Miners and Poetry

May 3, 2010

As readers of “The Knitter”, and anyone who has browsed through this site will know, my father wrote many poems throughout his life, most written while working in the coal mines. Chatting to people since the book was published, and questions I’ve been asked at readings has shown the shock most people not from that background [...]

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The first reading and talk at a Junior School

April 1, 2010

I had always planned to arrange readings or talks at local schools – but hadn’t found the time. At least not until after my young nephew Jack took a copy of “The Knitter” into his junior school and suggested to his teacher that I could come along and give a talk during their “book week”. [...]

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From Schools to Mining Museums – Readings and Talks

March 14, 2010

It’s been a good first couple of months since The Knitter was published. Frustrating because working full time and trying to sell a book don’t sit well together. I’ll have to work on that one! Really motivating and gratifying at the same time, after some really positive early feedback. It really is an incredible feeling [...]

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“We Didna Forget”….or did we?

February 17, 2010

“But glad tho’ we be tae show them oor thanks,
when we’ll talk nae mair aboot guns, ships or tanks.
there’re some puir bit laddies we maun keep in min’
They’re lying sae faur,  sae faur frae their kin’.
So mind a wee  prayer, it’s no much tae ask
It’ll help the puir laddies tae finish their task.
They died for [...]

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Where have all the “Tossing Schools” gone?.

February 13, 2010

Gambling among working class people takes many forms,  and the type of game favoured says a lot about the people, the culture and the times. For central Scotland, betting “on the horses” has always been a staple, as it is in many parts of the UK.  To a lot of people though, placing what to [...]

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The Launch of The Knitter.

January 31, 2010

www.theknitterbook.com
It’s been a long time coming, but The Knitter has finally hit the shelves, e-bookstores and will soon be coming to a reading near you! For all of you getting this email who have already been hit by some other communication, or might even have already bought a copy – apologies if you feel like you [...]

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How can a 16 line poem “The Knitter” lead to a 330 page book?

January 28, 2010

The Knitter
Three nights it came in sleep, that vision clear
Three nights!, each ticking second seemed a year.
Three nights as she with silent needles plied
And wove a shapeless garment, rainbow pied.
“What knittest thou?”, but she, unheeding, heard
Nor lifted eye intent on ghostly cord.
Again, “What knittest?” as the words arose
On ashen lips, in fear the question froze.
Mine [...]

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The original “Archie Gemmill Moment”

January 24, 2010

Maybe only Scots can understand why the original Archie Gemmill moment is worthy of its role in describing those moments that sear their way into our memory and stay there. Even so, I bet every other country and culture has their equivalent!
You still find the goal popping up in all kinds of places – [...]

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The Knitter – Fact or Fictionalised?

January 16, 2010

There is a moment in Chapter 10 of the Knitter when the author’s father, Johnnie, says to him :
“Don’t trust your memory John. It’s the last thing you should trust for the details of anything, but the only thing to trust for the feelings.”
That quite neatly summarises why the book is subtitled “a fictionalised memoir”. [...]

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The Knitter at Waterstones

January 10, 2010

The Knitter will be available at Waterstones in Oxford Street, London as part of the launch. If you are passing the branch at 311 Oxford Street, pop in, look for the special section there for Authorhouse books, and treat yourself to a copy. Let me know if you do – you might be the very [...]

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