Carrie Kills A Man: A Memoir

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I’ve had the pleasure of working with Carrie at Scottish Women Inventing Music (SWIM). The charity has been made stronger by Carrie’s contribution; her copywriting is flawless and has been a notable asset. I produce the official SWIM podcast; Carrie is one of the researchers and presenters and her skills have been some of the strongest I have encountered in my time working in media. Her approach is professional, friendly and empathetic, and she is always someone I look forward to working with.” That’s a really good question. I think probably the biggest lesson I’ve learnt is that most people aren’t playing life on easy mode; I just thought they were because as an apparently straight cisgender guy I was playing life on easy mode. And I still have it easier than many. I prefer writing to standing up in front of lots of people, but in the last few years I’ve discovered the joy of book festivals and book groups, delivered several university lectures about internet regulation and been one of the speakers at an event about LGBT+ healthcare. I’ve also appeared on some podcasts and online radio shows to help raise awareness of mental health issues.

It was crucial, I think. Part of it was because I was tired of feeling ashamed and afraid, so by putting absolutely everything out there it actually felt like a huge weight off my shoulders. And I think because there are so few openly trans and non-binary people, for a lot of people there’s going to be natural curiosity there. If you’re not trans then of course you’re going to be interested in what’s actually involved in transition and what it actually feels like to socially, legally or medically change your life. And if you are trans and haven’t gone through those things, it’s always helpful if someone else maps out the territory for you. At the Paisley Book festival Carrie says she’s seen so many Trans books that are tragic stories about Transphobia and how tragic their stories are and she wanted to show how although her story has had a tough elements like they all do she wanted to show a middle class side of it and how the NHS process works and not all stories are that way or the same. I don’t think she gives herself enough credit for all she’s actually had to go through though and I cried at the treatment she had to go through to prove at times she is in-fact a women and to be able to access services in the NHS and life. Or all she had to overcome.I was a regular contributor to BBC Radio Scotland from 2003 to 2023, spending the last five of those years doing Tech Talk every Monday on Mornings With Kaye Adams. For more than a decade prior to that I was the “technology guru” for MacAulay & Co with comedian Fred MacAulay. I’ve appeared frequently on shows across the BBC network. I can write for radio as well as appear on it: I co-wrote the script for a six-part Radio 2 documentary series presented by Kate Thornton. The Climate Book by Greta Thunberg et al Non-fiction: Narrative BOOK OF THE YEAR supported by The Big Issue

When I’m looking for a writer who can explain technical subjects in an entertaining and accessible manner, and get their copy in on time, every time, I call Carrie. If you’re looking for a writer you can rely on, you should call her, too” From the outside, many people may have thought you had what you call ‘the perfect life’ which brought with it a certain status and privilege. How difficult was it to maintain that ideal, and how do you feel now about the societal pressure to live up to it?I think being Scottish means I’m just naturally drawn to that – we Scots are brilliant at mining comedy from pretty dark seams sometimes, and we’ll tell the most horrendously embarrassing stories to make our friends laugh. I’ve done that all my life, so it was natural to do it in the book too. Congratulations to 404 Ink and Canongate Books who have books shortlisted for the 2023 British Book Awards: If you’re looking for a book that cuts through all the noise and takes you on a journey that explores the very personal realities of being transgender in Scotland and the UK but also discusses the social commentary and history in a way that feels really open and accessible then this is the book for you.

I’m the singer/guitarist in a band called HAVR. I’m the main songwriter and take care of the programming, production and distribution. The Island of Missing Trees by Elif Shafak Children’s Fiction BOOK OF THE YEAR supported by The Week Junior

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It’s been really interesting and a little bit strange, especially with some of the more difficult memories: you’re taking things that used to cause you great shame and sometimes pain and putting them out there for others to see and potentially judge you for. There were definitely times when I had to ask myself, ‘are you really sure you want people to know about this?’ Until COVID put live music on hold I co-wrote and co-presented the podcast for Scottish Women Inventing Music,an organisation that’s focused on levelling the playing field for women in every part of the music industry in Scotland. I’ve also appeared as a guest on several podcasts, including A Sonic Hug and Damian Barr’s Literary Salon. Speaking and songwriting At first I wasn’t sure about whether being funny was appropriate, but I think it’s important because there’s a poisonous narrative of trans people and the wider community as militant, humourless, thought-policing snowflakes when the reality is completely different. The LGBT+ people I know are some of the daftest, least precious and funniest people I’ve ever met.