Colin Galbraith
Encyclopedia
Colin Galbraith is a Scottish author
and poet
. He has published one novel
, one novella
and several chapbooks of poetry. He is the Editor-in-Chief at the Ranfurly Review and an assistant editor
at The Scruffy Dog Review. He is also a regular contributor of live music reviews to the News of the World
.
in Renfrewshire. He also lived for spells in Paisley
, Thornliebank
, Shawlands
in Glasgow
(twice) and Leith
(twice) where he now resides.
In 1991 he left Gryffe High School in Renfrewshire to take a degree at Paisley College of Technology, later to become the University of Paisley
. He received a Bachelors degree (Ba) in Information Technology in 1995.
He has worked as a gardener, supermarket shelf stacker, I.T. consultant, website designer, and freelance writer.
In 2000 he gained a First Level Award in Creative Writing
from the Open College of the Arts
(OCA), after which he began developing his writing alongside a desk job for an insurance company.
In 2004 he published his first work and has been prolific ever since.
Poetry
, Ian Dury
, Pink Floyd
, Yello
, Arab Strap
, Mogwai
, The Smiths
, Adam and the Ants
, The Beta Band
, Stiff Little Fingers
, The Clash
, Arctic Monkeys
and The Pixies.
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
and poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
. He has published one novel
Novel
A novel is a book of long narrative in literary prose. The genre has historical roots both in the fields of the medieval and early modern romance and in the tradition of the novella. The latter supplied the present generic term in the late 18th century....
, one novella
Novella
A novella is a written, fictional, prose narrative usually longer than a novelette but shorter than a novel. The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America Nebula Awards for science fiction define the novella as having a word count between 17,500 and 40,000...
and several chapbooks of poetry. He is the Editor-in-Chief at the Ranfurly Review and an assistant editor
Editing
Editing is the process of selecting and preparing written, visual, audible, and film media used to convey information through the processes of correction, condensation, organization, and other modifications performed with an intention of producing a correct, consistent, accurate, and complete...
at The Scruffy Dog Review. He is also a regular contributor of live music reviews to the News of the World
News of the World
The News of the World was a national red top newspaper published in the United Kingdom from 1843 to 2011. It was at one time the biggest selling English language newspaper in the world, and at closure still had one of the highest English language circulations...
.
Background
Colin Campbell Galbraith was brought up in Bridge of WeirBridge of Weir
Bridge of Weir is a village in within the Renfrewshire council area and wider historic county of Renfrewshire in the west central Lowlands of Scotland...
in Renfrewshire. He also lived for spells in Paisley
Paisley
Paisley is the largest town in the historic county of Renfrewshire in the west central Lowlands of Scotland and serves as the administrative centre for the Renfrewshire council area...
, Thornliebank
Thornliebank
Thornliebank is a small suburban village in East Renfrewshire, Scotland, south of Glasgow. It is served by Thornliebank railway station and lies to the east of the M77 motorway.-History:...
, Shawlands
Shawlands
Shawlands is a district of Glasgow, Scotland located less than 2 miles south of the River Clyde. The area has an approximate population of 8000 people, with over 82% dwelling in flats, 74% owner occupied and 79% living alone or with one other person...
in Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
(twice) and Leith
Leith
-South Leith v. North Leith:Up until the late 16th century Leith , comprised two separate towns on either side of the river....
(twice) where he now resides.
In 1991 he left Gryffe High School in Renfrewshire to take a degree at Paisley College of Technology, later to become the University of Paisley
University of Paisley
The University of the West of Scotland is a university operating from four campuses in south-western Scotland, in the towns of Paisley, Hamilton, Ayr and Dumfries. The present institution dates from August 2007, following the merger of the University of Paisley with Bell College, Hamilton...
. He received a Bachelors degree (Ba) in Information Technology in 1995.
He has worked as a gardener, supermarket shelf stacker, I.T. consultant, website designer, and freelance writer.
In 2000 he gained a First Level Award in Creative Writing
Creative writing
Creative writing is considered to be any writing, fiction, poetry, or non-fiction, that goes outside the bounds of normal professional, journalistic, academic, and technical forms of literature. Works which fall into this category include novels, epics, short stories, and poems...
from the Open College of the Arts
Open College of the Arts
The Open College of the Arts is a distance learning independent arts college, with a Head Office in Barnsley in South Yorkshire, England...
(OCA), after which he began developing his writing alongside a desk job for an insurance company.
In 2004 he published his first work and has been prolific ever since.
