Alison Louise "A. L." Kennedy (born 22 October 1965) is a Scottish writer of novels, short stories and non-fiction, and stand-up comedian. She is known for her characteristically dark tone, a blending of realism and fantasy, and for her serious approach to her work. She contributes columns and reviews to European newspapers.
Life and work
Kennedy was born in Dundee and attended the High School of Dundee. Her father, a psychology lecturer, and her mother, a teacher, divorced when she was 13. She has a degree in theatre studies and drama from the University of Warwick.
In 2009, she donated the short story Vanish to Oxfam's 'Ox-Tales' project, four collections of stories written by 38 authors. Her story was published in the 'Air' collection.
Kennedy currently lives in London and is an Associate Professor in Creative Writing at the University of Warwick, having previously taught creative writing at the University of St Andrews. She performs as a stand-up comedian at the Edinburgh Fringe, comedy clubs and literary festivals. She is principally associated with The Stand Comedy Club in Edinburgh.
Awards and honours
- 1996 Encore Award winner So I Am Glad
- 2007 Lannan Literary Award from the University of Glasgow
- 2007 Austrian State Prize for European Literature winner.
- 2007 Costa Book Awards Book of the Year, winner for Day
- 2014 Frank O'Connor International Short Story Award shortlist All the Rage
Works
Novels
- Looking for the Possible Dance (1993) ISBN 978-0-7493-9758-6
- So I Am Glad (1995) ISBN 978-0-09-945721-3
- Everything You Need (1999) ISBN 978-0-09-973061-3
- Paradise (2004) ISBN 978-0-09-943349-1
- Day (5 April 2007) ISBN 978-0-09-949405-8
- The Blue Book (4 August 2011) ISBN 978-0-224-09140-4
Short story collections
- Night Geometry and the Garscadden Trains (1990) ISBN 978-0-09-945006-1
- Now That You're Back (1994) ISBN 978-0-09-945711-4
- Tea and Biscuits (1996) ISBN 978-1-85799-757-6
- Original Bliss (1997) ISBN 978-0-09-973071-2
- Indelible Acts (2002) ISBN 978-0-09-943348-4
- What Becomes (6 August 2009) ISBN 978-0-224-07787-3
- All the Rage (2014) ISBN 978-0544307049
Non-fiction
- Life & Death of Colonel Blimp (1997) ISBN 0-85170-568-5
- On Bullfighting (1999) ISBN 0-224-06099-6
- Luwak Care and Breeding (2010)
Screenwriting
- Stella Does Tricks (1997)
- Dice (2001), with John Burnside
Selected radio
- Confessions of a Medium (2010), broadcast as the Saturday Play on BBC Radio 4, 13 March 2010 and 1 March 2013
- Happy Families (2011), broadcast on BBC Radio 3, 1 September 2011
- Love Love Love Like The Beatles (2012), broadcast as the Afternoon Drama on BBC Radio 4, 26 June 2012
- AA: America's Gift to the World (2014), broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 6 April 2015.
References
External links
- Official website
- A. L. Kennedy at British Council: Literature
- A L Kennedy at the Guardian
- BBC profile
- AL Kennedy reading at writLOUD in London