Hello!
I’m Joan. I write fiction, nonfiction, and poems. I work as a part-time university lecturer and summer school instructor, and I offer freelance writing workshops and one-to-ones. I love helping other people with words.
Although home is currently a small village in the Scottish Borders, I was born and raised in Zambia and have lived in Vanuatu, India and Nigeria. I’m pretty globally minded.
Media and Outreach
My books have been widely translated, shortlisted for major book prizes and featured in mainstream print media (ranging from The Wall Street Journal to Woman’s Weekly). I’ve taken part in local and international book festivals (from Edinburgh and Manchester to New York and Taipei) and appeared on BBC Radio Scotland, The Week Junior Show, the National Literacy Trust Virtual Library, and Forever Lands, a 2023 film by Publishing Scotland.
Writing Workshops
With a background in ethnographic research and experiential learning, I have been involved in academic teaching and curriculum development for over 20 years. For the last six years, my focus has been on designing and delivering workshops in academic skills and creative writing. I aim for my workshops to be accessible, varied and engaging.
Read about working with me here and more about my work with Open Book here.
