Debut author off on fellowship

The debut author (34) will join three other recipients in escaping the hustle and bustle of everyday life in order to devote time to writing at the Hôtel Chevillon International Arts Centre in Grez-sur-Loing.

Originally from Shetland and an established singer-songwriter, Malachy has also written for the New Statesmen, the Guardian, Scottish Review of Books, Caught by the River and more both online and in print.

He won a New Writers Award from Scottish Book Trust in 2014 and his first book, Sixty Degrees North, will be published this year.

The southsider commented: “I’m absolutely delighted to receive an RLS Fellowship. It means a great deal to have the support of Scottish Book Trust, and the chance to spend a month working solely on this project will be a huge boost towards completing the novel.”

Jenny Niven of supporter Creative Scotland, added: “Travel, as Scottish writers - including Stevenson himself - have long since described, is fuel to that creative engine, offering new perspectives and to detach entirely from the day to day aspects of living that can trap the imagination.

“Creative Scotland hope our four intrepid awardees find it as productive and stimulating as their predecessors.”