@ Aye Write! Festival, Glasgow, Thur 17 Mar 2016

Poet Hollie McNish is no stranger to Glasgow. Over the past few years she has read poetry on several occasions on a variety of different stages. The performer has a background in spoken word poetry, but she returns to Glasgow this evening to read from her new collection of poems, diary entries and short stories called Nobody Told Me. The event is part of the excellent Aye Write! Festival at the Mitchell Library and continues the wide array of performances that have been taking place this past week.

Despite it being a beautiful Spring evening in Glasgow the Main Theatre in the Mitchell Library is packed with an eager audience keen on hearing some heartfelt and honest words. The Aye Write! Festival has several poetry events in its programme, but there is a special feeling in the air as Hollie McNish takes the stage. Having a background in spoken word and performance poetry makes the writer a standout. Her talents on the stage have successfully transferred to the page and this event gives the audience the chance to hear Hollie McNish read her work. The event is chaired by Chitra Ramaswamy and begins with a reading. Nobody Told Me is a personal and honest look at motherhood and pregnancy and tackles many issues that mothers encounter. It also looks at the falsehood of advertising and the fact that billboards and magazines never present a real depiction of a pregnant woman. During the Q and A Hollie McNish mentions that she is “bored of the taboo’s around motherhood” and this influenced the subject matter of her writing. Whilst reading the diary entries and poetry (Wow and Sex being two standouts) the audience get first hand experience of this passionate poet delivery her honest and personal words and it is a thrilling encounter.

Nobody Told Me is a fine collection and Hollie McNish is an excellent festival guest. She is confident on the stage and her ability as a performer as backed up with her ability as a writer. The Aye Write! Festival continues until 20 March 2016 and hopefully Hollie McNish will be a fixture at the festival in years to come.

Aye Write! is @ The Mitchell Library, Glasgow from Thu 10 Mar to Sun 20 Mar 2016