Quick & Quirky Questions is a brand-new monthly feature on the Autumn Voices website for 2021 and beyond.
Each month, we’ll ask a member of the Autumn Voices community – and maybe one or two well-known names and faces – some (you guessed it) quick and quirky questions. There will be five regular questions that we’ll ask every person, and depending on what themes we’re championing at Autumn Voices or activities we’re involved in, we might throw in one or two extra. The responses will be published each month along with a little bit about who they are.
To keep track of who our interview subjects are each month, follow us on Facebook or Twitter and look for the hashtag #QQQ
To whet our appetites, our first interview subject for January is Alex Hill.
Tell us 4 important facts about yourself: I’m a survivor. I speak out against injustice whenever it is safe to do so. I’ve been a follower of international affairs since the age of 16 and have travelled the globe (I speak 4 languages). I admit when I am wrong. Sorry isn’t the hardest word. What … Continue reading Quick & Quirky Questions with Angelena Boden
What is your favourite age that you’ve been so far in life, and why? Now. It always has been. Who is your favourite fictional character or famous person over 60? Cosmo Saltana (JB Priestley: The Image Men). I don’t know his exact age, but I’ve always envisaged him to be in his early sixties. You … Continue reading Quick & Quirky Questions with Mike Smith
We’re thrilled to bring you a Quick & Quirky Questions this week from 62-year-old celebrity chef, Nick Nairn, who has happily supplied us with ‘full lockdown mode’ self-portrait. From restaurateur to celebrity chef and food campaigner, Nick Nairn has had a long and pioneering career in the UK food industry. A familiar face from television, … Continue reading Quick & Quirky Questions with Nick Nairn
Tell us 4 important facts about yourself: I clearly remember being a teenage lad and realising all the role models I was presented with had these monolithic careers that defined them but also limited them – I was astonished at how little they seem to know about the rest of life. It made me determined … Continue reading Quick & Quirky Questions with Alasdair Wright
Sheena Blackhall, aged 74, is a prolific writer in both Doric and English. Sheena is a poet, novelist, short story writer, illustrator, traditional storyteller and singer. In 2019 Sheena was presented with the Janet Paisley Lifetime Achievement Award. Tell us 4 important facts about yourself Currently I am Makar for the North East Doric Board … Continue reading Quick & Quirky Questions with Sheena Blackhall
Diana, aged 78, lives in Edinburgh. Primarily a poet, Diana also writes short stories and children’s books. A former tutor at Bristol University and the Open University, she has tutored many courses for the Arvon foundation and from 2015-2017 was co-editor of New Writing Scotland. Tell us 4 important facts about yourself: I published a … Continue reading Quick & Quirky Questions with Diana Hendry
Kriss Nichol, aged 71. Kriss is a writer and long-serving Autumn Voices staff member. You can also read a little more about her on our team page. Tell us 4 important facts about yourself: I have had several career changes. I started out doing office work at 16 as a Civil Servant, stayed at home … Continue reading Quick & Quirky Questions with Kriss Nichol
Orlando is a cat. In human terms he passed sixty this month, so is now eligible to be a member of Autumn Voices. His ‘staff’, Sallie and Robin, have filled in the QQQ for him because he’s too busy doing more important things… like catching up on his sleep. Coming soon: Orlando’s new, regular Autumn … Continue reading Quick & Quirky Questions with Orlando
Mary Irvine, aged 76. Mary is one of Autumn Voices’ most regular contributors. Tell us 4 important facts about yourself: I drifted into a career in education rather than planning to. I became Head of Compensatory Education in Senior High and then moved to teach A-Level English and oversee S.E.N. in a Sixth Form College. … Continue reading Quick & Quirky Questions with Mary Irvine
Born in the Midlands, educated in Yorkshire, worked in Glasgow as a publisher and journalist, Simon has also lived in Sicily and Cyprus. Now spends most of his time in the Highlands wandering around knocking on doors as an interviewer.
Ingrid’s writing recently has been sporadic. She can write nothing for two years and then write two dozen poems in two months. She has no idea what turns the tap on and off. Her poetry has been published online by Ink Sweat and Tears and Open Mouse, in print in New Writing Scotland and been shortlisted for the Jane Martin Prize (pre age-restriction). In 2015 she collaborated with then Edinburgh Makar, Christine de Luca, on the poem ‘A Month on the Mile’. Ingrid won the 2020 Autumn Voices Poetry Competition with ‘Digitalis Purpurea’.
Finola Scott’s poetry and short stories have appeared in anthologies and journals including Gutter, New Writing Scotland, The Fenland Reed, Lighthouse, RAUM and The Ofi Press. Her work has won and been placed in UK competitions. She is also a prize-winning performance poet and was the 2020 Federation of Writers (Scotland) Makar, as well as the 2020 Autumn Voices Poetry Competition judge.
Alex Hill, aged 66, is a meteorology and aviation forecasting expert and was formerly the Met Office chief Advisor for Scotland and Northern Ireland.
