My month-long writer's residency living in a shepherd's hut at the tip of the Isle of Iona, working on my next historical novel.
On Kindness – Iona Writing Residency
L J on her roots
SCBWI Magazine: Debut Diaries L.J. MacWhirter
The following article appeared in the online magazine for the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators in September 2019. It's aimed at fellow / aspiring authors and illustrators. And thanks to their Afternoon Tea theme, it features rather a lot of cake...
Stockport Express article ‘Author goes back to school’
My former school, Bramhall High in Cheshire, invited me to speak to 40 Y7-Y10 pupils in the local historic Hall which inspired the setting for Black Snow Falling. The all-day event was covered in the Stockport Express. You can read feedback from the staff and students on my speaking page.
The Courier Magazine: 10 common dreams.
This feature appeared in The Courier Magazine on Saturday 27 April, before an event at Soutar Book Festival on Sunday 28 April. If you thought dream analysis was a modern phenomenon you’ll be surprised to learn that even as far back as the second century AD people were fascinated by their dreams. Oneirocritica –The Interpretation… Continue reading The Courier Magazine: 10 common dreams.
“Be Strong!” Rewriting the cultural narrative.
My guest blog post for academic / illustrator Elizabeth Dulemba reveals some of the historical sources I used to write BLACK SNOW FALLING, and why, in rewriting this cultural narrative about women, I chose not to give my protagonist, Ruth, any super-powers, despite the fantasy element of the story.
L J on her roots – Interview
Ann Giles, The Bookwitch, interviews L.J. MacWhirter about Bramhall High; early modernism and the Tudors; and daydreaming in History lessons.
#HeforShe feminism in Black Snow Falling
Author L.J. MacWhirter explains the historical feminism and prejudice in her debut novel, Black Snow Falling.
Scottish Book Trust – Book of the Month
Book of the Month at Scottish Book Trust - read their review of Black Snow Falling and recommendation for groups wanting to explore themes of loss, hope and resilience.
Interesting Times UK Bookshop Tour
Blog by fellow YA author Tracey Mathias on our Interesting Times Book Tour
From C16th England, to First World War France, to a dystopian near-future UK, the INTERESTING TIMES tour spans countries and centuries. Black Snow Falling by Liz MacWhirter, The Goose Road by Rowena House and my own Night of the Party are diverse and different novels. At first glance about the only thing they have in common is that they’re all UK debuts published this year!
But when we came together with the idea of doing a bookshop tour, and started to discuss our books in more depth we found a common thread running through all of them.
These are all stories where big histories have an impact on individual lives: where cultural, social and political forces create constraints and challenges for the people caught up in them. In these three different worlds, our teen protagonists have to struggle to survive, to carve out a space for action, to pursue their…
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Scottish Book Trust – My publication journey
"Author L.J. MacWhirter reveals all about the 16 year writing journey that resulted in the publication of her brilliant debut novel Black Snow Falling with Scotland Street Press."
