Since 1977, with the publication of Its Colours They Are Fine, Alan Spence has been a significant and consistent presence in Scottish writing, most recently as Edinburgh’s appointed Makar. In conversation with Creative Director of WayWORD, Helen Lynch, Alan will talk about his latest work: two new poetry collections: Edinburgh Come Ye All, following his appointment as Makar, and Thirteen Ways of Looking at Tulips. His latest novel, Mr Timeless Blyth, continuing his interest in Japanese history and culture, will be published in 2023.

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Alan Spence is an award-winning poet and playwright, novelist and short story writer. Ali Smith called him ‘a necessary visionary.’ Awards include the McVitie Prize (Scottish Writer of the Year), Glasgow Herald People’s Prize, TMA Drama Award and Glenfiddich Spirit of Scotland Award.

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Books include Its Colours They Are Fine, The Pure Land and Glasgow Zen. His play  Sailmaker  is a set text in Scottish schools.

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He is Professor Emeritus in Creative Writing at The University of Aberdeen, (where he founded the WORD Festival in 1999) and from 2017 to 2021 he was Edinburgh Makar (Poet Laureate to the City). In 2018 he was awarded the Order of the Rising Sun from the Government of Japan. With his wife he runs the Sri Chinmoy Meditation Centre in Edinburgh.