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  • Council Meeting
  • The Council still meets regularly in the home of Margaret McConnell as it has done for the last forty years.

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  • Margaret McConnell

    Originally of the Glasgow Writers’ Club, she became our esteemed Honorary President in 1973, and was a founder member (1969) of SAW, the first President (1968-73), later two stints as the Secretary (1976 – 78 & 1980 - 82) and for several years, Competition Secretary (1987 - 91). While holding the latter office, on Thursday 19th January 1989, she was the victim of a burglary and at the Council Meeting held at her home the very next day, all were chastened to learn that the intruders hadn’t fancied nipping off with the SAW competition entries and had left them severely alone.

    When Janetta Bowie wrote The History of SAW in l994, Margaret was thanked for hosting committee meetings in her home. Now, in 2011, she continues to make us welcome there and her enthusiasm for all matters relating to SAW remains undiminished.

    Though now in her 90s and less mobile than before, especially since in 2008, she suffered injury; breaking her hip when a banister outside her flat gave way. She still keeps up to date with the business of the Association, hosting meetings in her home each year. The unfortunate circumstance of her injury meant that she was unable to attend the 2008 conference; however her interest and enthusiasm for all things SAW is undiminished. People who meet this former teacher of English (Hutcheson’s Grammar School) find her both interesting and ever-ready with good advice. Furthermore, she is the author of countless published stories and articles, plus popular series based on her own long experience. Truly a lady of remarkable talent and an example to us all.

    Unfortunately Margaret will not be able to attend the 2011 conference but we send her our best wishes.

  • Alanna Knight

    Alanna Knight

  • Her award-winning first novel, 'Legend of the Loch' was published in 1969 and in 2009 she celebrates the landmark publication of her 50th book, her latest in the Inspector Faro series, 'The Final Enemy'. Novelist, playwright and biographer, her work includes gothic and historical novels and crime fiction, as well as her notable non- fiction works on Robert Louis Stevenson.

  • Born in Tyneside of Scots-Irish parentage, she now lives and writes in Edinburgh, the city which inspired her popular and widely-acclaimed series of books: The Inspector Faro Series. Speaking about her reasons for being drawn to the world of historical crime, Alanna explains: "It was the puzzles. History is full of riddles and mysteries, and the researcher has to figure them out, especially if one wants to write a book. I love such puzzles, and I wanted to write some myself." From its inception a member of the Scottish Association of Writers; Aberdeen Writers' Circle; Hon. President of the Edinburgh Writers' Club; Convener of the Scottish Chapter of the Crime Writers' Association; member of the Society of Authors in Scotland and the Mystery Writers of America. She has been involved over the years in helping other writers get into print: lecturing in creative writing as well as writing articles and books on the subject and adjudicating competitions. With tight deadlines, she's highly disciplined in turning away tempting social activities. “It isn't deprivation - I love writing. I can't remember a time when I didn't want to be a writer. I even wrote plays for my classmates at school and poems for children's radio. I realise that I am a workaholic that I'm never really happy unless I have a book in progress.”

  • Other Talents

    Alanna is also a gifted artist. She has created portraits in pastel of many other writers, among them Ian Rankin, Nigel Trantor, Dorothy Dunnett and Eileen Ramsay, as well as actor, Robert Powell. Alanna explains, “I get the same feelings from writing and drawing. There is a moment when you realise you have got a good story, and it's so exciting. It's the same with drawing. The outlines resemble nothing, then suddenly you see a face coming through. It's a moment of jubilation when you know that what you're working on isn't going to be a disaster.”


  • Mary Edward President

    A former teacher and Educational Development officer, she wrote a great many teaching packages in that life. She is a graduate of Glasgow University, where she attended as a mature student and enjoyed so much that she hung around until she had two degrees and a diploma.

