"Spence is a necessary visionary, all openness of instinct and imagination." -- Ali Smith
Alan Spence is an award-winning poet, playwright, novelist and short story writer. His books of fiction include Its Colours They Are Fine, Stone Garden, The Magic Flute, Way to Go, The Pure Land and Night Boat. Poetry collections include Glasgow Zen, Seasons of the Heart, Clear Light and Morning Glory. He has been named Scottish Writer of the Year and was awarded the People's Prize and Spirit of Scotland Award. He is Professor Emeritus in Creative Writing at Aberdeen University, and from 2017 to 2021 was Edinburgh Makar (Poet Laureate to the City). In 2018 he was awarded the Order of the Rising Sun from the Government of Japan. With his wife Janani he runs the Sri Chinmoy Meditation Centre in Edinburgh.
