​‘A poignant tour de force that lays bare the complexities of both of its central characters, Remember the Rowan honours their brilliance while examining their flaws with curiosity and compassion. As a poet herself, MacQuarrie scarcely wastes a word, writing with shining clarity. Every sentence is exquisitely worked, every detail in some way significant…’
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Alastair Mabbott, The Herald
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​My debut novel, Remember the Rowan, inspired by the true story of the 'some-requited' love between Kathleen Raine and Gavin Maxwell, was published by Ringwood in 2024. Remember the Rowan is currently longlisted for the Highland Book Prize and the People's Book Prize.
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‘MacQuarrie’s deep research into the life of twentieth century poet Kathleen Raine offers a brilliant reappraisal of a woman feted in life for her literary talent yet almost completely forgotten in Scotland today. Absolutely alive with emotion, this impressive first novel will help to ensure that Raine is remembered as the hugely talented and inspirational writer she was.’
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Sara Sheridan, author of The Fair Botanists
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Remember the Rowan publication day, 2024
(photo credit: Gillian MacQuarrie).
My writing has been published by New Writing Scotland, the Scottish Poetry Library, Gutter Magazine, Scottish PEN, the Women's History Network, Bluestocking Oxford, Glasgow Women's Library, the Federation of Writers Scotland, Postbox Magazine, Speculative Books, Edinburgh Literary Salon, Stand Magazine, the Young Women's Movement, the Charles Rennie Mackintosh Society, DREICH, Skirting Around, Tipping the Scales, -algia, Abridged and others.
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At the Nature Library, 2024
(photo credit: Pamela McLean).
‘A beautifully written book in which, reminiscent of Hilary Mantel at her best, MacQuarrie uses the real lives of historical figures as a jumping-off point to write a touching and engaging story of poetry and writing, of the inspirational power of nature and of an all-encompassing, overwhelming love... in its sadness is a real beauty which reveals MacQuarrie as the new author to watch for the Scottish audience.’
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Kavan Stafford, Bella Caledonia
I have been shortlisted for a Vogue Magazine Young Talent Award, selected as an Editor's Choice for the John Byrne Award and twice winner of the Glasgow Women's Library Poetry Prize. My short story 'The Wordsworth Women' won second prize in the Federation of Writers Scotland Vernal Equinox 2020. In 2021, I hosted 'Verses and Violets: Taking Pride in Queer Women Poets' at the Scottish Poetry Library, returning in 2023 to co-host SPL's Nothing But the Poem LGBTQ+ History Month event and podcast. I have also served twice as a Non-Fiction judge for Scotland's National Book Awards, presenting my category's award at the national ceremony. ​
My paintings have been purchased by clients in the US, Canada, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, Italy, Spain, Romania, Germany and Belgium, as well as around the UK. In 2019, Keep a Green Tree in Your Heart won the People's Choice Award at Scotland's National Museum of Rural Life's first Summer Art Challenge.
Find me @glasgowgallerina on Instagram, @GGallerina on X, at glasgowgallerina@gmail.com
or directly using this form.
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Kirsten MacQuarrie
At the Soutar Festival 2023
(photo credit: Culture Perth and Kinross).