Mary Paulson-Ellis joins a distinguished roll-call of writers who have previously held the role – including author and poet Jenni Fagan, poet and playwright Liz Lochhead, Scottish Gaelic poet Sorley Maclean and poet and teacher Norman MacCaig.
American writer Anne Stevenson, Scottish novelist Alan Warner and poet and author Michael Pedersen, the most recent Writer in Residence, also feature in the stellar line-up.
Advocate for literature
Mary’s debut The Other Mrs Walker was a Times bestseller and Waterstones Book of the Year and her second, The Inheritance of Solomon Farthing, was longlisted for the McIlvanney Prize for Best Scottish Crime Novel and the Historical Writers Association Gold Crown. Emily Noble’s Disgrace, published by Pan Macmillan is her third novel.
As well as her published successes Mary is an advocate for literature and culture. Last year she was elected to serve as the Chair of the Society of Authors in Scotland, and is an Honorary International Fellow of Edinburgh Unesco City of Literature.
In 2023 Mary was awarded the Dr Gavin Wallace Fellowship by Edinburgh Unesco City of Literature Trust to write a multilayered novel about her home city of Edinburgh.
Writing mentor
Mary’s short fiction and nonfiction have featured in The Guardian, various anthologies and on BBC Radio 4. The author is a regular chair at events and festivals and is an established guest reviewer of TV, books, theatre, film and art for BBC Radio Scotland.
Mary has worked extensively as a tutor, mentor and workshop leader with organisations including the Edinburgh International Festival, the National Galleries of Scotland and the Royal Literary Fund.
The Writer in Residence role at the University includes a range of activities to enhance creative writing for students both across the institution and those specifically studying for an MSc in Creative Writing.
The position also includes showcasing talks with visiting authors, as well as contributing to the University’s annual creative writing conference and judging literary prizes.