Picking Brambles

A selection of poems written by Des Dillon, featuring his quick-fire verbal delivery.

Des Dillon was born and brought up in Coatbridge. He is a poet, short story writer, novelist and dramatist writing for radio, stage, television and film. He was writer in residence at Castlemilk from 1998 to 2000, and has worked as a teacher of English, a creative writing tutor, and a TV scriptwriter. His novels have been translated into Russian and Italian. His novel, Me and Ma Gal, first published in 1995, was selected as one of The List/Scottish Book Trust's 100 Best Scottish Books of all time. His acclaimed play Singin' I'm no a Billy, He's a Tim is probably the most performed play in Scotland in the last five years - in 2011 it will be touring in England with the prestigious Guy Masterton Productions. He now lives in Galloway, and also currently performs stan` up comedy.Brian Whittingham is a former shipyard worker and now works as a Freelance Creative Writing Lecturer in colleges, community centres and schools. He has taught in places as diverse as Edinburgh Castle, Barlinnie prison, Seattle University, and on Normandy beaches. He has previously published four poetry collections, including Drink the Green Fairy, written three plays and various short fiction. He is the co-editor of New Writing Scotland.