Novellas
- Greener is the Grass (2012)
- Baccara Burning (2012)
- Stella (Eternal Press, 2009)
Chapbooks
- Living Leith (2012)
- More Poolside Poetry (2012)
- Silly Poems for Wee People - Illustrated Edition (Scheduled for release by Smashing Press, 2012)
- Silly Poems for Wee People Vol.2 (Smashing Press, April 2010)
- Poolside Poetry (Smashing Press, 2007)
- Fringe Fantastic (Smashing Press, 2005)
Ebooks
- Selektion (Smashing Press, 2007)
- Silly Poems for Wee People Vol.1 (Smashing Press, 2006)
- Brick by Brick (Smashing Press, 2005)
Other publications
Short Fiction- Buzz (Flashes in the Dark, August 2011)
- Regrets (The Dublin Quarterly, June 2011)
- Letting Go (Open Wide Magazine, October 2010)
- On a Monday Morning (Static Movement, May 2008)
- Only a Bagel (Full Circle (anthology), August 2007)
- Toothpicks (Full Circle (anthology), August 2007)
- Heart of a Child (The Scruffy Dog Review, September 2006)
- Under the Skin (Wildchild Publishing, March 2006)
- Once a Borderer (This Is It Magazine, May 2004)
Poetry
- The Final Nail (Every Day Poets, Apr 10)
- Turning the Page (MIS Online, Dec 07)
- Scotland Neglected (Circadian Poems, Mar 07)
- Love Is (Circadian Poems, Feb 07)
- Always the Clown (Poetry Super Highway, Sep 06)
- Festival TV (Poetry Super Highway, Sep 06)
- National Portrait (Poetry Super Highway, Sep 06)
- Brunette (Circadian Poems, Nov 05)
- Empty (Circadian Poems, Nov 05)
- Perfect Apple (Circadian Poems, Nov 05)
- Limbo (Ultimate Hallucination, Jan 05)
- Asphyxiation (Ultimate Hallucination, Jan 05)
- Frustrating Facilitators (Ultimate Hallucination, Jan 05)
- Missing Out (Zygote In My Coffee, Sep 04)
- Clouds (Zygote In My Coffee, Sep 04)
- I Smoke Because I Want To (Zygote In My Coffee, Sep 04)
Musical Influences
Galbraith has been quoted in several interviews and articles as being heavily influenced by music in much of his work. The most common influences on his work have included MadnessMadness (band)
In 1979, the band recorded the Lee Thompson composition "The Prince". The song, like the band's name, paid homage to their idol, Prince Buster. The song was released through 2 Tone Records, the label of The Specials founder Jerry Dammers. The song was a surprise hit, peaking in the UK music charts...
, Ian Dury
Ian Dury
Ian Robins Dury was an English rock and roll singer, lyricist, bandleader and actor who initially rose to fame during the late 1970s, during the punk and New Wave era of rock music...
, Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...
, Yello
Yello
Yello is a Swiss electronica band consisting of Dieter Meier and Boris Blank. They are probably best known for their singles "The Race" and "Oh Yeah", which feature a mix of electronic music and manipulated vocals, as does most of their music....
, Arab Strap
Arab Strap (band)
Arab Strap were an indie rock band from Scotland that consisted of core members Aidan Moffat and Malcolm Middleton. The band were signed to independent record label Chemikal Underground, and split in 2006...
, Mogwai
Mogwai
The word mogwai is the transliteration of the Cantonese word 魔怪 meaning "monster", "evil spirit", "devil" or "demon".-Mogwai/Mogui in Chinese culture:...
, The Smiths
The Smiths
The Smiths were an English alternative rock band, formed in Manchester in 1982. Based on the song writing partnership of Morrissey and Johnny Marr , the band also included Andy Rourke and Mike Joyce...
, Adam and the Ants
Adam and the Ants
Adam and the Ants were a British rock band active during the late 1970s and early 1980s. The original group, which existed from 1977 to 1980, became notable as a cult band marking the transition from the late-1970s punk rock era to the post-punk and New Wave era...
, The Beta Band
The Beta Band
The Beta Band were a British musical group who received much critical acclaim and achieved cult status amongst avid followers of the underground and experimental music scene...
, Stiff Little Fingers
Stiff Little Fingers
Stiff Little Fingers are a punk rock band from Belfast, Northern Ireland. They formed in 1977, at the height of the Troubles. They started out as a schoolboy band called Highway Star , doing rock covers, until they discovered punk. They split up after six years and four albums, although they...
, The Clash
The Clash
The Clash were an English punk rock band that formed in 1976 as part of the original wave of British punk. Along with punk, their music incorporated elements of reggae, ska, dub, funk, rap, dance, and rockabilly...
, Arctic Monkeys
Arctic Monkeys
Arctic Monkeys are an English indie rock band. Formed in 2002 in High Green, a suburb of Sheffield, the band currently consists of Alex Turner , Jamie Cook , Nick O'Malley and Matt Helders...
and The Pixies.