    She is now a freelance writer of fiction and non-fiction and is published in both. Her documentary history of migration - Who Belongs to Glasgow? was first published in 1993 and was updated, reprinted and relaunched in 2008 by Luath Press, Edinburgh. The text was significantly amended to reflect the changing demographics of the city.

    Mary faithfully entered the annual ‘Lady’ short story competition and was a runner-up no less than four times, until the short story disappeared from the magazine.

    Her results from the SAW have been more marked, as over the years she has won the TC Farries, The Pitlochry, the Woman's Short Story, the General Short Story and the Drama. (She can't write poetry!)

    She also faithfully attends the Falkirk Seminar each year and has had many winning entries there in fiction and non-fiction. She particularly enjoys Falkirk as it’s one of the very few opportunities she has to enter competitions.

    For more than the past year Mary has been researching and writing a novel which she has now entered for the Dundee International Book Prize. All she has to do now is wait.

    A particularly rewarding recent literary experience was her inclusion in the Shortbread Short Story print anthology – as one of the top twenty out of more than 1500 stories submitted to the website. The anthology was published in December 2010
    Ann MacLaren

    Ann Maclaren     Vice President/Public Relations Officer

  • has an MA in Hispanic Studies and a PhD in Literary Translation.

    She lives in picturesque Plockton where, when she's not gazing out of the window admiring the view, she tries to find time for her writing amid the hectic social life of the village.

    She often has to head back to Glasgow for a rest.

    She has recently had her first play performed in the village as part of the Scottish Community Drama Associaton's One-Act Play Festival.

    She also has had short stories and articles published in various books and magazines, and she hopes to finish her first novel this year - a hope that resurfaces annually when she updates this biography.

    She is a past President of Strathkelvin Writers.

  • Email: ann.maclaren@btinternet.com

  • Marc R. Sherland Secretary

  • Humanist, performance poet and writer with stories, poems and factual articles in print. Elected Chairman of the Federation of Writers (Scotland) in 2005, became Ambassador in 2010. Since 2007, Secretary of the Scottish Association of Writers, Chairperson of the West of Scotland Local Association of the Workers Educational Association and is on the Management Board of Glasgow based ConFab (an education/literary project group). Secretary of Larkfield Community Centre in Glasgow.

  • Performed in London's Albert Hall, on Edinburgh streets, in a garden at Callander Poetry Festival and pops up in Glasgow venues. Facilitates Larkfield Writers’ Group, Write Attitude Group, Word Factory and Gallery of Modern Art Library, Glasgow Writing Group.

  • Jointly won the national 2006, ‘Glasgow 2020’ competition & in 2009, Maggie Craig, acclaimed novelist, awarded his short story, ‘Tha Diel’s Merck’ 1st place in the Castles in the Air competition run by the Scottish Association of Writers, for a story entirely written in Doric Scots.

  • Selected by Rachel Jury in 2007 and 2009 as a Glasgow Hidden City poet, his poems were published in Hidden City 3 & 5 Anthologies, as well as debuting on YouTube. In December 2007, he took part in an innovative project called Voices. From 2008 ~ 2010 tutored a Creative Writing Troupe on behalf of Tramway Theatre in the Word Factory, since based in the Tron Theatre, he MCs their regular performance night Word Play.

  • 2007 the President of Erskine Writers’ Group, Cathie Devitt awarded Marc a cup for services to the Scottish writing community, in 2009 he adjudicated their Poetry Competition and in 2010 he won their short story competition with a story that went on to be short listed (joint 3rd) in the Spilling Ink Competition.

  • Marc tutors for the W.E.A. (Workers’ Educational Association) and concluded a series of sessions with Maryhill Writers’ Group, devising a reflective course, commemorating the abolition of the slave trade. Edited an anthology to much acclaim and commissioned to produce a 2nd print run so National staff could hand out copies at the WEA International Conference. Has worked on remembrance material with a group in Clydebank all of whom have been affected by strokes. Through this project he developed a package for recording of individual life stories.

