Redefining Scottish literature
Jules Danskin and Heather Parry are the managing director and editorial director of Extra Teeth, a literary magazine that publishes great new writing from Scotland. They sent us copies of their first two issues recently and I was really impressed not just by the quality but also the range of the writing, and as you’ll hear during our conversation, part of their motivation in making the magazine is to challenge and redefine what Scottish writing really is – there’s a clear ambition to look beyond what they call the highlands and islands and Edinburgh noir, and find something else.
They also place a strong focus on working with and developing writers, and I loved hearing Heather talking about her approach to editing as something that’s generous and honest, but most of all compassionate and kind – they want to nurture the writer and the writing itself to help produce the best possible story. It sounds like Jules and Heather have got something special going on here, along with their designer Esther Clayton and the guest illustrators they bring on for each issue, so I hope you’ll enjoy this conversation with the two founders of Extra Teeth.
- Photography David N Anderson
