About Iain Finlay

Iain Finlay Macleod is a writer. He comes from the Isle of Lewis on the west coast of Scotland. As well as fiction, he writes for theatre, film and radio.

Iain Finlay also works as a script doctor and advisor on projects. He regularly runs workshops on different aspects of the writing process, as well as a number of public appearances every year.

Theatre

Iain Finlay was encouraged to write at a young age by his uncle, Dr Finlay Macleod, a dramatist and writer of childrens’ books. His first experience of making theatre came at the National Gaelic Youth Theatre in the early nineties.

From there he attended The International School for Writers, Actors and Directors at the Royal Court Theatre, London in 1994. He began submitting work to the Traverse Theatre in Edinburgh, who have been very influential in developing his work.

Iain Finlay's plays have been published by Nick Hern Books - www.nickhern.co.uk.

Film & Television

Iain Finlay was one of the writing team on the recent Gaelic Feature Film “Seachd - The Innaccessible Pinnacle”. This film was nominated for two Baftas, Best Screenplay and Best Film.

He has written and directed two shorts “Colours” and “Flat”. Many years ago he worked on the soap opera “Machair”, and he has worked as a script doctor on a number of other projects. He is currently developing a film with Chris Young of Young Films.

Radio

Iain Finlay was given his first break in radio by attending the BBC Radio Drama Course, run by David Ian Neville. He was then commissioned to adapt a short story by a female writer for Radio Four Women’s Hour. He chose to do “The Kitchen Child” by Angela Carter. Since then he has written and adapted work regularly for Radio 4 and Radio Scotland.

Fiction

Iain Finlay's latest novel - ÌMPIREACHD (EMPIRE) - will be launched at this year's Edinburgh Book Festival.

Iain Finlay has had three novels published, all in the Gaelic language. He is currently working on a fifth.

Iain Finlay's Gaelic language novels are published by the Gaelic Books Council - www.gaelicbooks.net