The last flight home (inevitably diverted or delayed). The twelve hour long ferry journey (inevitably stormy). The long and winding road (inevitably clouded by fog)…

These are just some of the problems often experienced by writers who live on the country’s edge. It affects them at all times – when they are attending book festivals at their country’s centre; when they are researching topics for a book or article; when there are meetings with agents and others to be arranged. 

Just as important is the lack of contact with others who might be able to assist in some aspect of the work that knots a writer’s forehead and tangles thought. There is, too, that sense of being disregarded when others make short visits to familiar aspects of their surroundings, the visitor always (seemingly) possessing greater expertise about a particular locality than those who live there full-time. 

Peculiarly, for those of us living in so-called ‘remote’ parts of these islands, some of these issues have lessened during the current lockdown. During the last year, we have been able to attend book festivals and meetings without stirring from our homes.

Instead of feeling alone in our situation, we now share the same dilemmas as everyone else. We are all ‘isolated’ with everyone just a ‘zoom call’ away. The issues that used to trouble writers living on the edge of the country have disappeared. In their place are similar concerns to those that affect everyone everywhere. One could even argue that, during this period, matters have ‘improved’. 

The Society of Authors arranged a meeting in which three writers, Kerry Buchanan from County Down in Northern Ireland, Christopher Meredith from mid-Wales, and SoAiS Committee member, Donald S Murray (pictured), who lives in Shetland, discuss the issues that affect those who live on the edge. 

As both Christopher and Donald are respectively speakers of Welsh and Scottish Gaelic, they spoke about how being bilingual influences both their lives and writing. 

Among other issues, they discussed the minority status of Gaelic, Irish and Welsh within these islands and how those who communicate in these tongues sometimes feel sidelined in discussions that involve the communities from which they come.

Watch a recording of this online discussion, which took place on 23 March 2021.

Donald S. Murray is a Gaelic speaking poet, author, teacher and occasional dramatist who was raised in Ness, Isle of Lewis and now lives even farther north in the South Mainland of Shetland. 

His novel ‘As the Women Lay Dreaming’ (Saraband) was inspired by the Iolaire disaster near Stornoway in January 1919. This was shortlisted for a number of awards and won the Paul Torday Memorial Prize for 2020.

Also published in that year is ‘The Man Who Talks To Birds’ (Saraband), a collection of poems inspired by the beginning of lockdown. Two books will be appearing in 2021.

His new novel, ‘In a Veil of Mist’ (Saraband) is published in March 2021. His latest non-fiction book, ‘For the Safety of All – the Story of Scotland’s Lighthouses’ (HES) appears at the end of May. For more information, visit donaldsmurray.co.uk.