Taing mhòr

Mark Howitt, launch of A Change of Direction, photograph by Magdalena Kaminska

My friend, acclaimed author, Bàrd and storyteller, Martin Macintyre has honoured me with this poetic review of last week’s launch of my poetry collection A Change of Direction:

Tonight in the Argyle

It was a poetry event in a packed pub.

An ex-accountant paying close attention to the credits and debits of the every day.

The yesterday attendance at a once mainstream concert.

The choice to face or hide from the wind-driven rain at the bus-stop; love's crucial dilemma. They did kiss.

The emptying sofa of living and dying friendship.

The way it was. The shape of things to come.

A thorough time to be with a close friend.

Hard to believe that Martin’s debut poetry collection Dannnsam led Fhaileas / Let Me Dance with Your Shadow is now 20 year old, but his verse still brings me great joy. His debut novel Samhradh '78 - a coming of age tale set on South Uist against the backdrop of the 1978 World Cup in Argentina - was published by Luath Press a few years back. Since then it has been translated into English and - a first for Gaelic fiction - French. Whatever language you read it in, it’s a cracker.

Thank you Martin for your kind words and encouragement.

A Change of Direction is available to buy now from The New Ramsay Head Press