VICTORIA MCNULTY - CONFESSIONALS A POEM

“Scotland’s most exciting poetic prospect.” Darren Loki McGarvey, Author: Poverty Safari

“Chronicler and vanguard of a marginalised working class.” Kevin P Gilday, Sonnet Youth

Illustrated by Kirstin Boyle published by Speculative Books

Raised in Glasgow’s East End, Victoria McNulty is a bold new voice from the margins of a divided society. Her first publication, to be published in October 2017 by Speculative Books, is an ambitious long form poetic story, first developed for the Visible Women’s Festival in March 2017.

A coming of age character piece, Confessionals tells the story of one night shift in an East End boozer, as a young barmaid encounters the devastating consequences of a society riven by poverty, sectarianism and domestic violence, only to be united in activism, hope and raw human potential. Bold, honest and hard-hitting, McNulty draws on her own direct lived experience as a young mother and worker, shining a light on the corners of society so often neglected by mainstream literature and media.

The highlights of Victoria’s career so far include being part of the poets’ team at BBC The Social’s inaugural Rappers Vs. Poets event at the Edinburgh Festival in 2016 – an event performed in front of a capacity crowd and live streamed to tens of thousands around the world via Facebook Live. Winner of Glasgow’s 2017 Sonnet Youth Slam, she has performed as an invited guest at the BBC6 Music Festival, the 2017 Edinburgh Fringe Arab Arts Focus programme, and the Feile an Phobail events in Belfast, Northern Ireland, performing alongside seasoned poets including Liz Lochhead, Kate Tempest and Hollie McNish.

Started by a collective of Glasgow writers, performers and SF otaku, Speculative Books is a new venture from the team behind the successful Speculative Bookshop events, which saw them selling much-loved second-hand SF novels at live events throughout the city, as well as getting involved with publishing ‘zines and pamphlets, and putting on live literature performances of their own. Confessionals is their second publication.

“The arrow in Barrowland buzzes overhead. I am not scared... but I know I should be.”