Events are always in date order with newest listed first. Scroll down to see what is coming soon and what I’ve been up to. The wonderful Storylands Sessions is my ongoing project with several events per month. I’d love to see you at something – do come and say hello!
Appearing at Blairgowrie’s Bookmark Book Festival
Saturday 8th October 2022, 3pm
Discussing Of Stone and Sky with Olga Wojtas
Of Stone and Sky was the winner of the Festival Book of the Year in 2021
Information and bookings here.
Who Do You Think You Are?
Where are you from? Who are your people? What’s your story? Beyond the ties of blood, name, clan and nation, we are shaped by the stories passed down to us about ourselves and our forebears. In this interactive workshop, we will explore how the stories of our heritage travel and change across time and place. Come to share your stories and discover how connected we are.
No preparation or historical knowledge required!
Book HERE
Sunday 20th February 5-6pm: Digital event
Pitlochry Festival Theatre
Winter Words Festival
Highland Book Prize – Inspired by Landscape
In conversation with Andrew Painting about how both non-fiction – Regeneration – and fiction – Of Stone and Sky – tell stories of the land of the Cairngorms.
7th Dec 2021, 2-3pm: Society of Authors Industry Insider
How to create your own writing residency
Performance storyteller Cat Weatherill talks to writer Merryn Glover and poet Jo Bell, about the practical approaches authors can take to set up their own writing residency project – and make it pay. These are tough financial times post Covid, and many of us are looking for ways to generate income. But is this a viable source? FREE, donations welcome.
Of Stone and Sky came out on May 6th. Watch the launch, with Cairngorms footage, music, readings and interview here.
My main work for 2020 – 2021 is walking and writing the book Hidden Fires: A Cairngorms Journey with Nan Shepherd.
I love sharing creatively with others. See here for ways we could work together. Upcoming and recent projects include:
Sep 2021 to Feb 2022 The Storylands Sessions A series of twice-monthly story and music sessions in Badenoch with musician, Hamish Napier. Come and join us!
24 Sept 2021 Badenoch Heritage Festival – info coming soon
10 Sept 2021 Nairn Book & Arts Festival
17 June 2021 Panellist for seminar on nature writing at XpoNorth festival.
25 Feb 2021 Panellist for GrowBiz Creative Peer Support and Learning event: ‘Telling your story and content creation’
20 Nov 2020 Care And Learning Alliance Virtual Pyjama Party for Book Week Scotland. Video still available.
“It was just fantastic to collaborate with you to encourage families to keep telling stories, whoever they are and whatever age they are!” CALA
19 Nov 2020 Aberdeen City Libraries virtual creative writing workshop on Telling Your Story for Book Week Scotland. Video still available.
October 2020 Two online writing workshops for Aberdeen Young Carers organised through Aberdeen City Libraries and Barnardos.
“Merryn set the scene from the start for a positive, friendly and inclusive session. Allowing space and time for all the participants to gain new skills and confidence in their writing, Merryn approached it in such a fun and engaging manner!” Yvonne Barclay, Young People’s Librarian, Aberdeen City Libraries
Sep 2020 Writing stories for interpretation of the Speyside Way for Cairngorms National Park Authority.
5 August 2020 Virtual workshop on nature writing for Angus Writers Circle
“I just wanted to say a huge thank you from all of us at Angus Writers’ Circle. I’ve been getting some lovely feedback about how much members enjoyed your workshop.” Sandra Ireland, Programme Co-ordinator
Feb – April 2020 School & community workshops in Newtonmore facilitating text for the art installation by sculptor Stuart Murdoch, then developing and editing the final text for the panels.
“Merryn was an obvious choice to provide inspiration and a collection of “community” words about Newtonmore. It was great that we could rely on her professionalism.” Eric Dodd, Newtonmore Business Association
18 Feb 2020 Poetry workshop at Highland Lit, Inverness.
In 2019 I was Writer in Residence for the Cairngorms National Park, facilitating the year-long project Shared Stories: A Year in the Cairngorms. It encouraged all kinds of people to write about their experiences of nature in this special place.
“‘Shared Stories: A Year in the Cairngorms’ was a great success; this was in no small part due to the work of writer in residence, Merryn Glover. Her passion and enthusiasm for the Cairngorms coupled with her ability to motivate and inspire people ensured that her creative writing workshops were engaging and enabled people from all backgrounds to express their love for this beautiful area.“ Alan Smith, Outdoor Learning Manager, Cairngorms National Park Authority
30 Nov 2019 Story writing workshop for staff at Glenmore Lodge.
23 Nov 2019 Leading story writing workshop for Book Week Scotland, Inverness.
21 Nov Anthology launch & Celebration event for Shared Stories: A Year in the Cairngorms project.
16 Nov 2019 Story writing workshop for CNP Volunteer Rangers, Nethy Bridge
09 Nov 2019 Keynote speaker for Scottish Fellowship of Christian Writers, Cornton.
07 Nov 2019 Story writing workshop for Cairngorms National Park Rangers, Balmoral Estate.
29 Oct 2019 Leading workshop: How to Run a Writers’ Group, CNPA Offices, Grantown
4 Oct 2019 ‘A Sense of Place’ Talk at Ness Book Fest about my writing in the Cairngorms
30 Sept 2019, 7th & 14th Oct Shared Stories workshops at John Muir Trust Wild Space in Pitlochry
28 Sept 2019 Workshop for OWLS at Earthtime, Duffus, for Shared Stories
18 Sept 2019 Shared Stories workshop for Land-based workers at Glenesk Museum
11 Sept 2019 Facilitating workshop for volunteer Health Walk leaders for Shared Stories
13-15 Aug 2019 Chairing three kids’ lit events at the Edinburgh International Book Festival
10-11 Aug 2019 Writing workshops at Forest Fest, Highland Folk Museum, Newtonmore
1 Jul 2019 Writing workshop for Land Based Workers at Blair Atholl – Part of Shared Stories
21-23 June Writing workshops at Solas Festival Perthshire
June 2019 Writing workshops in Ballater – Part of Shared Stories
29 May 2019 Writing workshop for Bethany Christian Trust Edinburgh
11-12 May 2019 Writing workshops at Cairngorms Nature Big Weekend
2 May 2019 Writing workshop for Moniack Mhor Young Writers Cafe
April -May 2019 Writing workshops in Tomintoul – Part of Shared Stories
14 March 2019 Talk at Grantown Museum “The Ingredients of a Novel”
March 2019 Writing workshops in Aviemore – Part of Shared Stories
26 Feb 2019 Co-leading a workshop at the Scottish Book Trade Conference
19 Feb 2019 Leading a workshop at Highland Lit in Inverness
At the end of 2018 I was sad to leave my two days a week as Library Assistant at Kingussie High School where I loved the books and the kids, and bringing them together.
For information on my outreach work prior to 2019 see here.