Acclaimed author Catherine Simpson will host the SMHAF Writing Awards, held in partnership with Bipolar Scotland. Closing the festival on Tuesday 24 May, the event will also feature a live performance from Kathryn Joseph.

Catherine’s newly published memoir On Body: A Retrospective is an exploration of growing up and growing older, and how a year of cancer made her reassess the skin she is in.

Her earlier memoir When I Had a Little Sister: The Story of a Farming Family who Never Spoke tells of the suicide of Catherine’s sister and of Catherine’s search for answers as to how it happened. Her debut novel Truestory was inspired by her experiences raising her autistic daughter Nina.

Kathryn Joseph’s short live set will feature a performance of her version of A Way From Rage, recently recorded in tribute to Beldina Odenyo Onassis (Heir of the Cursed), who previously performed at the Writing Awards. 

The song is available to download here, raising funds for arts and mental health projects in Scotland.

Kathryn is currently touring her new album for you who are the wronged, including upcoming dates in Edinburgh, Inverness, St Andrews, Peebles and Glasgow.

About the Event

The Writing Awards will take place at St George’s Tron Church in Glasgow on Tuesday 24 May at 6.30pm. It is the closing event of this year’s Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival and will finish with a drinks reception.

During the evening, this year’s shortlisted writers will read from their work, exploring the theme of Gather, and this will also be available in a printed collection. The work includes fiction, poetry and creative non-fiction, and provokes new ideas, emotions and reflections about what the theme means to different people. 

Book your free tickets to the Writing Awards here.

Writing Workshops

Author and mental health campaigner Graham Morgan will facilitate our friendly, supportive Writers’ Café.

Aimed at anyone with an interest in creative writing – particularly people who have submitted to our writing competition – it gives you an opportunity to try out some writing exercises and share your work.

The event takes place at The Wild Olive Tree café, located in St George’s Tron Church, on Monday 23 May at 5.30pm. Tea, coffee and cakes will be provided. Book your place here.

There will also be a series of free online masterclasses taking place next month, covering a range of genres and styles and open to all. Details will be announced soon.