheridan stand in solidarity with writers who have had their right to freedom of expression violated and suffered persecution as a result of openly sharing their writing, thoughts and opinions. Today’s event celebrates the courage of individuals who have had to flee their own countries because of that persecution, and the issues facing refugees and asylum seekers in Scotland today.

Alice Thompson: Formerly Writer in Residence for Shetland, Alice now teaches creative writing at the Arvon Foundation. Author of several novels including The Existential Detective published last year.

Karen Campbell: Scottish writer Karen Campbell is a former police officer and graduate of Glasgow University’s renowned Creative Writing Masters. Karen won the Best New Scottish Writer Award in 2009.

Catherine McPhail: Award-winning Scottish author Cathy McPhail won the Kathleen Fidler Award for her first novel, Run Zan Ra, which she wrote after her daughter Katie was bullied at school. In addition to writing books for children around their teens, she also writes for adults, and is the author of the BBC Radio 2 series, My Mammy And Me.

Sara Sheridan: Bestselling Scottish writer and novelist, Sara is author of the newly published historical novel “The Secret Mandarin” and soon to be released ‘The Secret of the Sands’.

Please use booking below to reserve your place. If you don’t have a GWL number you can join the Library using the form here.

This event is free to attend. Click here for more information on our new streamlined booking system and to join the library.

Thursday 17 June 2010, 4pm to 5pm at The Mitchell Library

There will also be a chance to buy copies of the readers work and have them signed.

Louise Welsh
After a sell out event at Aye Write in March this is a great opportunity to hear Louise reading some of her short story work about Polish migrants coming to Scotland, included in the anothology Shattered (polygon) which was published in support of Victim Support Glasgow, written and published in 2009. Louise Welsh is a writer living and working in Glasgow. She is the author of three novels: The Cutting Room (2002), The Bullet Trick (2006) and Naming the Bones (March 2010), and one novella Tamburlaine Must Die (2004) all published by Canongate Books. She’s also produced many short stories and articles and written for radio and the stage including a libretto for opera.

Leela Soma
Have you read a book about Glasgow seen through the eyes of first generation Indians? Leela Soma’s novel `Twice Born’ does just that. The novel peels away the layers and presents the simmering progress of a young couple from India’s life in Glasgow. Straddling the two cultures, putting down their roots while not forgetting their liberal family values steeped in an ancient culture is a delicate balance for them.

Joyce Ito and Sarah Ward
Joyce and Sarah worked on a community anthology called “Words About Whiteinch” which included stories from female asylum seekers and is the culmination of a year of hard work gathering and editing stories in partnership with The Whiteinch Centre. The book is beautifully illustrated by artist Annabel Wright.

Booking is essential. For more information or to book your place click here to send us an email or you can call us on 0141 552 8345

Wednesday 14 October 2009, 7pm to 9pm

We are lucky enough to have Margaret Elphinstone (The Gathering Night – Canongate, 2009) and Vicki Feaver (The Book of Blood  - Cape, 2006) reading some of their inspiring work at this event. Watch this space for confirmation of author details.

This event is open to men and women. Wine will be available on the evening (for a small donation to cover our costs) and there will be time to chat with the writers, buy copies of their work and have them signed.

Booking is Essential: please call 0141 552 8345 or contact Laura at the Library to book your place.

Critically acclaimed Canongate author Margaret Elphinstone will be reading along with award-winning poet Vicki Feaver, ably supported by Rosemary McLeish (reading from the new Grey Hen Press anthology) and – joining us all the way from Sweden – Gabriella Joensson.

Experience Counts is presented by Glasgow Women’s Library in association with the Edwin Morgan Centre for Creative Writing, University of Glasgow and Canongate Books.

FREE and open to all (men welcome!)

Wednesday 14th October, 7pm for a 7.15pm start until 9pm.

Booking is Essential: please call 0141 552 8345 or contact Laura at the Library to book your place.