Where were you born/brought up?
I was born and brought up in Bonhill in 1936.
I went to Bonhill Primary and then the Vale of Leven Academy.
I then attended the West of Scotland Commercial College in Glasgow.
I married a local man and we had three children.
When did you start writing?
I did office work for 48 years.
When I retired I decided I would like to take up creative writing as a hobby.
I went to the Community Centre in Alexandria and joined Leven Litts writers.
I was asked if I wrote prose or poetry.
It was quite daunting as I hadn’t written anything since my last college essay.
I did sign up for an online creative writing course which covered all genres and had a few articles and short stories published during that time.
Have you always written poetry?
No, at first I wrote both prose and poetry.
A few years ago I decided to concentrate on poetry, so I signed up for an online poetry course.
How did the title of the book emerge?
Every week, at the Leven Litts, a ‘prompt’ word was given.
A piece of writing had to be produced for the next meeting, hence the title: ‘Gie me a Word.’
How do you feel having a book published in your more mature years?
Relief, and it’s something for the kids.
Read the review of Evelyn Lawrie’s latest collection of poems ‘Gie Me A Word’, in the reviews section of this website.