JANIS MACKAY: The Watchmaker's Wife

FREE EVENT

Join us this November to celebrate the launch of Janis Mackay's new Scottish historical novel The Watchmaker's Wife- the story of one woman’s hopes, poverty, struggle and survival.

About the book:
A scattering of confetti and Johanna is carried over the threshold into a cramped house he had promised was so much bigger.

After ten years in domestic service, Johanna is determined to make the best of her marriage to watchmaker Willie Lockhart, but is haunted by memories of the man she loved, who was lost to the Great War.

The more Willie tests her mettle the fiercer grows her love for her dead soldier, a man she barely knew. As a marriage built on lies, drink, and fiddle music chips away at her dignity, the past becomes a happier country.

This is the story of one woman’s hopes, poverty, struggle and survival. Authentic and multilayered, this poignant and compelling tortured love story will keep you guessing until the last page.

About the author:
Janis Mackay is a Scottish author and storyteller residing in Portobello, Edinburgh. Born in the heart of the city, Janis's adventurous spirit led her to live in diverse places, including France, Palestine, Greece and the far north of Scotland. Although she trained as a journalist on Fleet Street, she soon realised her true passion lay in creative writing. After years of exploring the world, Janis returned to Scotland. She honed her storytelling skills as a drama teacher and voice coach, which enriched her writing journey. Her breakthrough came with her debut novel, Magnus Fin and the Ocean Quest, which won the Kelpies Prize in 2009. Janis's love for language and storytelling stems from her childhood. Inspired by nursery rhymes and the Commonwealth Games, she became a dedicated athlete, which she credits for keeping her fit and motivated. Janis teaches creative writing at Edinburgh University's Centre for Open Learning, and also runs a one year novel writing course. She led the storyteller's apprenticeship for many years and loves to combine oral traditional storytelling when doing author events.