  • He continues to travel to writing groups as visiting tutor and delivers tailored workshop sessions.

  • Jacklin Murray Treasurer.

    A desperate to be ex HMRC Customs Adviser, I divide my time between plodding daily between Charing X and home, where I do try to fit in a bit of writing. Being totally undisciplined, the writing can suffer unless inspiration strikes. THEN, everything else suffers until I get it all down on paper.

    Although Pat (my husband) and I don’t have children of our own, between us we have 17 nieces and nephews who are now producing their own families. We have all the joy of having youngsters around without the parental angst.

    The S.A.W Conference is the focal point of the winter, especially between January and March when we are putting the finishing touches to the arrangements. I find it all quite challenging, especially the bit about ‘will it pay for itself?’ I am proud of the fact that the S.A.W continues under its own steam, solely supported by the efforts of the membership. The end of the Conference heralds the start of Spring for Pat and me. Now that he is semi retired we spend as much time as we can out and about. Our preferred stamping grounds being the Western Highlands.

    I hope to continue as Treasurer until folk get fed up of me or the books stop balancing.

  • Barbara Hammond

  • Barbara Hammond Competition Secretary

  • English by birth, I have lived in Scotland since 1997.

    Originally invited to come to Scotland by the chemical company Zeneca to work as an engineering buyer in their Grangemouth Plant, I have stayed to become a full time writer.

    I have three novels published 'Apollo in Tweeds' 2005, 'The Root of Evil' 2007, 'A Little Place in France' 2010. I am now working on a sequel to 'Root of Evil' which may very well turn out to be a trilogy.

    I am the editor of the ‘Writers’ Umbrella’ magazine a bi-monthly news-sheet for writers, with a membership that covers the whole of Scotland.

    I undertake occasional writing tutorials, adjudications and speaking engagements. I am a member of the Executive Council of the Scottish Association of Writers and am the organisation’s Competitions’ Secretary.

    In my limited leisure time I enjoy walking, travel history and food, activities that combine very nicely together. I am currently engaged in a project with Callendar House, Falkirk looking at the history of the house from the point of view of those who worked in its kitchens.

    Locally I am very active as secretary to the Falkirk and District Arts and Civic Council and as a tutor with the ‘Big Plus’ literacy and numeracy initiative in Falkirk. I am a widow with one son and two grandsons all
    of whom still live in the North of England.


Lesley Deschner Affiliation/Accommodaton Secretary

I joined Ayr Writer’s Club in September of 2004 at the suggestion of Fiona McFadzean, who told me that sanity was not a requirement for membership. This meant I was thoroughly qualified, and I haven’t looked back since- I haven’t got any saner either!

I work 30 hours each week in a Cashmere Factory in Ayr (a soap opera) fulfilling the sometimes outrageous orders of our many customers (and, occasionally the many orders of our outrageous customers). I plan to return to college in September to complete a course in Person-Centred Counselling Skills (a documentary). I turned 50 on February 13th, 2011. During this time, the help and support I received from the A.W.C. has been invaluable (a drama- with comic undertones) and involvement with the club has given me many an opportunity for laughter (a sit-com).

I became Secretary/Membership Secretary of A.W.C. in season 2006-2007, and took a holiday from that in season 2009-2010 to be President. Now back to my old duties, I am enjoying organising retreats on behalf of the club. I enjoy dabbling in all forms of writing, but have not been successful in the publishing
area as yet (but then I haven’t submitted anything, which, I believe, is important). I have vowed to get my act together and at least send something to a magazine before the end of the year!. I’m a keen Robert Burns fan and am heavily involved in the Holy Fair in Mauchline through my association with Mauchline Burns Club. I have been Jean Armour and Mary Campbell more times than I can count, as well as sundry other characters. It is commonly thought by those I see only at those times that I constantly wear period costume.

I hope to bring my sense of humour and simple (very simple) common sense while acting on behalf of the S.A.W.

