WELCOME, STEWART THOMSON!

I grew up on the mean streets of a middle class Glaswegian suburb and penned my first novel at the age of nine: an illustrated, ten page opus about pirates. After school I found myself battling through a succession of menial low paid jobs, mainly involving a telephone headset, all the time too afraid to step out of the writer’s closet and follow my true ambition.

Finally, after my career as a telephonist had reached the heady heights of answering calls on BBC Scotland football phone-in shows I took a step closer to the dream by enrolling in a creative writing class at the confusingly named Glasgow College of Nautical Studies. My pirate writing roots had seemingly come full circle.

From there I landed a place at the NFTS and after two years of hard work and tough love I found myself ready to embrace the life of a professional writer. I have now returned home to Glasgow where I am currently enjoying the fresh air and the limited choice presented by the Glasgow Underground system; left or right?