Crime writer to help Mearns group launch new anthology

A collection of tales by a group of Mearns writers will be launched next month.

Shorelines will mark 10 years of a creative writing group that has met in Inverbervie and Stonehaven.

Bill Kirton, a crime writer and former fellow at Dundee and St Andrews universities, will be keynote speaker on May 5.

Mr Kirton has been a university lecturer, actor, director, TV presenter, visiting professor and artist at the University of Rhode Island.

The anthology was written by members of the Creative Writers Group, which meets in Inverbervie and Stonehaven each week.

The group was started by Community Learning to provide a forum for creative development and to address issues of literacy, isolation, confidence and social inclusion.

The group consists of people from their teens to their early eighties and includes non-native speakers of English.

As well as its commitment to fostering expressive and communicative skills, the group has promoted the growth of a sense of having a voice in their community.

The group has also visited various other writers’ events and held writing workshops led by established writers and the group’s own members.

The workshops have also been attended by S6 pupils from Mackie Academy.

Acting chairman Alexander Inglis said: “What makes the group stand out and its greatest strength is its wide diversity and how members learn from each other’s distinctive life and writing experience.”

Copies will be available for £5 at the event in the Royal British Legion’s upstairs bar, Stonehaven, and in local shops for £7.