Email: lesdes@talk21.com

  • -----------------------------------------------------------


  • SAW Council 2007/08
  • .....Former Office Bearers.....
  • Alanna Knight Honorary Vice President 2009

    Alanna Knight


    Her     award-winning first novel, 'Legend of the Loch' was published in 1969 and in 2009 she celebrates the landmark publication of her 50th book, her latest in the Inspector Faro series, 'The Final Enemy'. Novelist, playwright and biographer, her work includes gothic and historical novels and crime fiction, as well as her notable non- fiction works on Robert Louis Stevenson.

    Born in Tyneside of Scots-Irish parentage, she now lives and writes in Edinburgh, the city which inspired her popular and widely-acclaimed series of books: The Inspector Faro Series.
    Speaking about her reasons for being drawn to the world of historical crime, Alanna explains: "It was the puzzles. History is full of riddles and mysteries, and the researcher has to figure them out, especially if one wants to write a book. I love such puzzles, and I wanted to write some myself."
    From its inception a member of the Scottish Association of Writers; Aberdeen Writers' Circle; Hon. President of the Edinburgh Writers' Club; Convener of the Scottish Chapter of the Crime Writers' Association; member of the Society of Authors in Scotland and the Mystery Writers of America.
    She has been involved over the years in helping other writers get into print: lecturing in creative writing as well as writing articles and books on the subject and adjudicating competitions.
    With tight deadlines, she's highly disciplined in turning away tempting social activities. “It isn't deprivation - I love writing. I can't remember a time when I didn't want to be a writer. I even wrote plays for my classmates at school and poems for children's radio. I realise that I am a workaholic that I'm never really happy unless I have a book in progress.”

    Other Talents
    Alanna is also a gifted artist. She has created portraits in pastel of many other writers, among them Ian Rankin, Nigel Trantor, Dorothy Dunnett and Eileen Ramsay, as well as actor, Robert Powell. Alanna explains, “I get the same feelings from writing and drawing. There is a moment when you realise you have got a good story, and it's so exciting. It's the same with drawing. The outlines resemble nothing, then suddenly you see a face coming through. It's a moment of jubilation when you know that what you're working on isn't going to be a disaster.”

    Silvie Taylor Ex President 2006-2008


    Hales from Broughty Ferry, Dundee, though a member of Perthshire Writers' Group for over 25 years. She started writing monologues for performance much earlier, and has since published articles, book reviews, fiction and poetry in a number of magazines, including those of D C Thomson and, in particular, The Scots Magazine.

    She is a Fellow of Trinity College, London and an adjudicator member of the British and International Federation of Festivals. This has taken her to speech and drama festivals throughout UK, to Canada, Zimbabwe and on many occasions to Hong Kong. She wears both these hats with enthusiasm and says its all due to a lifelong fascination with words.

    She derives great pleasure from her membership of SAW and was honoured to be the president in the years of 2006/08.

    Fiona McFadzean Former Accommodaton Secretary
    • Fiona McFadzean was the Accommodation / Affiliation Secretary from 2003-2009.
    • Fiona is now the secetary of the Swanwick conference.
    • Fiona has been writing for as long as she can remember, drama and poetry being her first loves. She has written sketches, revues, plays and pantomimes for amateur production. Her work has been performed from the wilds of Wigtownshire to Glasgow, Edinburgh and Sheffield.
    • Fiona has helped to organise and run drama workshops within Youth organisations and for children with special learning difficulties within education.
    • Recently she has acted with Borderline Theatre and has been involved with their secondary school workshops.
    • She is an active member of Ayr Writers’ Club performance group.
    • Previously Fiona worked to support students with special educational needs, enabling them to cope in the mainstream system, by modifying GCSE coursework in language and literature, tailoring it to their individual requirements.
    • She has also been involved in writing work related training programmes, and editing in house newsletters.

    Email:fionamcfadzean@hotmail.com

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