Valerie Gillies | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1948 Alberta, Canada |
| Occupation | Poet, radio and television writer |
| Notable works | 'Tweed Journey Each Bright Eye The Ringing Rock The Lightning Tree |
| Website | |
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valeriegillies | |
Valerie Gillies (born 1948) is a Canadian-born poet who grew up in Scotland. She was the second Edinburgh Makar ( Edinburgh's poet laureate) from 2005 to 2008. [1] Gillies has written for literary and arts reviews, the theatre, and BBC radio and television, and has worked with visual artists and musicians. [2] She has also taught creative writing extensively. [3]
Life and education
Gillies was born in Alberta, Canada, but grew up in southern Scotland. [1] She completed her undergraduate and postgraduate degrees at the University of Edinburgh. [4] She also studied traditional Sanskrit dramas in Mysore, India. [5]
She lives in Edinburgh and is married to William Gillies, a Celtic scholar, with whom she has had three children: two daughters and a son. [6]
Career
As well as publishing collections of poetry and appearing in various Faber and Penguin anthologies. In 1992, Gillies was appointed Writer in Residence for Midlothian and East Lothian [2] in a scheme promoted by the two districts that was supported by the Scottish Arts Council. [7] Her other residencies include The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh College of Art, various district libraries and a large psychiatric hospital.
She was poet laureate ad vitam of the Trimontium Trust in 2002 [5] and the second Edinburgh Makar (Edinburgh's poet laureate) from 2005 to 2008. [1]
In 2005, Gillies received a Creative Scotland Award to write The Spring Teller (2009), a book of poems inspired by Scotland's wells and springs. [8]
She spent 2009–10 and 2013–14 researching and writing as an associate of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences at Harvard University. [9]
Bibliography
Collections of poetry
- The Cream of the Well: New and Selected Poems (2015)
- The Spring Teller, Luath (2009)
- The Lightning Tree, Polygon (2002)
- Men and Beasts, with photographer Rebecca Marr, Luath Press (non-fiction and poetry) (2000)
- St Kilda Waulking Song, artist's book with Will Maclean, Morning Star (1998)
- The Ringing Rock, Scottish Cultural Press (1995)
- Poeti della Scozia Contemporanea, Supernova, Venezia [translation] (1992)
- The Jordanstone Folio, with 12 artists, Tay Press (1990)
- The Chanter's Tune, Canongate (1990)
- The Tweed Journey, Canongate (1989)
- Leopardi: A Scottis Quair, Edinburgh University Press [translation] (1987)
- Bed of Stone, Canongate (1984)
- Each Bright Eye, Canongate (1977)
- Poetry Introduction 3, Faber (1975)
- Trio, New Rivers Press, New York (1971)
Contributions to anthologies, selected
- The New Minstrels of the Scottish Borders, Deerpark Press (2006)
- Tweed Rivers, Platform Press and Luath Press (2005)
- Scottish Literature in the Twentieth Century, Scottish Cultural Press (2002)
- The Faber Book of Twentieth Century Scottish Poetry, Faber (2002)
- Love for Love, Pocketbooks (2000)
- Atoms of Delight, Pocketbooks (2000)
- The Jewel Box CD, Scottish Poetry Library (2000)
- Homage to the Carmina Gadelica, Morning Star (1998)
References
- ^ a b c "Valerie Gillies | Poetry". Scottish Poetry Library. Retrieved 2018-02-23.
- ^ a b "New Writer is Chosen". The Lothian Times. 11 January 1992.
- ^ "Valerie Gillies - Literature". literature.britishcouncil.org. Retrieved 2018-02-23.
- ^ "Calling aspiring writers and poets". The University of Edinburgh Bulletin. 6 December 1995.
- ^ a b "Writer Profile: Valerie Gillies". The Eildon Tree (8). Autumn 2002.
- ^ "Valerie Gillies Poetry". ValerieGillies.com. Retrieved 2018-02-23.
- ^ "Valerie is District's Writer-in-Residence". The Advertiser. 2 January 1992.
- ^ "The Spring Teller". Scottish PEN. Retrieved 2018-02-23.
- ^ "Valerie Gillies". The Royal Literary Fund. Retrieved 2018-02-23.
External links
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