Liz MacWhirter is a novelist, poet, essayist, lecturer and theologian. She recently submitted her interdisciplinary PhD thesis, When Hope Takes Flight >> Intersecting trauma theology with Julian of Norwich through writing poetry and hybrid narratives. Her gothic debut novel, Black Snow Falling (Scotland Street Press, 2018), gained a Carnegie Medal nomination. A debut poetry pamphlet, Blue: a lament for the sea was published by Stewed Rhubarb Press in 2025. Other poetry is published by Lucy Writers, Yale GCRE, Theology in Scotland and elsewhere. In 2026, the Saltire Society commissioned Liz to write poetry exploring the legacy of the conservationist John Muir in the Anthropocene. She will be working on the commission during while in residence at St John’s College, University of Durham, as the Ruth Etchells Fellow 2026.
Liz has spoken at the Edinburgh International Book Festival; Universities of Yale, Edinburgh, Glasgow and St Andrews, among many other venues. Liz’s creative-critical research has been recognised by an honoraria gift from Yale University Institute of Sacred Music’s Initiative for Religion, Ecology and the Expressive Arts; and with funding from University of Glasgow College of Arts Research Support Awards (7 awards); International Medieval Congress; and Seedcorn Funding from University of Glasgow Scottish & Celtic Studies. Other funders include Creative Scotland and Publishing Scotland. Liz is a Scottish Book Trust Live Literature Author.
Before her PhD, working as a creative copywriter for Ardbeg Whisky and other clients, her work gained 20 creative industry awards for originality and impact.
Liz is married and lives on the east coast of Scotland.
PhD research supervisors at the University of Glasgow: Professor Heather Walton and novelist Dr Carolyn-Jess Cooke.
Liz MacWhirter Novelist & Poet 