There’s only ONE DAY TO GO until our writing seminar tomorrow! 

Are you thinking of writing but don’t know where to start? Or have you began a project, but don’t know if your writing has a chance of being published? Then join us in Hillhead library at 2pm to hear writing advice from FOUR experienced writers:

Rebecca Brown

A proud Dundonian, Rebecca is an English and Creative Writing alumnus and co-founder of the charity Folklore Scotland. Armed with an obscene number of folklore books, she and her husband strive to preserve the tales of the past for a new generation by digitising stories, recording podcasts, and of course, hunting for fairies. 

Her debut novel, Song of the Stag, set to be published by Ringwood in June, may be a fantasy, but it is also a love letter to Scotland’s historic and folkloric legacy. From ancient kings and black-hearted patriots to bonnie princes and Jacobite songs, Rebecca’s writing is a celebration of a complex, beautiful, and all too often tragic, land.

Maureen Cullen

Maureen won Ringwood’s 2022 Short Story Competition with her story, Kitten Heels, which will be published as a novel this Spring.

From Social Worker to distinguished writer, Maureen Cullen’s historical fiction confronts issues of poverty, mental health, and the experiences faced by women in 1960’s Glasgow. 

Rob McInroy

Rob McInroy has published two historical crime fiction novels here at Ringwood, both part of his ongoing, Bob Kelty series. The first in the series, Cuddies Strip, comes “highly recommended” by crime writer Val McDermid because of its contemporary resonances. The third book in his series, Moot is set in 1939 and comes out later this year! 

Rob began his writing career with many prize short stories before writing novels. He has an MA (with distinction) in, and has previously taught, creative writing making him the perfect guest speaker at our panel on Sunday.

Kirsten MacQuarrie

Kirsten is a Scottish artist and writer, whose novel The Rowan Tree is due to be published by Ringwood Publishing in 2024. Her writing has been published by Scottish Poetry Library, Gutter Magazine, Scottish PEN, Postbox Magazine, Glasgow Women’s Library, and others. 

Kirsten was shortlisted for a Vogue Magazine Young Talent Award, selected as an Editor’s Choice for the John Byrne Award and has won the Glasgow Women’s Library Poetry Prize twice. 

Her short story ‘The Wordsworth Women’ won second prize in the Federation of Writers Scotland Vernal Equinox 2020. At the Scottish Poetry Library, she hosted an event in 2021, titled ‘Verses and Violets: Taking Pride in Queer Women Poets’ and co-hosted another in 2023, titled Nothing But the Poem: LGBTQ+ History Month event and podcast. Kirsten has also served twice as a Non-Fiction judge for Scotland’s National Book Awards.


Once we’ve heard the insightful tips from our guest authors, we’ll have the chance to immediately put their advice to the test by completing some writing exercises.

No matter your experience or preferred genre of writing, we hope to see you there tomorrow to take the next step in improving your writing journey!