Hello! I’m Dr. Carly Brown, a poet, author and teacher based in Edinburgh.
If you’re looking for a bio to use for press and/or an event, please feel free to use these:
50-word bio
Dr. Carly Brown is a poet and fiction writer based in Edinburgh. She’s the author of a best-selling children’s picture book and two poetry pamphlets. Her debut novella, All the Orphans in the Galaxy, was published by Speculative Books in November 2022. She’s interested in forgotten pasts and possible futures.
100-word bio
Dr Carly Brown is a poet and fiction writer originally from Austin, Texas and now living in Edinburgh. She is the author of a bestselling children’s picture book, I Love St Andrews, and two poetry pamphlets. Her second pamphlet, Anastasia, Look in the Mirror, was commended for the 2021 Callum Macdonald Memorial Award. Known for her lively and witty spoken word poetry, Carly was Scotland’s National Champion of Slam Poetry (2013) and ranked fourth at the World Series of Slam Poetry in Paris. Her debut novella, All the Orphans in the Galaxy, was published in November 2022.
And, if you’re still curious, here’s a wee bit more about my work across different areas:
As a poet, I’ve performed extensively across the UK and abroad, including at Glastonbury Festival, StAnza Poetry Festival and the Edinburgh Fringe. My poems have appeared in The Scotsman and The Glasgow Review of Books and been shortlisted for the University of Cambridge’s Jane Martin Poetry Prize. My latest pamphlet, Anastasia, Look in the Mirror, was praised as ‘a brilliantly-crafted assemblage full of wit, warmth and panache’ (Gutter Magazine). On the basis of my poetry, I was endorsed by Arts Council England in 2018 as an ‘emerging world leader’ in Literature and awarded a prestigious five-year Exceptional Talent UK Visa (2017-2023). I’m currently working on my first full-length collection about cosmic wormholes. More about my performance history here and my poetry publications here.
As a fiction writer, I’m primarily interested in historical fiction and science fiction. My debut novella, All the Orphans in the Galaxy, is a playful, post-modern exploration of grief, love and 90’s sci fi television. My feminist historical short stories have been published in The Account, The Dangerous Women Project and forthcoming in CALYX. I’m working on a historical short story collection and a sci fi novel. I also frequently blog about 18th century history and books.
As a teacher, I’ve taught creative writing at universities and within the wider community for the past six years. I’ve led undergraduate creative writing modules at the University of Strathclyde and postgraduate modules at the University of Glasgow and the University of Dundee. I’ve been a creative writing tutor at the Scottish Universities International Summer School (SUISS) at the University of Edinburgh for three years. Outside academia, I’ve led writing workshops with all ages: from primary students aged 5-6 to retirees. I’ve worked at prisons, parks and public libraries. If you’d like to discuss working with me individually or with your organization, please see my teaching page for more information and testimonials. I’m also a member of the Scottish Book Trust’s Live Literature Database.
As an academic, I hold a Doctorate of Fine Arts and an MLitt in Creative Writing (with Distinction) from the University of Glasgow. I also hold a First-Class MA Honours in English Literature from the University of St Andrews. My PhD, ‘A Matter of Loyalty: Engaging with America’s Revolutionary Past as a Creative Writer’, explored how creative writers access the 18th century past. I held a month-long residential fellowship at the Robert H. Smith International Centre for Jefferson Studies at Monticello, USA, in 2016 to conduct research for my doctorate. My main areas of academic interest are creative writing and social history. I currently volunteer as a historical guide with The National Trust for Scotland at The Georgian House in Edinburgh. I’m also interested in how we can improve inclusivity and accessibility in live literature, and was Research Assistant for the Stay-at-Home Literary Festival in 2021, connecting the festival with local libraries throughout the U.K.
Carly Brown 