A Wester Ross venue will play a part in an exciting literary venture run through a Highland writers' group
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Creative writing centre Moniack Mhor will welcome international writers in spring as part of its International Writers Residency programme.
The centre in Abriachan opens its doors in March to 11 established literary figures from India, Nigeria, Togo, Canada, Spain, Scotland and England.
The nine residents are Bode Asiyanbi, TJ Benson, Carly Brown, Puja Changoiwala, Ayi Renaud Dossavi, Sandra Ireland, Nadina Aisha Jassat, Sunnah Khan and Titilope Sonuga.
Also attending is the International Translator Award winner Gemma Rovira Ortega and the 2022 Jessie Kesson Fellow, Debris Stevenson.
The visiting writers will take part in an events programme, allowing Scottish audiences to hear their work.
Events include readings at The Ceilidh Place in Ullapool and The Pier Arts Centre in Orkney, ending with spoken word and music in Inverness.
Rachel Humphries, centre director at Moniack Mhor said, “We are extremely grateful to both the British Council and Creative Scotland for funding these fantastic opportunities, and we are very excited to see the work that comes out of this time.”
Nick Barley, director of the Edinburgh International Book Festival, was on the judging panel for the Writers’ Residency. He said: "This is a fabulous initiative by Moniack Mhor, a residency that brings together exceptional writers from across the world in one of Scotland's best-loved literary hubs - and then gives them the chance to travel to a leading West African festival to share their ideas.
"The quality of the applicants was eye-opening, and I imagine the eventual outputs will be stellar."
Efe Paul-Azino, director of the Lagos International Poetry Festival, was also a judge. He added: “The process showed a range and quality of entries that reinforce how vital literature and art are in these times, and the unfailing capacity of writers to meet historical moments of uncertainty with clarity and insight.
"An outstanding pool of applications and a refreshing, diverse shortlist.”
