Scottish Writers’ Centre: In Process with Louise Welsh

Renowned novelist Louise Welsh takes a look back over her work to date and offer insights into her own inspiration and writing process.

The Glasgow writer is the author of five novels: The Cutting Room (2002), Tamburlaine Must Die (2004), The Bullet Trick (2006), Naming the Bones (2010) and The Girl on the Stairs (2012). She’s also produced many short stories and articles, and has written for radio and the stage, including a libretto for opera.

Louise has been the recipient of several awards including The John Creasey Memorial Dagger, the Saltire First Book Award, the Glenfiddich/Scotland on Sunday, Spirit of Scotland Writing Award and City of Glasgow Lord Provost’s Award for Literature. In 2007 she was included in Waterstone’s list of 25 Authors for the Future.

Louise's stage-writing includes Panic Patterns (2010) and Ghost Patrol, with composer Stuart MacRae. This hour long opera premiered at the Edinburgh International Festival in 2012 before going on a nine city tour, as well as winning the Southbank/Sky Arts Award for Opera (2013). She has also presented several radio features, most recently a five part series following in Edwin Muir’s footsteps for BBC Radio 4, Welsh’s Scottish Journey, and How to Commit a Murder for BBC Radio Scotland, both produced by Louise Yeoman. Her work has been translated into 20 languages and she has been awarded several international fellowships and residencies including a Robert Louis Stevenson Award (2003). Louise was writer in residence for The University of Glasgow and Glasgow School of Art from November 2010 until April 2012.