David Gow was born and grew up in Edinburgh, where he completed a master’s degree in creative writing. Aside from literature, his main interests are nature and Scottish history – both subjects which colour his short stories. David regularly reads from his work at the Forest Cafe.
Russell Jones (b.1984) great up in the industrial new-town of Telford, Shropshire. He later read English literature at Lancaster University, then studied creative writing at Edinburgh University. He has written poetry and travel documents for several magazines and books, was founder of the Sendai City Creative Writing Group, and has lead group seminars on popular modern British fiction. In 2007, he won the Grierson Verse Prize for “Craftwork”.
Criminally talented at grammar, but painfully incorrect with her tense usage, Danielle Mantia likes dresses more than people and rum punch more than chocolate. She aspires to one day live in Grey Gardens and spends most of her time concealing the fact she is secretly a mermaid.
Ryan Van Winkle is an Edinburgh based Amerian writer of poems. His poems were recently awarded a prize in the national UK Ver Poets competition. Ryan Van Winkle is Ryan’s real name. He is available for parties: ryan@theforest.org.uk.
Miroslav Mitrovic was born in Croatia, and has lived in Zabreb, Belgrade, Banja Luka, Brcko, Sisak and Edinburgh. He’s been writing poetry for 23 years, publishing books of poety for 12 years, and writing scripts for theatre and films for eight years. He also makes short films with ProFiRe production and performs at ProTeRe-ProTeSt (Progressive Theatre of Reality). Miroslav has worked as a journalist, youth worker and artist, and has organised the Balkan Festival (2002-2006) in Edinburgh.
Jason Morton wrote a story in this book. Born and raised in Michigan, he spent the majority of 2007 in Edinburgh collecting scars and life lessons.
Jane Flett is a professional philosopher, born in Aberdeen and living in Edinburgh. Her writing has been described as “like a cold can of lager on a hot day, with 13.5% extra free.” Her life’s ambition is to gain permanent residence at the Chelsea Hotel, but failing this, she would settle for a yacht, a martini and fifteen minutes with Richard Brautigan.
If there is one writer who could be heralded as the contemporary, Scottish-inspired Canadian literary equivalent of a Bergamasco Sheepdog, Benjamin James Lancaster is most certainly that writer. www.myspace.com/benjaminjameslancaster
James Picardo was born to Catholics in Bury St edmunds. He was educated in Hagley, Birmingham and Edinburgh. In the summer, he follows Test Cricket and rollerblades. In the winter, he retreats to prepared positions.
Lauren Simpson is a native of Birmingham, Alabama (cue music), studied creative writing at the University of Edinburgh, and has been a longtime freelancer for Executive Traveler and other publications. Since she crossed the Pond, she has spent entirely too much time with her laptop, either writing or finding new ways to procrastinate. She hopes to see her first novel published before she hits thirty, but with sevens years to go, she’s keeping her fingers crossed.
Billy Kahora is a writer of fiction and a journalist hailing from Kenya. Educated in South Africa, Billy has lived in the United States and, more recently, Edinburgh. He was specially recognised by the judges for the Caine Prize for his story ‘Treadmill Love’ in 2007.
Nick Holdstock lives in Edinburgh.