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Donald S. Murray

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Donald S. Murray
EducationMA (Joint Hons) at University of Glasgow
Occupation(s)Novelist, poet, playwright
Notable workFor the Safety of All As the Women Lay Dreaming
AwardsPaul Torday Memorial Prize (2020)
Websitehttps://www.donaldsmurray.co.uk/

Donald S. Murray (born 1956[1]) is a Scottish novelist, poet, and playwright.[2][3] He has written several non-fiction books, including For the Safety of All[4] and In a Veil of Mist,[5] novels, poetry, music, and a play. He was awarded the 2020 Paul Torday Memorial Prize.[6] In March 2022, he was a Scottish Books International featured writer.[7]

Early life

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Murray spent his formative years on the Isle of Lewis, part of the Outer Hebrides. He lived in the village of South Dell within the district of Ness.

After attending the Nicolson Institute in Stornoway, Murray left the island to study English and Scottish Literature at the University of Glasgow. After graduating with an MA (Joint Hs) he gained a Diploma in Education and embarked on a teaching career.

Career

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After three decades[8] as an English teacher, Murray became a full-time writer in 2012.[9] He now lives and works in Shetland.[10]

His debut novel, As the Women Lay Dreaming, won the Paul Torday Memorial Prize in 2020[11] and was shortlisted for The Herald Scottish Culture Awards Outstanding Literature Award and the Authors’ Club Best First Novel Award in 2019.

In total, Murray has written fourteen books[12] and published essays, columns, short stories, and poems in the likes of The Herald, The Guardian, and The Island Review.

His writing, both of fiction and non-fiction, has received critical acclaim[13][14][15] awards and appeared on shortlists and longlists for numerous literary prizes.

In 2015, Sequamur,[16] Murray’s first full-length Scottish Gaelic play, was performed across Scotland, including at the Edinburgh Festival, as well as in Belfast, London, and Ypres in Belgium.[17]

Characterised as ‘moving, powerful, with a message that resonates today,’ it explored the effect of the First World War on The Nicolson Institute in Stornoway.[18]

Poetry

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Murray has published several poetic works[19] and was chosen as one of three Scottish poets to give a reading at COP 26 in Glasgow in October 2021. He appeared in the Green Zone along with fellow Scots poets, Roseanne Watt and Pàdraig MacAoidh, at “Weathering the Storm: Scottish Poets Discuss Climate Change Resilience and Adaptation.”[20]

Murray’s poetry has been critically acclaimed[21][22] in the Callum Macdonald Memorial Award,[23] being shortlisted twice in 1997 before winning in 2021 with Achanalt, a poetry pamphlet, along with publishers, Roncadora Press.

Bibliography

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Music

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Weaving Songs (2011)

Plays

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Sequamur (2015)

Fiction novels

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As the Women Lay Dreaming (2018)

Non-fiction books

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The Guga Hunters (2008)

Herring Tales: How the Silver Darlings Shaped Human Taste and History (2015)

The Dark Stuff: Stories from the Peatlands (2018)

For the Safety of All (2021)

In a Veil of Mist (2021)

References

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  1. ^ "Donald S. Murray - Poet". Scottish Poetry Library. Retrieved 2022-04-27.
  2. ^ "Donald S Murray @ Faclan – Hebridean Book Festival". archive.faclan.org. Retrieved 2022-04-27.
  3. ^ "Donald S. Murray". www.goodreads.com. Retrieved 2022-07-19.
  4. ^ "New book shines a spotlight on Scotland's iconic lighthouses | Hist Env Scot". www.historicenvironment.scot. Retrieved 2021-12-09.
  5. ^ "Book Review: In a Veil of Mist, by Donald S Murray". www.scotsman.com. Retrieved 2022-07-19.
  6. ^ "Donald S. Murray wins Paul Torday Memorial Prize 2020". Paul Torday. 2020-06-18. Retrieved 2021-12-09.
  7. ^ "Scottish Author Highlights: Donald S Murray : Scottish Books International". scottishbooksinternational.org. 2 March 2022. Retrieved 2022-06-16.
  8. ^ "Donald S. Murray". Books from Scotland. Retrieved 2021-12-09.
  9. ^ "Donald S. Murray - Poet". Scottish Poetry Library. Retrieved 2021-12-09.
  10. ^ "Donald S Murray | The Guardian". the Guardian. Retrieved 2022-04-27.
  11. ^ "WATCH: Donald S Murray accepts Paul Torday Memorial Prize ft. reading and song". Saraband. Retrieved 2022-04-27.
  12. ^ "Books". www.donaldsmurray.co.uk. Retrieved 2021-12-09.
  13. ^ "Author: Donald S Murray". Scottish Book Trust. Retrieved 2021-12-09.
  14. ^ "Book review: As the Women Lay Dreaming, by Donald S Murray". www.scotsman.com. Retrieved 2021-12-09.
  15. ^ https://www.pressreader.com/uk/the-daily-telegraph-review/20081122/281715495462932. Retrieved 2021-12-09 – via PressReader. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  16. ^ P&J reporter (6 March 2015). "Sequamur". Press and Journal. Retrieved 2022-04-27.
  17. ^ "Isles author gets top Euro billing". www.welovestornoway.com. Retrieved 2022-04-27.
  18. ^ "Classroom role for teacher's play". www.welovestornoway.com. Retrieved 2022-04-27.
  19. ^ "Donald S. Murray". Books from Scotland. Retrieved 2022-04-27.
  20. ^ "Weathering the Storm: Scottish Poets Discuss Climate Change Resilience and Adaptation". UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) at the SEC – Glasgow 2021. Retrieved 2021-12-09.
  21. ^ https://www.pressreader.com/uk/the-daily-telegraph-review/20081122/281715495462932. Retrieved 2021-12-09 – via PressReader. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  22. ^ "Book review: Donald S. Murray, In a Veil of Mist". The Oban Times. 2021-03-18. Retrieved 2021-12-09.
  23. ^ "The 2021 Callum Macdonald Memorial Award". Scottish Poetry Library. Retrieved 2022-04-27.
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